2023 Highlights and holiday wishes

Friends,

2023 has been a momentous and exciting year for the City. After thirteen years, the City has elected a progressive mayor, who recognizes the needs of Torontonians and, in less than six months, has been able to secure funds from the federal government for refugees in shelter systems and negotiate a new deal with the provincial government to ease some of the budgetary pressures and bring the City closer to long-term fiscal stability.

This year, I had the privilege of being asked to Chair the Planning and Housing Committee. Through the P&H committee, we introduced a transformative housing report which identifies the City as a public builder of affordable housing while finding ways to support Indigenous, not-for-profit and co-op housing sectors. I look forward to our federal and provincial governments joining us as we reimagine the road map to achieving housing justice.

As we celebrate the holiday season, I hope to continue working with you in 2024 towards a more compassionate and just Toronto.

Sincerely,

Gord

2023 Highlights:

Bloor Bike Lanes

The last few months have seen the expansion of the Bloor Bike Lanes and Complete Streets project, expanding the installation from Runnymede Rd into the neighbourhoods across the river to our west. The new bike lanes mark a dramatic step up in safety for cyclists and pedestrians while linking the Bloor West neighbourhood into the city's larger bike network to enable swifter and safer travel. Further work on refining the setup, including quashing problems that have arisen, implementing slight reorganizations, and fine-tuning traffic signalization, continues.

Parkside Drive 

Improvements to Parkside Drive continued this year with the new traffic signal that was installed at the High Park Trail intersection, the improved lighting in the City-owned underpass (The Queensway), and the activation of the paid parking (Green P) in the southbound curb lane between Spring Road and High Park Trail. The Phase II Public Consultation event and survey on the future of Parkside Drive will be launching early in the new year.

Traffic Calming Policy 

There has been an update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Initiatives and Traffic Calming Policy. This report dealt with a number of traffic-related items and included a revised Traffic Calming Policy. For instance, the warrants for Traffic Calming on a residential street are now based on the posted speed limit instead of the standard 40 km/h. This should help local streets in need of additional calming measures. The Traffic Operations division is currently in the process of training staff and updating their warrants/procedures to reflect the updated policy.

Speed Limit on Arterial Roads

A motion to reduce the speed limit on arterialroads to 40KM in Ward 4 (with the exception of Lake Shore Boulevard) was approved. This is an important step in the City's on-going work to implement Vision Zero and improve road Although there are sections of arterial roads in our ward that are already posted as 40 km/h due to the proximity of schools, there were still arterial roads posted as 50 km/h. The intent of this motion is to provide consistency, improve safety and protect the most vulnerable road users. Installation of the new 40KM signs are currently taking place and will continue in to the new year.

High Park Movement Strategy

In May, City Council approved the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS) final report and implementation plan, which aims to make the park safer and accessible for all users without reliance on private vehicles. The Council-approved strategy maintains car-free days on Saturday, Sunday and holiday weekdays, while directing staff to work towards achieving a car-free High Park as the long-term strategy in alignment with the City's commitments to Vision Zero, improved urban design, and encouraging more sustainable modes of transportation. The HPMS is being implemented in phases. Beginning in August, a number of changes to the travel network in High Park were implemented as the first phase of implementation. These initial changes focused on improving road user safety through implementing permanent car-free routes, dedicated bike lanes on shared routes, changes to how motor vehicles can enter, exit, and travel through the park and changes to parking configurations and parking capacities.

As the City work towards achieving a car-free High Park, we recognize that accessibility concerns need to be addressed. There are measures the City can introduce to ensure that the park remains accessible. The City is exploring solutions such as expanding the TTC bus route that serves the park and introducing a year-round accessible shuttle service to key destinations within the park. I appreciate all of the community interest and feedback that has been shared to help shape the HPMS, and will continue to keep you updated as this work moves forward.  

11 Brock Ave

As part of the Federal Rapid Housing Initiative, $21.6 million in capital funding will be invested in 40 new rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes at 11 Brock Avenue. The site will have a four-storey building, providing approximately 40 homes for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The site was purchased by the City from the Province in 2019 and will be operated by an experienced not-for-profit housing provider. We will keep you in the loop as the Request for Proposals for non-profits are issued and further information becomes available.

