LATEST NEWS
NEW MURAL
This summer the BIA will be executing a new mural, our sixth to date. As with our previous mural projects, the art was donated by local artist and business owner Jose Ortega. The design, which can be seen to the right, will be painted on the west wall of 1637 Dundas West, a location which is highly visible to the street. The project was funded through a mural grant from the City of Toronto, and not BIA levys, and is expected to be completed by this September.
SIDEWALK SIGNS ON DUNDAS WEST
Over the past while, some Dundas west businesses have received warnings from city officials for displaying sidewalk signs without the necessary permit. To apply for a sign permit, business owners can complete the permit application found here. Applications can now also be completed online but if you use a paper application, it must be submitted in person at 850 Coxwell, 3rd floor. The cost of the permit is a $200 annually. Below are the specifics for the signs that the city has forwarded to the BIA office.
Sign Specifications
- A-Frame and Portable
- Permit or business license attachment required
- Width 0.6m, height min 0.5 - max. 1m, and a length not exceeding 0.75m
- Sign permit identifier to be located on sign
- Minimum 6.09 metre frontage
- Only permitted on public property if not able to be located on private
- Located against the front wall
- First party advertising only
- If a license for blvd marketing or café, sign must be located in licensed area
- Prohibited in areas on Yonge and Bloor streets
- One per frontage
- Sign out during business operating hours only
- No illumination, sound, motion, etc.
In order to receive a permit, the business must also submit a letter of approval from the BIA. To view a printable sign approval letter, please click here.
BIA chair Sylvia Fernandez has written the city explaining that businesses within our BIA are currently experiencing extreme challenges due to the parking restrictions and watermain construction. In order to support efforts to attract clients to local businesses, the BIA is for now supporting all requests for sidewalk signs. We would be happy to email you a copy of this letter to the city to have on file in case you are visited by the sign inspector. Keep in mind that a permit will still be required.
SAMBA ON DUNDAS
The Dundas West BIA is pleased to announce that the Samba on Dundas festival will once again be taking place in our neighbourhood on August 15th. As with previous years, the festival will include live music, dancing, kids’ activities and merchants’ tables.
We’ll be sending out an email before the end of the month with information about the events planned for Sunday afternoon between 1 and 5 pm. Area merchants are encouraged to plan events in front of or inside their stores. Please let us know about your plans for sales and in store specials or events so that we can include this information on the BIA website as well as in our publicity materials. Last year local merchants presented a fashion show, childrens’ craft and music workshops, kids movie screenings, dress up activities and face painting. Music played outside businesses on patios would also be a good option.
As in previous years, we will not apply for a permit to close the street to vehicular traffic. It is very expensive to close down the street to cars, since we would have to compensate the TTC for lost revenue for the day and pay for police and barricades. If the festival continues to grow each year, a street closure may be a goal for future years. If this is something that you would like to see in the future, we encourage you to get involved in the Samba on Dundas subcommittee. Please email us at info@dundaswestbia.ca, if you would like to volunteer your time to this committee or simply on the day of the festival.
Should merchants wish to sell their goods outside, the BIA has applied for a sidewalk sale permit. The permit will allow stores on the ground floor of their buildings to sell their goods outdoors, which hopefully will not be made too difficult by the construction taking place. As the permit technically covers the whole weekend from 4 PM on August 13th to 6 PM on August 15th merchants are welcome to take advantage of the permit all weekend, not just on the day of the festival. Merchandise can only be displayed in front of your store and may not block any entrances/exits to your building or your neighbour’s property. According to city regulations, items must be placed on a display stand constructed of wood with epoxy resin paint, stainless steel, galvanized metal, plastic fiberglass, aluminum or steel with baked enamel finish. The merchandise must be displayed a minimum of 0.61 metres above ground level. The area under the stand must be kept clear at all times. The stand must be at least 2.13 m (7.0 feet) from the curb of the roadway. This allows pedestrians to pass by.
Food can be sold under this permit, but Public Health regulations must be complied with. They can be found here.
TORONTO POLICE NIGHT LISTING
“Night Listings” are confidential contact records kept by police stations. They are used in the event of an emergency and allow police to contact a member of your business and determine what action to take when responding to an alarm.
Submitting and updating a Night Listing form yearly can help guarantee your safety and the safety of your business. All of the information collected is strictly confidential and is only used in the case of an emergency.
You can find the Night Listing form on the 14 Divisions webpage.
BICYCLE REGISTRATION
The Toronto Police’s bike registry allows you to register your bicycle by it’s serial number, and other distinguishing features. This greatly increases the chance that a stolen bike can be identified and returned to it’s owner.
Anyone who wishes can register either online or by dropping off or mailing a form (which can be found here) to the 14 Division, whose address is listed on the form.