On November 8, 2025, the Committee of Adjustment heard and approved an application for a ”minor” variance to construct a new 9 storey, 26m high, mixed-use building, with one ground-floor commercial unit and 22 residential dwelling units. The site is adjacent to the existing 6-storey condo building at 2 Alexandra Blvd.  

This proposal is for a lot that is 9.5m wide and 26m deep - or smaller than the average single family house lot in Toronto, with an overall gross floor area that is over twice what is allowed under the zoning.  It includes only 4 bicycle parking spaces (16 fewer than required) and no resident or visitor parking spaces (12 and 1 fewer than required, respectively). The rear setback has been reduced to a mere 5.5m and the "amenity space" provided both indoors and out is functionally non-existent - reduced to 50% and 75% of what is required and not big enough to support any realistic activity. 

As of this writing, the property is listed for sale.

In June 2025, Diamond Corporation modified its proposal to address some of the City’s concerns, and despite the City's unequivocal rejection of the proposal in late 2024, reached a settlement with the City that was adopted by Council at its June 25, 2025 meeting. 

The revised plans reduced the height from 56 to 54 storeys. A minimum 3-metre wide “mid-block connection” is maintained along the west property line to allow for a publicly accessible pedestrian connection between Orchard View Boulevard and Helendale Avenue in conjunction with other lands fronting onto Helendale Ave. The building will have a minimum of 10% 3-bedroom units. The inclusion of windows on the north-facing side of the building is dependent on the height of the building at 2350-2352 Yonge. If there are no windows (as now appears will be the case with the OLT ruling) the building will be designed to appear to have windows, rather than a blank wall on the north side.

After reviewing the settlement between the City of Toronto and Diamond Corporation, the residents’ 500 Duplex Coalition, of which the LPRO is a member, were willing to withdraw our objections to the project. We remain very interested in working with Diamond Corporation on the details of the site plan, especially in regard to the public realm.

The 53 Division Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) presents the Festive Holiday Fundraising Party. Please join and help the CPLC provide scholarships to deserving students.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, in partnership with Vibrant Community Health and the North Toronto Ontario Health Team, is helping residents in North Toronto who do not currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner to get matched with one.

Why find a family doctor or nurse practitioner?

 1.      Get health care from a professional who knows you

 2.      Catch health issues early with preventative check-ups

 3.      Referrals to medical specialists when needed

Interested North Toronto residents can get more information and sign up to register for a family doctor or nurse practitioner. 

The City of Toronto has launched Phase 2 of community engagement for the new park at the former GreenP parking lot behind the Capitol Theatre at 20 Castlefield Ave.  They are gathering feedback from the community on the two design options and proposed features via an online survey that closes on December 19, 2025. Signage to promote the survey has already been posted in the area. The Project Lead and the Senior Public Consultation Coordinator will be meeting with youth in the area on December 10, to obtain their feedback in-person.

LPRO wrote a letter on October 27, 2025 to Deputy Vice Chair Mike Colle and members of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, supporting Councillor Saxe’s recommendation regarding the use of highly polluting engines. 

At its November 12 meeting, City Council adopted the motion,  “that when Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index is at high to very high-risk levels (7-10), city operations, businesses and residents refrain whenever practical and feasible from operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008 and request the Chief Communications Officer to coordinate the use of the City's various communication channels to get this message to businesses and residents.” 

If you wish to support a Toronto of fresh air and bird song, find out more at Gasbusters.

Did you know that you can subscribe to the City of Toronto e-updates at any time? The e-updates cover nearly 20 topics including: business, culture, green living, parks and recreation, vacant home tax, and warming shelters. If you change your mind, you can also unsubscribe at any time.

Circle Shoes is a family-owned business serving the Toronto area for over 70 years offering a wide shoe selection of sandals and boots suitable for men, women and children of all ages.