Parkdale Hub 

The Parkdale Hub site was approved as part of the Housing Now Initiative to advance the affordable rental housing component of the project. The Official Plan and Zoning by-law amendments as well as the rental housing demolition application approvals were granted by the Council. The proposal is to build at least 231 new rental housing units of which 30 – 50% will be affordable units. The project team also continues to work to advance the goal of coordinating City owned sites to create new safe, inclusive and accessible community spaces.

Playground Enhancements

I'm happy to share that both Lambton Park and Florence Gell Park saw the completion of playground improvement projects this year. These projects implemented new designs and modern equipment at the playgrounds to ensure they provide safe and accessible fun for many years to come. The final playground design and layout at both of these parks were determined using feedback from the community. The redesigned playground at Lambton Park includes separate junior and senior play structures, a stand-alone junior climber, and a swing set. The new Florence Gell Park playground opened in November and includes separate junior and senior play structures, a swing set, a rope climbing structure, a spinning bowl, accessible play panels, accessible sand desk, rock boulders and wood logs.  

The newly improved Lambton Park Playground

The newly improved Florence Gell Park Playground

You can visit the project websites to learn more about the new features implemented as part of the Lambton Park Playground Improvements and the Florence Gell Park Playground Improvements.

In 2024, I look forward to having another community driven vision for playground improvements take shape at Magwood Park.

 


- Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Study Update

- Roncesvalles Avenue Accessibility Update

 

Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Study Update

The Baby Point Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plan study area includes the Baby Point neighbourhood and it is located on a promontory overlooking the Humber River and its ravine and valley lands used for parks, north of Bloor Street West.

The City is keen to get input from Baby Point community members through a series of virtual sessions happening in February 2024. More information on the meeting and the project is available on the City's website:Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Plan – City of Toronto

and Newsletter #2: Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Study Newsletter Issue 02 (toronto.ca) 


Roncesvalles Ave will be fully accessible to all low-floor streetcar

Starting  Monday, December 18, 2023, Roncesvalles Ave will be fully accessible to all low-floor streetcars. 504 King replacement bus service between Dundas West Station and Roncesvalles and King Street will no longer operate as of Tuesday, December 19, 2023. While we update our systems, customers may hear announcements that stops are not accessible. All streetcars will be updated throughout the week.

https://www.ttc.ca/service-advisories/Service-Changes/504A-King-to-Distillery-Roncesvalles-Avenue-fully-accessible-to-all-low-floor-streetcars

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2025 Staff-Prepared City Budget Highlights

Friends,

On Monday January 13th, the City of Toronto launched the 2025 Budget process with a staff-prepared budget that protects and invests in our City’s core services based on feedback gathered during Fall 2024 consultations with Toronto residents.

I am pleased to see a number of new and enhanced initiatives included in the 2025 staff-prepared budget that advance our goals of making Toronto a more affordable, connected, and safe city for all. Key investments include:

Making life more affordable:

  • Feed 8,000 more students through school food programs
  • CampTO food program to support over 31,000 youth

Getting Toronto moving

  • Increase transit service hours by 5.8 per cent (approximately half a million hours) 
  • Expand to 100 Traffic Agents to address blocked intersections, improve travel times in key corridors and decrease collision

Providing community services

  • Expand Sunday service hours for 70 Toronto Public Libraries
  • Increase access to cultural initiatives including local arts, festivals and events

Keeping people safe

  • Add 276 more Emergency Services positions (fire, police and paramedics) 
  • Expand road safety programs

Staff presentations on the 2025 staff-prepared budget are available at www.toronto.ca/budget. I encourage you learn about the various opportunities to get involved in the budget process, which includes opportunities to speak directly to the Budget Committee and submitting written feedback here.

I will also be hosting a ‘City Budget 2025 Virtual Town Hall’ on Monday, January 20th at 6pm, where we will review the proposed 2025 budget, discuss its investments and impacts on city services, and walk through the City’s budget process together.  To join the virtual meeting, please use this link: gordperks.ca/2025budget

Looking forward to seeing you there,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • CampTO Summer Programs List
  • Winterlicious returns Jan 31 - Feb 13
  • Nominations now open: Toronto Community Champion Award 🏆 

Ward 4 Updates

  • Masaryk-Cowan Presents: Community Youth Nights

2024 Highlights and Holiday Wishes

Friends,

2024 has been a transformative year for our city.

As Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, I have had the pleasure of supporting the tireless work of community activists and City staff in advancing real solutions to the housing crisis we have been witnessing.

In 2024, to name a few successes, we established the Renovictions Bylaw to deter bad-faith evictions, launched an industry-supported incentive program that facilitates the development of 20,000 new rental homes, expanded permissions for townhouses and small-scale apartment buildings along major streets city-wide, and initiated steps to address excessive indoor temperatures due to the effects of climate change.

I am most proud of our work at rebuilding the City’s capacity as a Public Builder that leads the delivery of affordable housing options. Through establishing a Housing Development Office at the City, we have transformed the City from an entity that is frustrated and unable to move on affordable housing to quite possibly the biggest developer of affordable housing in the country.

In the last 15 months we have gone from zero to 13 affordable construction projects currently under construction, including the 11 Brock site in our ward, and dozens more projects with shovels in the ground next year. We are proving that when we choose to face our most pressing issues head-on, we can respond with quick and effective actions.

This week, as part of Council Mid-term Member Appointments, I was honoured to be asked to continue in my role as Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee for the remainder of this Council term.

As we celebrate the holiday season, I look forward to continuing to work together in 2025 to advance the realization of housing as a human right in Toronto.

Sincerely,


2024 Highlights

Dunn House

Dunn House (90 Dunn Ave), Canada’s first ever social medicine supportive housing initiative, opened in October. The four-storey modular housing building includes 51 new, rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes for people who were experiencing homelessness and who were also frequent users of UHN’s emergency department. The new homes will be furnished studio apartments with a bathroom and kitchen. The building will include amenities such as shared laundry, a commercial kitchen, a dining area, a communal area and programming space. They will also benefit from wrap-around social and health services provided by Fred Victor and UHN aimed at improving their well-being and housing stability.  Dunn House has been supported by all orders of government and non-profit housing partners, with continued engagement with the local community.

11 Brock Ave

Earlier this week, the City broke ground on the construction of 11 Brock Ave, the first of five ‘housing ready’ sites to be developed under the Public Developer Model. The planned four-storey building will provide 42 homes with supports to maintain people’s health, wellbeing, and housing stability. The new homes will be private apartments with a bathroom and a kitchen. The building will also include amenities such as shared laundry, a commercial kitchen and programming spaces for residents. The City has partnered with Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) as the community housing provider. PARC operates supportive homes in Toronto for adults experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, many with a history of homelessness. PARC and our office will continue to engage with the local Parkdale community on the development of this site. This work is possible due to intergovernmental partnership. In 2023, the project received $21.6 million through the Federal Rapid Housing Initiative. Beginning in 2025, annual operating funding of at least $1.2 million is required from the Province of Ontario for the support services planned for this building.

Traffic Calming Policy & Vision Zero Road Safety

There has been an update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Initiatives and Traffic Calming Policy. The updated Traffic Calming Policy was adopted by City Council in November 2023, and began applying to Community Council Reports starting January 2024. The warrants for Traffic Calming on a residential street are now based on the posted speed limit instead of the standard 40 km/h. This should help local streets in need of additional calming measures. As part of Vision Zero safety initiatives, the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) camera is designed to deter speeding motorists and increase safety for vulnerable road users. In Q1 of 2025, Ward 4 will receive two additional cameras as part of the ASE program expansion; the locations are Jameson Avenue South of Laxton Avenue and Jane Street near Page Avenue.

West Parkdale Cycling Connections

In Fall 2024 the City completed installation of the West Parkdale Cycling Connection. This project addresses a previous gap in our cycling network by providing a connection between The Queensway and Brock Avenue. In addition to the installation of the bike lanes the project included one way street conversions, changes to one way street directions, changes to on street parking, new stop signs, intersection improvements and traffic calming speed humps. A new traffic light signal will be installed in 2025 at Roncesvalles Avenue and Galley Avenue. Over the next 6 to 12 months, City staff will continue to monitor traffic counts and collect feedback from the community.

Parkside Drive

Parkside Drive’s current road configuration encourages motorists to travel at high speeds. In November City Council endorsed, in principle, to advance detailed design of the road safety changes identified in the Parkside Drive Study, which includes bike lanes and intersection safety improvements. The road reconfigurations aim to improve safety for all road users and upgrade Parkside Drive to accommodate multi-modal travel options. Council also approved as part of the Parkside Drive Study City staff recommendations for the installation of speed humps on five adjacent streets to Parkside Drive which satisfy the updated Traffic Calming Policy warrants.

