Northern Light
Superstar
I try to remember, every year, at either Thanksgiving or Christmas to remind myself what I'm thankful for; and to post the relevant to UT stuff here.
First, the very UT specific.
A thanks to the many posters, too numerous to name, who make this forum/community what it is; a great resource; ample informative, full of interesting speculation and shared hopes/aspirations for our great city, and only rarely a source of frustration, LOL
While I can't thank everyone individually, there are a few names I want to throw out; thanks of course to ED (our host); and Interchange, along with all the other mods, who help keep the peace and often supply great original content as well.
I'd really like to single out AOD, and Tricky Ricky for posts that are often very thoughtful and help contribute to my understanding of this City.
As a person with an interest in transit, I would be remiss if I failed to thank DRUM, Vegeta and Small Spy for the great knowledge that contribute to that file.
Android, Bauhaus, ACT7, and Skeezix have been great in their frequent posting of news to the Retail thread.
Never mind what others say; Urban Dreamer gets full credit for great photo threads and more than a few rumours that turn out to be true.
I've found enough helpful posts from YYZ, Automation Gallery, Nfitz, and CDL that I feel the need to mention them to.
Without a doubt, I'm overlooking many, including those whose posts I have read and replied to, my apologies for any oversights.
******
Second,
Some thanks I have for where our City is headed and those who have contributed
We can all, quite rightly, complain that there is too much poverty or pollution or that urban aesthetics are not as well tended as they might be.
Indeed we need to do that and more as concerned citizens, as its the only way to maintain the best of what we have, and improve in areas we are lacking.
Yet, we would be remiss not to say we live in what is undoubtedly one of the most wonderful places on earth.
Relatively low crime and smog, relatively clean water, ample parks, a fairly healthy economy and social programs that while imperfect help make poverty less frequent and less harsh
than in many places round the globe.
Not only that.....but 2012, our glorious mayor notwithstanding was really a year of continued progress on many fronts, with many things to be grateful for as 2012 comes to a close.
Some Highlights:
Toronto is beautifying........a new Queen's Quay is on its way and under construction; the proposed budget for 2013 funds the detailed design of the new John Street, and the Front Street East pedestrian promenade. Trees in boxed in Greektown were replaced w/pitted trees; Dawes Road has been beautified tremendously, and 2013 will also bring a new Bay street north of Bloor w/granite, wider sidewalks and new pedestrian lights.
Toronto's Downtown Office market booms...... Queen-Richmond under full construction, as it Waterpark place phase III, as is Southcore, and Bay-Adelaide Phase II; we also have every reason to be confident that Richmond Adelaide Phase III will begin by mid-2013 and many more plans are in the works, a few of which, at least, will likely come to fruition in the next several years.
Toronto's Park System grows; on the heels of Canoe Landing, and Underpass Park, we are set to add June Callwood Park, the new West Donlands Park, as well as Ontario and Canada Square (s) to our Park system in 2013. There is also real promise of long overdue refreshes for Grange Park, Clarence Square (underway); Queen's Park, College Park (Barbara Ann Scott) and Allen Gardens.
Transit Enhancements: New Toronto Rockets are here; and new streetcars will be in service by Q4 2013 or Q1 2014; GO is finally set to launch 30-minute offpeak service on Lakeshore, and 2-hour offpeak for the Barrie corridor, in the same year w/some other improvements to boot; Pape Station will be finished in 2013; and the TTC is set to resume making the system accessible w/elevator projects at Lawrence West, Dufferin, Pape, Coxwell, Woodbine, and St. Clair West.
My thanks to some of the difference makers, from Andy Byford and Chris Upfold at the TTC to developers like Citizen and Mr. Freed that have helped elevate the discussion around design. Passionate politicians deserve their credit too, for helping bring quality projects to the fore. I look forward to the contributions of many others in the year ahead, including Toronto's new Chief Planner......
There is much yet to do in our City.......and I will post my Christmas/New Years wish list soon.
