Friday, November 25, 2011

Ripley's Toronto Aquarium opening 2013

This is great news for Toronto!

The Ripley's Aquarium is set to open in Summer 2013 and will be located at the base of the CN tower.

Some fun facts!
  • It will be 12,500 square metre building
  • There will be 450 aquatic species
  • 13,500 sea and fresh water inhabitants
  • Living in 6 million litres of water
  • They will have a lagoon with a 96 metre moving walkway
  • It will create 600 preconstruction jobs and 350 jobs after it is built
  • The city anticipates an annual economic benefit is $35 million
Toronto was in need for some fresh attractions to bring in tourist dollars and to give us Torontonians to get excited about!

You can follow this project on line at www.RipleyAquarium.com/Canada

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

City of Toronto Mandatory Downspout disconnect

Toronto City Council has approved a bylaw making it mandatory for property owners to disconnect their downspouts. It will come into effect across the city in three phases. Disconnecting downspout(s) from the sewer system can reduce the risk of basement flooding and releasing polluted rainwater into our local waterways.

The Bi law comes into effect for Riverdale November 30th, 2011.

Before beginning any work, plan out what can be done and how. Decide where the water will go

Consider your options as there may be more than one way to disconnect. Preparing a plan or sketch can help you map out where the water will go. Use elbows and extensions to help direct water around any obstacles.



Determine what tools and materials you will need



Downspouts can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum, galvanized steel, vinyl/plastic or copper, but the most common material is aluminum. Downspout elbows and extensions also come in standard shapes, sizes, colours and materials. Ask if the materials you choose can be painted to match your paint colour or blend into your landscaping.



Safety is a priority

Be careful when working with tools and supplies. Use personal protection equipment such as gloves and safety glasses when performing any work. Also, watch out that disconnecting doesn’t create any hazardous situations, for example, creating a tripping hazard by placing an extension across an entry or walk-way.



Read the Do-it-yourself instructions.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Toronto home sales up 8% compared to this same time last year

Pace of Home Sales Remains Brisk in October


November 3, 2011 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,642 home sales through the TorontoMLS® in October 2011. This represented an increase of 17.5 per cent compared to the 6,504 transactions reported in October 2010.

Monthly sales data follow a recurring seasonal trend that should be removed before comparing monthly results within the same year. After adjusting for seasonality, the annualized rate of sales for October was 97,100, which was above the average of 90,700 for the first three quarters of 2011.

"The pace of October resale home transactions remained brisk in the GTA. This bodes well for a strong finish to 2011," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. "Home buyers who found it difficult to make a deal in the spring and summer due to a shortage of listings have benefitted from increased supply in the fall."

The average selling price through the TorontoMLS® in October was $478,137 - up eight per cent compared to October 2010.
"Sellers' market conditions remain in place in many parts of the GTA. The result has been above-average annual rates of price growth for most home types," said Jason Mercer, the Toronto Real Estate Board's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

"Thanks to low interest rates, strong price growth has not substantially changed the positive affordability picture in the City of Toronto and surrounding regions."