Toronto Real Estate | Sylvie Conde's Blog

WYCHWOOD OPEN DOOR - TORONTO'S ST. CLAIR WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD

- a safe, supportive drop-in centre for the homeless and socially isolated people.

The Wychwood Open Door is part of our St. clair community.  It provides a safe place for social interaction.  It has been doing so, since 1986.

The recession has greatly affected everyone, including Wychwood Open Door.  Some of the members have lost their jobs and people from other parts of Ontario are coming to Toronto looking for work, and ending up at Wychwood Open Door.

Wychwood Open Door is appealing to the Community for donations, so they can help everyone in need.

Wychwood Open Door operates out of the Church basement, at St. Clair Avenue West, and Rushton. 

If you are a person in need, you can drop in Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  A hot breakfast and lunch is served.

Over 14,000 meals were served in 2008.  There is a lot of need out there.

Other than a meal, you can also find volunteer members who provide help; encourage you, help to build your self-esteem and provide help from housing and addiction counselors.

If you can afford it, please support Wychwood Open Door.  They spend their money wisely.  They use a lot of volunteers.  They save the money for where it's really needed.

Wychwood Open door is a registered charity, so you will get a tax receipt for your donation.

Things may be tight for you right now too, but think of those who can't even afford one hot meal per day.

$40 feeds one person FOR A MONTH.

$100 feeds 13 people for a week ...

You can send your donations to

Wychwood Open Door
729 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
M6C 1B2

Don't forget to send your full name and complete address, in order to receive your tax receipt.

THANK YOU!!

JULY 11 - JULY 12, 2009  -    IT'S A PARTY - A LATIN PARTY!!  AND IT'S FREE!!

This is the 5th year we will be celebrating this great Latin Festival, on St. Clair.

The fun starts at noon on Saturday until 11 p.m.; and on Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

The Festival celebrate Toronto's Latin culture.  St. Clair, between Christie and Winona, will showcase Latin food, Latin music, dancing, dance lessons, great food, a Latin Market, a children's play area, and more.

This is the hottest party of the Summer.  Don't miss it.
Over 250,000 people attended the festival last year. 
More people are expected this year.

For additional information, call 416-744-8200, extension 204.

If you are on the Bloor line subway, you can get off at Christie, and take the bus North to St. Clair.

If you're on the Yonge line, you can take the subway to the St. Clair West Station, and walk West from Bathurst Street.

Toronto Real Estate and Life Blog - Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage     416-966-0300
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

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Wychwood Barns used to house streetcars until approximately 1985.
Then they lay abandoned for years.

In 1998, the City of Toronto took over ownership of the site.

Old Photos courtesy of City of Toronto archives

In 2004 the City gave approval for Artscape to begin rezoning and RESTORING the buildings, and make the space into what it is today - a park, art studio and live/work spaces; a greenhouse; a dog park; a place to sit and read a book; a farmer's market ....

WORK IN PROGRESS AT THE BARNS....


(construction in progress @ August 2008 - Copyright Sylvie Conde)

(August 2008)

Instead of street cars, the Barns now house 13 not-for-profit organizations, 15 artist studios and 26 live/work spaces.  It also provides the general public with access to arts and culture.

There is also a greenhouse, an outdoor bake oven, and a food education centre.
The STOP Community Food Centre teaches people of all ages about healthy, sustainable food.

The covered Barn can be rented by the general public for numerous functions, such as weddings, conferences, etc.   The Barns are wheelchair accessible.

The Park at the Barns includes a children's play area, (also an ice-rink in the Winter), an off-leash dog area, a volleyball court and picnic tables...

..... 150 trees, 1,500 shrubs and 900 perennials will also be planted.

There is also a Farmer's Market every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 12 (noon).
The Farm moves outside in the Summer.

WYCHWOOD BARNS now...

 
(Farmer's Market entrance)

© Copyright 2009 - All rights reserved.
Photos are copyrighted property of Sylvie Conde.  
Do not reproduce or reprint without the express written permission of Sylvie Conde.

These buildings are part of our industrial heritage - they were beautifully restored.

There is geothermal heating, ventilation and a/c with ground source heat pumps, energy efficient lighting and appliances, and rainwater is collected for irrigation and flushing toilets (toilets are ultra-low flushing @ 3 litres per flush).  The siding part of the building facing Benson Street is made of recycled plastic.  The white roof of the building reduces the heat in the Summer and helps to keep the building cooler.
This is the first heritage site in Canada to be LEED certified.

Wychwood Barns is located on Christie Street, just South of St. Clair.

This is a great place to hang out, read a book, walk your dog, have lunch at the park, go to the Saturday morning Farmer's market .... take in a movie on movie night ....
So much to do, so close to home .... and it's FREE.

If you're interested in holding an event at the Wychwood Barns and wish to rent space,
you can call 416-392-7834.