Again my thanks to all that make this forum an interesting respite from everyday life and my best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2013
Northern Light
PS anyone should feel free to add their thanks/2012 highlights to this thread.
First, the very UT specific.
A thanks to the many posters, too numerous to name, who make this forum/community what it is; a great resource; ample informative, full of interesting speculation and shared hopes/aspirations for our great city, and only rarely a source of frustration, LOL
While I can't thank everyone individually, there are a few names I want to throw out; thanks of course to ED (our host); and Interchange, along with all the other mods, who help keep the peace and often supply great original content as well.
I'd really like to single out AOD, and Tricky Ricky for posts that are often very thoughtful and help contribute to my understanding of this City.
As a person with an interest in transit, I would be remiss if I failed to thank DRUM, Vegeta and Small Spy for the great knowledge that contribute to that file.
Android, Bauhaus, ACT7, and Skeezix have been great in their frequent posting of news to the Retail thread.
Never mind what others say; Urban Dreamer gets full credit for great photo threads and more than a few rumours that turn out to be true.
I've found enough helpful posts from YYZ, Automation Gallery, Nfitz, and CDL that I feel the need to mention them to.
Without a doubt, I'm overlooking many, including those whose posts I have read and replied to, my apologies for any oversights.
******
Second,
Some thanks I have for where our City is headed and those who have contributed
We can all, quite rightly, complain that there is too much poverty or pollution or that urban aesthetics are not as well tended as they might be.
Indeed we need to do that and more as concerned citizens, as its the only way to maintain the best of what we have, and improve in areas we are lacking.
Yet, we would be remiss not to say we live in what is undoubtedly one of the most wonderful places on earth.
Relatively low crime and smog, relatively clean water, ample parks, a fairly healthy economy and social programs that while imperfect help make poverty less frequent and less harsh
than in many places round the globe.
Not only that.....but 2012, our glorious mayor notwithstanding was really a year of continued progress on many fronts, with many things to be grateful for as 2012 comes to a close.
Some Highlights:
Toronto is beautifying........a new Queen's Quay is on its way and under construction; the proposed budget for 2013 funds the detailed design of the new John Street, and the Front Street East pedestrian promenade. Trees in boxed in Greektown were replaced w/pitted trees; Dawes Road has been beautified tremendously, and 2013 will also bring a new Bay street north of Bloor w/granite, wider sidewalks and new pedestrian lights.
Toronto's Downtown Office market booms...... Queen-Richmond under full construction, as it Waterpark place phase III, as is Southcore, and Bay-Adelaide Phase II; we also have every reason to be confident that Richmond Adelaide Phase III will begin by mid-2013 and many more plans are in the works, a few of which, at least, will likely come to fruition in the next several years.
Toronto's Park System grows; on the heels of Canoe Landing, and Underpass Park, we are set to add June Callwood Park, the new West Donlands Park, as well as Ontario and Canada Square (s) to our Park system in 2013. There is also real promise of long overdue refreshes for Grange Park, Clarence Square (underway); Queen's Park, College Park (Barbara Ann Scott) and Allen Gardens.
Transit Enhancements: New Toronto Rockets are here; and new streetcars will be in service by Q4 2013 or Q1 2014; GO is finally set to launch 30-minute offpeak service on Lakeshore, and 2-hour offpeak for the Barrie corridor, in the same year w/some other improvements to boot; Pape Station will be finished in 2013; and the TTC is set to resume making the system accessible w/elevator projects at Lawrence West, Dufferin, Pape, Coxwell, Woodbine, and St. Clair West.
My thanks to some of the difference makers, from Andy Byford and Chris Upfold at the TTC to developers like Citizen and Mr. Freed that have helped elevate the discussion around design. Passionate politicians deserve their credit too, for helping bring quality projects to the fore. I look forward to the contributions of many others in the year ahead, including Toronto's new Chief Planner......
There is much yet to do in our City.......and I will post my Christmas/New Years wish list soon.
Again my thanks to all that make this forum an interesting respite from everyday life and my best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2013
Northern Light
PS anyone should feel free to add their thanks/2012 highlights to this thread.