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Updates on High Park Movement Strategy & Parkdale Hub

Friends,

I am happy to share that the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS) final report has been approved by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee (IEC). As I have shared in previous emails, I have advocated as part of this process to set the path for a car-free High Park and to keep the vehicle restrictions in place on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday weekdays. Based on a motion I prepared for IEC, we were successful in achieving these changes.

Here is a link to the full report that was considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee. You can also see my comments at the committee meeting here: https://youtu.be/-t9ROOeZO6w

The report will be considered at the May 10-12 City Council meeting. Once the agenda for the City Council meeting goes live on May 5, you can share your feedback on the strategy with members of City Council by emailing [email protected].

Following approval by City Council, staff will begin to implement changes proposed in the High Park Movement Strategy. The first phase of implementation will involve restricting vehicle access on West Rd and a portion of Colborne Lodge Drive to allow for designated spaces that are for pedestrians or cyclists only. Vehicles will be able to drive into the park using the Parkside Dr entrance and exit onto Bloor St. The park will also continue to restrict vehicle access on weekends and holiday Mondays.

Thank you to the thousands of residents who took the time to share feedback and inform the development of this strategy. As a result, we are taking important steps to make High Park safer for all visitors.

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In this week's newsletter:

  • Update on the Parkdale Hub Project
  • Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program
  • Notice: 2453-2569 Bloor Street West Pre-Application Community Meeting
  • Reminder: Virtual Community Meeting for 1660 Bloor St West - May 2
  • Free Leaf Compost on April 29, May 4 and May 6
  • Junction Farmers Market Board are now accepting applications

 

Update on the Parkdale Hub Project

Today, at the Planning and Housing Committee, two motions relating to Parkdale Hub were approved.

First, as part of the Heritage Impact Assessment, staff report recommended that Council state its intent to designate the property at 1313 Queen Street West under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance. If there are no objections to the designation, staff further recommends that City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the Bill in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. This item was adopted by the Committee.

Second, as part of the Housing Now Program Update 2023, the staff report includes recommendations to bring the Parkdale Hub into the Housing Now Initiative. It also includes a financial impact section reflecting the impact on forgone municipal taxes and value of incentives related to the affordable housing component.  This item was also adopted by the Committee.

These items will be at City Council next.

Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance (SAHM) Program

Contact Program Coordinator Kevin Pook at 416-531-8447 or [email protected] for services including garden and yard work, snow removal, light housekeeping and odd light jobs.

2453-2569 Bloor Street West Pre-Application Community Meeting

A plan has been proposed to redevelop 2453–2469 Bloor Street West into a 12-storey mass timber mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor.

A meeting will be held on May 8th from 6:30pm-8:00pm to allow you to view the proposal and share your thoughts, consisting of a short presentation of the development followed by a Q&A session.

Councillor Perks and City Planning staff will also be in attendance to help answer any questions that may arise.

You can register for the meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pmCf34nNQeiYr4XIQ0kQGw#/registration.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Virtual Community Meeting to review Site Plan and Construction Management Plan for 1660 Bloor St West (N/W corner of Bloor and Indian Road)

A Virtual Community Meeting to review the Site and Construction Management Plan of 1660 Bloor St West (N/W corner of Bloor and Indian Road) is scheduled for May 2nd.

A 13-storey mixed-use building with 174 units, and retail space fronting onto Bloor St was approved by the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB), decision dated October 4, 2022.  The application was originally denied by the Committee of Adjustment in March, 2022and appealed to TLAB.

The Site Plan and Construction Management Plan are near completion.

Councillor Perks is hosting a Virtual Community Meeting to review the Site Plan and Construction Management Plan. It will be an opportunity to review the Site Plan and Construction Management Plan, ask questions and share comments and concerns.

Virtual Community Meeting

Tuesday, May 2nd, 6-7:30PM

Link to register for Virtual Meeting is available here: https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r967f3223215dffaa157b7833f2462159 . 

City Planning staff and the applicant will be in attendance.

More information on the 1660 Bloor St Development is available at: http://app.toronto.ca/AIC/index.do?folderRsn=3xoTFemCimfZjdyPZpkWqA%3D%3D

Search 1660 Bloor St W 1 of 1, 2 of 2 and 3 of 3.

First Community Compost Day on April 29

Come by and pick up free leaf compost at one of our Community Compost Days:

Saturday, April 29th at 10:00am (while supplies last) at the corner of Doran Ave. and Althea Rd.