Toronto Real Estate by Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage    416-966-0300
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com

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Stone Soup - Duck Soup -  a MOVIE - Saturday, May 30^th, at 6 p.m.

After the successful movie night at the Cedarvale Ravine in 2008, Joe Mihevc will kick off the 2009 Outdoor Movie Night at Wychwood Barns; and "Duck Soup" with Groucho and Harpo Marx, will be shown at 7:30. 

For $5 per person or $10 per family, you can be treated to a great meal (Stone Soup Supper), prepared by neighbourhood volunteers.  You can bring bread, cheese or dessert to share.

The first community meal at Wychwood Barns on February 7, 2009 had more than 400 neighbours arrive for a home cooked meal.

Mihevc will be showing movies in the parks in our Ward (21) throughout the Summer. 

Live music will kick off the evening. 

All outdoor movies are free.

For additional information on Movie Night at the Barns, call the Ward 21 office at 416-392-0208.

Toronto Real Estate by Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage    416-966-0300
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com

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Don't miss the SPRING FEVER on St. Clair; starting May 22 to June 1, 2008.

Experience the diversity of food and flavours on St. Clair, from Bathurst to Lansdowne.
Enjoy a full 3 course dinner, at some of the 18 restaurants participating, for just $20 to $25 per person (plus tax and gratuity.  Some restrictions apply.

 Also, coming this Summer, the SALSA ON St. CLAIR.

Get your fix all that Latin culture has to offer as the Hillcrest Village BIA, the Wychwood Heights BIA, TLN Television & the City of Toronto heat up the summer with the 3rd annual Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival.
SALSA ON ST. CLAIR STREET FESTIVAL
Saturday, July 14th - Noon to 11pm
Sunday, July 15th - Noon to 8pm
*Between Winona Drive and Wychwood Ave on St. Clair Avenue West
(FREE admission)

In light of the overwhelming success of the Salsa on St Clair Street Festival, attracting over 500,000 Canadians to the streets of Toronto since its launch in 2005, TLN, in partnership with the City of Toronto, is thrilled to announce that this year's Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival will be even bigger and better.

As the official launch of Latino Week in Toronto, this FREE family street party celebrating Toronto's Latin cultures will turn over 200,000 square feet of midtown Toronto, just west of Bathurst Street between Winona Drive and Wychwood Avenue, into a showcase of Latin life: pulsating music, passionate dancing, fiery foods, a Latin market, a children's area and for the first time ever an interactive soccer zone.

Join revelers in celebrating the world's greatest game at this summer's biggest soccer street party where participants can test their soccer skills and enjoy various soccer exhibitions. PLUS a live broadcast of the Copa America final will be broadcast on large TV screens imbedded throughout the festival area on Sunday afternoon.


Don't miss this summer's hottest street party!

Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage  416-966-0300
Independently Owned & Operated
sconde@sutton.com
www.sylvieconde.com
www.torontorealestatelife.com

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Toronto Real Estate & Life Blog...
...              information on buying, selling, mortgages - and all things Toronto and GTA

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Hillcrest Village is located on the ridge of the Davenport escarpment between St Clair and Davenport Road west of Bathurst; it contains many houses that have not been updated in many, many years, as well as many that have been totally updated or restored.

The streets around Hillcrest Park are home to houses that cannot be recreated. Houses like the ones on Braemore Gardens, Hillcrest Drive and Bracondale Hill among others only belong with their neighbours. These buildings cannot be reproduced. These homes are also quite different from each other, unlike homes in such neighbourhoods as Leaside or Allenby. Each house, though part of a neighbourhood, was created differently.

The best surprise in the area is Wychwood Park, which contains one circular road with a couple of off-shoots hosting mostly English Arts and Crafts homes. Many of these homes were designed by architect Eden Smith.

Hillcrest Village is within a 15 minute drive from downtown.

Many conveniences are nearby on St-Clair with a Loblaws and Liquor Store in the same building as the St Clair West subway station. There are many shops along the St-Clair strip between Bathurst and Oakwood selling fruit and vegetables, children's goods. Restaurants like The Rushton, Ferro, Filippo's, Amato's, and the 'new' Bakery Pain Perdu, dot the stretch of St. Clair.....

Hillcrest park and a new park between Wychwood and Christie at Benson are the 2 largest parks in Hillcrest Village but you are not too far from Winston Churchill park, Cedarvale park and Christie Pits if you need larger spaces.

Hillcrest Village has become really popular in the last couple of years, and real estate prices have increased substantially.  It is a great neighbourhood to raise a family.  It is popular with young professionals as well, as more and more upscale cafes, restaurants, martini bars, etc., open up along St. Clair.

Hillcrest Village/Wychwood map and social profile: http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/cns94.htm

http://www.hillcrestvillage-bia.com/

If you require more information about the neighbourhood I live and work in, don't hesitate to call me. :)



Toronto Real Estate by Sylvie Conde, Broker
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage 416-966-0300
www.sylvieconde.com

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