Wo-Built’s Team Is Expanding!

Image: MS Office + Wo-Built's logo
Keywords: architecture, blueprints, construction, design

Welcome Deborah!

On behalf of the Wo-Built team we would like to extend a warm welcome to Deborah McKenna, our new Senior Construction Project Management / Interior Designer. Deborah is the newest member of the Wo-Built team and hails from GTA with an extensive background in residential and commercial construction management and interior design. She has trained at Ryerson as well as the International Academy of Design in Toronto, so that she can not only design a structure from the ground up, but also understands the importance of the interior finishes that make a home complete.

Deborah’s conviction that women bring a fresh and creative edge to the construction industry and her dedication to supporting women in this industry is an ideal fit for Wo-Built and its social mission of getting more females to consider a career in the finishing trades.

She also has great community spirit and is involved with volunteering / fundraising for worthwhile causes.

We are confident that she will be a great asset to us in all our future projects and would like to take this opportunity to welcome her to our team.

From the entire Wo-Built team - WELCOME DEBORAH!

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Renovation Design Tips: Design Time

Wo-Built's Design Tips Series

2008 @ wobuilt.com

Tip 2: Design Time

The design time for your addition or renovation will vary, depending on how complicated the design is, how quickly decisions can be made and how firm your ideas are. If your project will have to go to the Committee of Adjustment for approval, it will extend the projected time frame by at least two months. In the (GTA) Greater Toronto Area, Committee of Adjustment sessions are booked well in advance and only meet once a month. So you should book your appointment as soon as you know that your case will have to be presented. On the positive side, the drawings required for the Committee can be far less detailed than the permit drawings. Following the meeting, you will have a waiting time of 20 days even if no objections are raised. This is to allow the public time to raise an objection if they have any concerns with your planned project.

During that time period, you can put the finishing touches to your design and the permit drawings can be prepared. Once you have received approval for your planned project, the permit process can be as short as 10 days if all your documentation is in order. The more information that can be included in the drawings the faster the process will be. It will minimize any questions and/or requests for an amendment to your design.

Look out for our next tip!

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wo-Built Inc.: Renovation Design Tips: Tip 1: Know Your Zoning and By-laws
Wo-Built Inc.: Renovation Design Tips: Tip 2: Design Time
homerenovationguide.com: Wo-Built - Toronto General Contractors - Toronto - Remodeling and Repair - Design Build - Home Renovation
Construct Canada 2008 - Canada's Largest Building Design and Construction Show: December 3 - 5, 2008, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building
dmoz.org: Open Directory - Business: Construction and Maintenance: Design: Kitchen and Bath

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Toronto's Lakeshore Community: A Neighbourhood in Transition

Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area Map

Created by: Survey and Mapping Services (WS), March 2006

Settling into our New Locality

Lakeshore Village BIA
The Lakeshore Village BIA was recently expanded and now runs along Lakeshore Blvd. from Twelfth Street to the west and Dwight Avenue to the east. This area was formerly known as the New Toronto Businessmen's Association, which was incorporated in 1948. In 1982 the BIA changed its name to the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area, and they implemented a streetscape improvement plan that included the installation of decorative lamp posts, planters and over 100 trees. This infrastructure is in place today and has been paid for and maintained by the local merchants.
There are over one hundred and fifty businesses in the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area with an excellent assortment of businesses, restaurants, shops and services that cater to the local community.
Website: www.thelakeshore.ca
Credit: TABIA: Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas

When Wo-Built was looking to expand, we had the entire city of Toronto at our disposal. So with this vast area to choose from coupled with the fact that our business is not local but GTA-based, how did we come to settle on the Lakeshore area? Aside from the fact that the price was right, the Lakeshore area, a very quaint corner of the city seemed to be a bit of an enigma. Although it had a long-standing reputation for not being one of the better communities in Toronto, it seemed that the neighbourhood lived side by side with majestic homes, seedy apartment complexes and neat family homes. It lacked the big-box stores, the trendy coffee houses or the fast-food franchises that most other neighbourhoods seemed to be built around. Instead it boasted the serenity of a lakeshore, quaint little shops and family eateries - everything Wo-Built needed to have a successful base. It was TTC accessible and had a number of necessary amenities such as banks and variety stores for basic every-day needs within close proximity.

Having been here awhile, it appears that this community is in a tremendous transition and with transition comes opportunity. Where some storefronts seem to be sporting an "Out of Business" sign, there can be seen a smattering of new businesses. Ethnic eateries, entertainment spots and a few dry-goods shops are inching their way into the area to complement the already long-established businesses. And with an ever-changing demographic there appears to be much room for growth.

As a young company we have come to appreciate the many benefits the Lakeshore area has presented. Our vision is that many more businesses take advantage of the tremendous benefits that the Lakeshore has to offer. We can visualize a fully-revitalized area with little boutiques of all sorts, local entertainment spots and eateries without losing its unique flavor. And as our company grows we can give back to the community by providing local employment through our social mission of training and mentoring of women as well as helping other starting businesses with their ventures.

As a new member of this community we were excited about getting to know our neighbouring residents through local events such as the Mimico's Party in the Park. The Lakeshore area is going through a great deal of revitalization, and Wo-Built Inc. hopes to be a part of this revitalization in a big way.

________________________
Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Etobicoke-Lakeshore Community Links
Lakeshore Toronto's Village by the Lake
Lakeshore Community Partnership facilitates and encourages investment from all sectors of the Lakeshore to foster stable employment, a healthy community and a vital economy.
Ourlakeshore.net is a neighbourhood revitalization initiative by neighbours, for neighbours. We have residents, business owners, and politicians working together to promote and improve New Toronto / Lakeshore Village.

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Renovation Design Tips: Know Your Zoning and By-laws

Wo-Built's Design Tips Series
2008 @ wobuilt.com

We at Wo-Built Inc., specialize in building home additions and extensions as well as doing various home renovations. Therefore, we would like to introduce a New Series with tips and helpful advice on what to consider if you are planning an addition or extension to your home.

Tip 1: Know Your Zoning and By-laws

It's always a good idea to start with a vision of what you want for your addition or renovation, but it will turn out to be a big disappointment, or worse, a very expensive venture if your dream project does not meet local building requirements. So, before you talk to a designer or builder, it's important to contact your local municipal building department to find out your home's zoning. You need to know what is allowed in terms of building height, distance from your neighbors and the curb, the allowable ground footage (foot print of your building) and the overall square footage. It's to your advantage to get this information in advance so that you can plan your project within the appropriate limits.

Please note: a garage on your property counts as part of the foot print, but not as part of the overall square footage. If you have a shed on the property, this may, depending on the size, count in the foot print calculations.

Look out for our next tip!

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
City of Toronto: Zoning bylaw project
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Zoning By-laws

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Announcement: Pre-Apprenticeship Course for Women

...want to have a career in the finishing trades?
interested?
this could be you...
2008 @ wobuilt.com

Wo-Built would like to announce that the Pre-Apprenticeship Course for Women in the Finishing Trades will be starting in November of 2008 on a part-time basis.

Stay tuned for more details!

links:
Wo-Built's Pre-Apprenticeship Course Outline for Women in the Finishing Trades...want to have a career
Wo-Built Inc.: We Have a Date for Our First Pre-apprenticeship Course

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