City
City Launches Development Application Status Website
The City of Toronto is increasingly using the web as a means to keep Torontonians 'in the loop' concerning its activities. As part of this initiative, the city recently launched its Development Application Status website. The site allows the public to view detailed information on all of the city's development projects dating back to January 1, 2006.
Those adventurous (or bored) readers willing to check the site out may find it a bit bland and cumbersome, as it doesn't utilize Google maps or other Web 2.0 tools -- but don't worry. The February 3rd launch date is the first of two phases, with city planning to launch an interactive, 'dynamic' map to help users search for current developments (launch date TBD).
The city thinks the website is an ideal way to keep citizens both informed and involved in local development. "The Development Application Status website is a service initiative that makes the planning process more accountable to the public through greater accessibility and transparency," says the Chief Planner Gary Wright. "This will be a useful tool for residents and the development industry."
I think the timing for the website couldn't have come at a better time. The housing meltdown south of the border and the nagging fear that the Canadian real estate market isn't far behind are pushing more and more people to pay closer attention to local development. Just look at some of the real estate issues plaguing the West Coast as reason enough to stay abreast of both current and planned projects.
In a recent article, I talked about the conversion of a historic landmark to condos. In the article I also pointed to a number of other recent developments where a church or other 'historic' buildings have been transformed into condos. One of the buildings I talk about sits on Dovercourt, just south of Bloor. The building is not finished, and it seems to me, to have been under perpetual construction.
So, out of curiosity, I researched the building on the government's new website. I found out that the project has been approved multiple times to, "Convert existing place of worship (centennial United Church to residential building containing 28 dwelling units and below grade garage." But recently, a new developer has taken over the project and scrapped plans to include a below grade garage.
The information would be of use to local residents, as it means there may be 28 new condos on the street, with no added parking. It may also be a sign that the economic downturn is starting to take its toll on developers in the city. Either way, the website was a quick and easy way to take a look at the projects happening in the neighbourhood. For those readers blessed (or cursed) with the real estate bug, the site will surely provide an easy way to kill some time at work.
Photo by Christian Jackson
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I think it is also a change in the Planning Department where parking is no longer mandated at the same levels per unit as before, to push people towards transit and lessen the incentive for downtowners to buy spaces in their building and rent them to 905ers. Underground parking is ferociously expensive so it's no surprise that the developer won't build it if he doesn't have to.
The NMMC administration has presented a rather controversial parking proposal to the Standing Committee for approval. For the second week in a row Chairman Sandeep Naik stayed the proposal. We get you a peek from this report from the weekly NMMC Standing Committee meet.
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation presented the proposal of making its first multi level car parking facility in Navi Mumbai at Vashi. The contractor of the project M/s Ramratna Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. made a presentation on how the puzzle car parking would be to the members at the weekly Standing Committee Meet. Sensing that there was more to the proposal that what met the eye, members Namdeo Bhagat and Sudhakar Sonawane voiced concern whether this project would be cost effective or not and demanded that the members be taken for a site visit of the puzzle parking facility made by the contractor in Mumbai before approving the project....
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The NMMC General Body unanimously approved the starting of NMMT bus services exclusively for school students in the NMMT jurisdiction area. NMMC Commissioner Vijay Nahata has announced that a welfare officer would be appointed for employees' welfare in NMMT.Presently students can avail at 50% concession bus pass on NMMT routes. During the deliberations, one of the member quested about the caretaking, scheduling of the buses etc. The proposed bus service for school students will be started...
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The NMMC Standing Committee also demanded change in colors of seats in Vishnudas Bhave auditorium and different colors seats for VIP rows and approved the tender bid of Rs 24.13 lakhs of Ashirwad Construction for repairs and painting of Vishnudas Bhave auditorium.
J D Sutar demanded the special color seats to identify VIP seats. Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik instructed the administration to change the color of all seats and give a different color to the VIP rows so that the auditorium wears a differently new look from what CIDCO had given...
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NAVI MUMBAI will soon become the only connection which will supply 24 x 7 Water Supply to General Public. The work of laying water pipeline to connect Morbe Dam to Navi Mumbai is over. The city that seems to have been waiting forever for getting 24 X 7 water supply might have reason to rejoice soon as the city water woes will be washed away with Morbe water. That too at a time when neighbouring like Thane and Mumbai still are miles away from any such relief despite spending Thousands of Crores in the name of water supply.
