NEIGH-BOOR-HOODS
Leslieville and the Beach communities’ latest grievance has some wondering if east end doth protest too much,
Over the years, residents in the east end neighbourhoods of Leslieville and the Beach have complained about everything from breweries to music festivals and even a mysterious hum only some can hear.
But the region’s latest grievance — that toddlers playing in a park are too loud — has some wondering whether the east end doth protest too much.
“NIMBYism at its worst. This is why the Beach has such a bad rep in the city,” wrote one member of the Beaches Facebook group. “Give me a break, get a life. Let kids be kids,” wrote another.
“It’s probably just our demographic here,” said Beach Village BIA director Jessica Wright. “We’re bringing in some younger people but at this point it’s still a little bit of an older crowd.
“They’re used to kind of a sleepy neighbourhood a little bit.”
Local councillor Gary Crawford said recent complaints about a children’s sports program in Lynndale Parkette — in the Upper Beaches along the border with Scarborough — were related more to safety than noise; people were worried about the number of cars coming onto the quiet street.
“I’m hoping that there’s no NIMBYism here,” Crawford said.
Liz Rykert, co-founder of Shape My City, understands the frustration that noisy new businesses or music festivals can bring, but said neighbours in residential areas like the Beach and Leslieville need to work together to find solutions.
“There’s so many things going in Toronto that people are sometimes like, ‘enough already’ I just want to sit on my porch and have a quiet evening,” she said.
Things Leslieville and the Beach have complained about:
Beer
Neighbours of Left Field Brewery worked themselves into a froth in 2015 over the sound of chatter and laughter coming from its customers.
Music
Toronto’s popular Afrofest music festival was threatened with having its two-day permit curtailed after residents near Woodbine Park complained about the noise last year.
Food trucks
In 2013, food trucks stationed in Woodbine Park as part of a city-led pilot project were driven out after residents complained about noise and exhaust fumes.
The homeless
The news that an 80-bed homeless shelter was planned for Leslie Street north of Eastern Avenue prompted a flood of concerns from residents concerned about crime and property values.
Soccer
Ryerson University turfed plans to upgrade the soccer field at St. Patrick High School in June, after an outcry from residents worried it would cause traffic jams.
A mysterious ‘hum’
According to some residents, there’s a maddening, low-frequency hum that’s always present in Leslieville. Its existence has not been proven. Some east enders have reported hearing it constantly for months and even years.