High Park Movement Strategy

Improvements as part of the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS) continue to be advanced in High Park. New pick-up/drop-off spaces at key destinations on Colborne Lodge Drive between the Grenadier Cafe and Bloor Street West were added, and TTC 203 High Park Route operated seasonal service this summer with an expanded route that was run via Keele Station, providing a transfer-free accessible connection between High Park and Line 2. The High Park Movement Strategy includes the implementation of a shuttle service to help visitors get around High Park all year long. The City of Toronto has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the provision of this shuttle service, which will help visitors get around key locations within High Park. The City has also partnered with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to undertake a road ecology study within High Park to better understand existing conditions, potential risk factors to wildlife, and possible mitigation measures.

Sunnyside Beach Shoreline Resiliency Project

The Sunnyside Beach Shoreline Resiliency Project is one of 36 locations where work is being undertaken to rehabilitate and increase resiliency along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Periods of high lake water levels, coupled with increased frequency and severity of storms have put pressure on the existing erosion control measures in place along Lake Ontario’s shoreline and the City must deliver proactive solutions to address this. This project is carried out through the Federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The mandate of this work, under this funding structure, is to address the impacts of flooding and erosion by repairing, remediating, and enhancing the resilience of Toronto's waterfront shoreline. As part of these mitigation efforts, three seat walls in different locations have been installed as a protective barrier against high lake water effects. The City installed new sand to restore the sand quality at Sunnyside Beach following completion of the Shoreline Resiliency Project.


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Vacant Home Tax 2024 Declaration
  • New Year's Skating Parties
  • City of Toronto Consultation: Growing Space for Trees & Infill Housing
  • Planning for the Holiday Season in Toronto
  • Toronto Parking Authority Rate Change Communication

Ward 4 Updates

  • Developments
    • *New Date* Committee of Adjustment Application, 1375 Queen St W
    • Update on 2453-2469 Bloor Street West: Ontario Land Tribunal Hearing - Request for Directions
    • An Update on 2461-2475 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition & Conversion

Increasing Shelter Infrastructure and Our Public Developer Capacity

Friends,

I am encouraged by the progress announced this week on the City’s Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS). The City unveiled the first six shelter sites that are being developed as part of this 10-year strategy and has expanded winter services for people experiencing homelessness.

The City is currently providing emergency accommodations to approximately 12,000 people. These shelter spaces enable our unhoused neighbours to have a roof over their heads while accessing services that help them transition to permanent housing. In 2023, more than 5,900 people experiencing homelessness moved from the shelter system into permanent housing.

Although the City is providing shelter to thousands of people, hundreds of people are unable to be matched to shelter each night. The HSCIS was developed to meet the unmet demand for shelter space by building new shelters across Toronto. Between 2024 and 2033, the City plans to develop up to 20 new purpose-built shelter sites, creating a total of approximately 1,600 shelter spaces.

Each shelter will be smaller by design and serve approximately 80 people, focusing on providing safety, comfort and resources to help residents transition to stable housing. I encourage you to learn more about the City’s work to open new shelter sites on the project webpage.

I am also pleased to share that Executive Committee adopted a staff report this week on strengthening the City’s role as a Public Developer to deliver housing faster.

This report outlines steps to establish a Housing Development Office that will focus exclusively on advancing and accelerating the delivery of housing on City-led and City-supported sites. Through this new Office, the City will either lead projects directly or leverage Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) and CreateTO on a project-by-project basis, based on each organization’s unique expertise and best practices. This item will be considered by City Council next week.

I will continue to use my voice and vote on Council to support improving and increasing our shelter infrastructure and expediting the City’s delivery of housing.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Vacant Home Tax 2024 Declaration
  • Support your community: Holiday Wish List 🎁 
  • Skate Lending Library is back this winter  
  • Illuminating holiday experiences at Toronto History Museums ✨

Ward 4 Updates

  • Junction BIA's Window Wonderland
  • Junction Residents' Association: Community Caroling Sing-a-long in the Junction!!
  • Attention Parkdale Village BIA Members: Board Members Wanted
  • Developments
    • *New Date* Committee of Adjustment Application, 1375 Queen St W

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