Morbe Waters is all set to storm the taps of Navi Mumbai and quench the thirst of residents. While Summer 2009 will spell worst water crisis times for neighboring cities Mumbai and Thane, Navi Mumbai will write a different story. And when that happens – the man behind the Morbe Dam first Mayor Dr. Sanjeev Naik will be credited for making Morbe Dam – neighbour’s envy and owner’s pride.
As part of our ‘Reader connect’ initiative, we have started new column wherein you can Email us all your Grievances (related to civic issues) and we shall forward the same to the chairman of the standing committee of NMMC, Sandeep Naik. He will then personally look into the matter and shall take appropriate action. We shall publish your grievance and the action taken by him, ensuring full transparency every week. Last week we got several mails from our readers and we forwarded some of them to him. HERE is the response and action taken by him.
NAVI Mumbai as a city is developing at a fast peace, and the city’s population is growing tremendously. Taking this into consideration, I will take all efforts to make available the necessary funds for setting up a court building in the city,” said cess and Environment Minister and Thane District Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik..
Mr Naik further added that the state finance Ministry would be requested to fund the required amount for the court building construction as a special consideration.
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The Bhavkaleshwar temple at Khairane evokes blessed feelings as one, steps into it. And there is more to the reason of building the temple in the midst of the quarries than what meets the eyes. Nearly 15 years ago the Naik family had found a stone in the shape of Lord Nandi and since then it was worshiped at the temple sight. However, after Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik’s wife saw a dream, the leader decided to build a temple here. The temple construction work which was on for a decade saw the personal involvement of GM Ganesh Naik. The temple is built on an area of nearly 2000 sq. ft. A diya bought from Madras is another highlight of the temple. The temple came alive during the Mahashivratri celebrations when devotees flocked to it in great numbers. The festival of Shivartri is celebrated in the honor of Lord Shiva on the thirteenth or fourteenth day during the month of February or March. Maha Shivratri means “the big night of Lord Shiva” and during the entire night devotees worship Lord Shiva. Hundreds of people stood in queue before the temple with flowers, leaves, coconuts to worship Lord Shiva. The devotees, spellbound with the magnificent structure, showed their gratitude towards Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik who was present during the celebrations along with Former Mayor Sanjeev Naik.
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Better late than never – that’s what NMMC Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik seems to have practiced in the case of getting the 10% reservation policy for the poor activated in the NMMC – Hiranandani Super Specialty tie up. Fulfilling the promise that NMMC of getting super specialty medical services for the poor available free of cost at the NMMC Hospital, Standing Committee Chairman brought the proposal for the reservation policy and got it approved at a special general body meet.
NMMC Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik re-visited the nullah cleaning work across the city to inspect if the administration had indeed followed up on the instructions given during his earlier visit. However, disappointingly, nullah cleaning work was still lacking in many areas.
While the Chairman stated that in a few days he would be yet again carrying out a surprise inspection of the work done, we asked him when Navi Mumbaikars could expect the pre-monsoon work to be completely over. To this he stated that while this was the work of the administration, their involvement has definitely sped up the process. The chairman visited CBD, Vashi and APMC for his visit and has again given out instructions to the respective depts to speed up the work. He was accompanied by City Engineer Mohan Dagaonkar during his visit.
The newly developed municipal school at Turbhe stores “Dr. Babsaheb Ambedkar School no. 20” was recently inaugurated at the hands of Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik.
With an expenditure of Rs. 91 lakhs, NMMC has built this advanced one floored school building at Turbhe stores. The school includes 19 classes out of which 17 are for classrooms, one for staff room and one for a computer lab. The municipal school Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar School No. 20 at Turbhe was inaugurated at the hands of Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik. Present along with the minister was NMMC Education Committee Chairman Ravi Iyer, former education committee chairman Ram Vichare, corporator Ravindra Ethape amongst others. Ganesh Naik inaugurated the school by lighting the high mast light installed in the compound .Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik expressed happiness and stated that they would try to introduce classes till X in this school.
As of now, every municipal school has standards only upto to seventh standard.