STAFF REPORT ACTION REQUIRED Naming of Public Lanes in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Date: January 22, 2015 To: From: Toronto and East York Community Council Director, Engineering & Construction Services Wards: Ward 28 Reference Number: P:\2015\Cluster B\TEC\ TE15004 SUMMARY This report responds to Item TE34.209, adopted by Toronto and East York Community Council on August 12, 2014, requesting the Director, Engineering & Construction Services to prepare a report on naming 4 public lanes in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood. This report recommends that the names "Spice Mill Lane", Gendron Lane", "Barbed Wire Lane" and "Bootlegger Lane" be adopted. Community Councils have delegated authority to decide street naming matters which comply with the City of Toronto Honourific and Street Naming Policy. This naming proposal complies with that policy. RECOMMENDATIONS Engineering & Construction Services recommends that Toronto and East York Community Council: 1. Approve the name, "Spice Mill Lane" to identify the public lane located west of Church Street, extending between Lombard Street and Adelaide Street East. 2. Approve the name, "Gendron Lane" to identify the public lane extending westerly from Ontario Street, between Adelaide Street East and Richmond Street East. 3. Approve the name, "Barbed Wire Lane" to identify the public lane located west of Church Street, extending northerly then westerly from Lombard Street. St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Naming Project 1
4. Approve the name, "Bootlegger Lane" to identify the public lane located south of Queen Street East, extending easterly then southerly from George Street to Britain Street. Financial Impact There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report. ISSUE BACKGROUND The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association has requested the naming of several lanes through Councillor McConnell's office. At its meeting on August 12, 2014, Toronto and East York Community Council adopted Item TE34.209 which contained the following decision: 1. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and East York Community Council on naming the north-south lane from Adelaide Street East to Lombard Street between Church Street and Victoria Street as Spice Mill Lane. 2. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and East York Community Council on naming the north-south lane west of Ontario St. between Adelaide Street East and Richmond Street East as Gendron Lane. 3. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and East York Community Council on naming the east-west lane north of Lombard Street between Church Street and Victoria Street as Barbed Wire Lane. 4. Requested the Director, Engineering Services to prepare a report for Toronto and East York Community Council on naming the L-shaped lane north of Britain Street, east of George Street as "Speakeasy Lane" It should be noted that Item 2 above, is incorrect in referring to a "north-south" lane. The lane actually runs east-west. Subsequently, Councillor McConnell suggested to Engineering & Construction Services that the preferred name "Bootlegger Lane" be substituted for "Speakeasy Lane". COMMENTS The following background information on these names has been provided by the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association: Spice Mill Lane In the 19th century this lane was adjacent to the Todhunter and Mitchell Spice Mill, at one St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Naming Project 2
time the largest in Toronto. Most of these coffee and spice mills were located in this area of Toronto and the naming will commemorate this industrial history. "Gendron Lane The Gendron Manufacturing Company was founded by Canadian-born Peter Gendron and had plants in Toledo and Toronto. The Toronto plant was located immediately north of this lane and employed about 100 people in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. The company built things such as sleighs, wheel chairs, baby carriages, and hospital beds. The company specialised in carriages with wire wheels, invented and patented by Peter Gendron Barbed Wire Lane This lane was adjacent to factory of the Ontario Lead and Barbed Wire Company in the late 19th century. The recommendation Barbed Wire Lane will commemorate the industrial heritage of the area and in particular the Ontario Lead and Barbed Wire Company founded by Lewis Samuel, an early Canadian industrialist who was anxious to participate further in Canada s expanding economy. "Bootlegger Lane" This name is intended to commemorate a local resident of the area in the mid 20 th century reputedly involved in bootlegging activity. The proposed names have been circulated for comment and are acceptable to Toronto Police Service, Toronto Paramedic Services, Toronto Fire Services and the Toronto and East York Preservation Panel. Councillor McConnell supports this naming application. The naming proposal was a result of discussion and consultation with area residents. This naming proposal complies with the City of Toronto Honourific and Street Naming Policy. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewagendaitemhistory.do?item=2013.ex36.3 These lanes are shown on Attachment No.1 Sketch No. PS-2014-106 according to the following schedule: Part # Proposed Name 1 Spice Mill Lane 2 Gendron Lane 3 Barbed Wire Lane 4 Bootlegger Lane St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Naming Project 3
CONTACT Kerry Ferguson, O.L.S. Senior Ontario Land Surveyor Phone: 416-392-7757, Fax: 416-392-0081, E-mail: kferguso@toronto.ca SIGNATURE Shirley Wilson, P.Eng. Director, Engineering & Construction Services ATTACHMENTS Attachment No. 1 Sketch No. PS-2014-106 St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Naming Project 4