This Yonge Street shop began in 1958 when Greek immigrants Mike and Fanny Rados  opened its doors. Mike was a Greek Special Forces (Green Beret) soldier turned cobbler and his wife Fanny, a tailor. In those early years, the store sold an eclectic mix of goods from fishing gear to transistor radios, included a skate exchange with hockey equipment, and even a barber shop!

Today, Circle Shoes is run by the founders’ children, Vicky and Stan, who recall tagging along to the garment district as their parents searched for anything they believed their customers might need. A fortunate tip from a sales representative led them to try selling shoes — a decision that would ultimately define the business.

Circle Shoes became one of the first retailers to offer Birkenstock sandals in the 1970s, and their collection has remained impressively extensive ever since. Through all its evolutions and more recently competition from online shopping, the store’s greatest strength has been the loyalty of its customers. Both Stan and Vicky provide not only a great selection of shoes, but a personal touch that is uncommon in today's retail world. 

Generation after generation continue to shop at Circle Shoes, cementing its place as a fixture in the community.

When Chris Bargis and Jim Pappas immigrated to Canada, they purchased the Good Bite restaurant just six months after it had opened in 1969. Since then, the diner has become a true Yonge Street landmark — a place where people from all walks of life gather, including well-known chef Mark McEwen. It’s not uncommon to see four generations of a family sharing breakfast or lunch, a testament to its broad and lasting appeal.

Although the front counter has been updated over the years, the original booths remain, offering a nostalgic touch that connects today’s guests with more than half a century of history. The Good Bite is still proudly family-owned and operated: Jim Kiriakopulos helms the grill; Louis Carachalios, his brother-in-law, now retired, was a longtime cornerstone of the team. Maria, Jim’s wife, warmly greets and seats customers; and their son George can be found taking orders and chatting with regulars. Good Bite remains an anchor in a sea of ever-changing retail on Yonge Street.

In an era when businesses too often come and go, these family owned and operated businesses remind us that longevity is built through providing product value and strong customer relationships. As they continue shaping memories for future generations, they stand as proud symbols of what makes our community feel like home.

Bill 5 became law on June 5, 2025, enacting several changes to existing acts, and creating the Special Economic Zones Act (2025). It allows the Ontario cabinet to designate any location in the province as a Special Economic Zone. The bill provides exemptions for any company or project in the SEZ from complying with provincial laws, provincial regulations, or municipal bylaws the government chooses. 

The regulatory framework is still being developed and consultations are ongoing.

The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN), of which LPRO is a member, submitted a letter on November 14, 2025 on Consultation on Proposed Special Economic Zones Criteria – ERO #025-1077 urging the Ontario government to repeal the Special Economic Zones Act and not pass the proposed regulations.

Photo: © Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Bill 60 was introduced on October 23, 2025 to accelerate housing, infrastructure and transit delivery by amending 15 statutes and enacting a new Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act. 

Critics argue the bill could hinder transit and affordable housing by empowering the Minister of Transportation to prohibit dedicated bus rapid-transit lanes and to restrict the conversion of motor vehicle lanes to cycling lanes. 

LPRO wrote a letter on November 5, 2025 to the Premier and the Minister of Transportation arguing for dedicated bus lanes, installing safe cycle tracks and taking more motor vehicles off the roads. 

A $9.1 million contract has been awarded to WSP Canada Inc. to conduct a feasibility study, expected to conclude in February 2027, on the viability of a 50 kilometre, three-level tunnel, from Brampton or Mississauga to Scarborough or Markham.

Be a good neighbour and volunteer with LPRO. You can volunteer for various activities such as our annual Yard Sale, annual Chatsworth Ravine Cleanup, or newsletter creation and issuance. 

Join a motivated group of people who wish to make our neighbourhood better for all of us. Send us a note  and indicate how you’d like to get involved with LPRO.

You can also mail a cheque to: Lytton Park Residents’ Organization, PO Box 1348, 2708 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4P 3J4