Thursday, May 4th at 2:00pm (while supplies last) at Masaryk Cowan Community Centre, 220 Cowan Ave.

Saturday, May 6th at 10:00am (while supplies last) at the corner of Wabash Ave. and Macdonell Ave.

Please bring your own shovels and containers

Volunteer with Junction Farmers Market

 The Junction Farmers Market (opening May 20) currently has several vacancies on its volunteer board of directors. 

If you have a passion for local food, farming and food security and want to contribute to the Junction community, please find more information and complete the application form - JFM Board Member Application (google.com)

Thank you! Let's grow together! 

A backgrounder is available here. 

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Winter in Toronto Activities

Friends,

I wanted to share a reminder that despite temperatures beginning to dip, there are several outdoor activities offered by the City that residents can enjoy throughout the winter.

The City will begin to open its more than 50 outdoor ice rinks and skating trails citywide in the coming weeks. Family-friendly activities offered at these facilities include free public leisure and figure skating, shinny, ringette, and instructional programs. Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the City’s service alerts webpage for updates regarding artificial ice rinks and to check the status of local rinks by visiting the City’s webpage. 

The Skate Lending Library is also back, which makes it easy and fun for residents and families to learn how to skate by providing access to skates, helmets, and skate aids. The program is free and no reservations are required. More information about skate lending locations is available here. 

Residents are also invited to make use of outdoor sport courts including 50 tennis courts with nets in place for winter tennis, designated fire pits that can be booked in advance through the new recreation booking system, birdwatching at Toronto parks, ravines and natural areas, and many other Winter in Toronto activities.

I encourage you to embrace the cold and stay active during this winter season by learning more about TO Winter activities.

Sincerely,

In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates

  • Help shape the future of ice facilities in Toronto
  • Canada Post labour disruption
  • Early registration for Older Adult winter programs now open
  • Holiday giving through DonateTO
  • Help shape the future of Toronto's recreation spaces and parks
  • Vacant Home Tax 2024 declaration 

Ward 4 Updates

  • Shop Local in Parkdale
  • Developments
    • 2461-2475 Dundas St W Refusal Report
    • *New Date* Committee of Adjustment Application, 1375 Queen St W

Our Health, Our City - Annual Progress Report

Friends,

This week at Board of Health, staff presented the first annual progress report on Our Health, Our City, Toronto’s comprehensive five-year and city-wide strategy to address both mental health and substance use related issues in Toronto.

I was pleased to hear that significant progress has been made towards the first-year priorities identified in the strategy. Most notably, Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) has been expanded city-wide, which improves access to appropriate services and support for people in crisis.

Toronto Public Health staff emphasized, however, that Toronto continues to be in a drug toxicity epidemic, with over 500 deaths per year for the last four years due to opioid toxicity.

Staff expressed grave concerns for how in this context the provincial government’s plans to close Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) sites in Toronto will not only lead to an increase in overdoses but also negatively impact everyone’s health and access to emergency services.

SCSs are clinical spaces for people to bring their own drugs to use in the presence of trained health professionals available immediately should a person overdose. In 2023, staff at the 10 SCS locations currently in Toronto responded to 2296 overdoses – that’s over 2000 calls that didn’t get made to 911, preserving Emergency Services resources for other urgent needs in our city.

The staff report recommendations include reiterating the request to the provincial government to protect community health, well-being, and safety by continuing to fund, and permit the operation of all currently operating SCS sites.

The Board of Health adopted this item with amendments. You can listen to my comments on this item below.  

The Canadian and international evidence is clear that SCSs save lives, connect people to social services and are pathways to treatment. I will continue to work in partnership with Board of Health colleagues and community to advocate for policies that are evidence-based and promote public health and public safety for all Toronto residents.

Sincerely,

In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates

  • Long-Term Waste Management Strategy, Phase 1 Consultation
  • Vacant Home Tax 2024 declaration 

Ward 4 Updates

  • Shop Local in Parkdale
  • Designation of the Teiaiagon-Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Plan under the Ontario Heritage Act
  • Baby Point Gates Annual Open House 
  • Developments
    • 2461-2475 Dundas St W Refusal Report
    • Committee of Adjustment Application, 1375 Queen St W

Winter Recreation Programming

Friends,

I am pleased to share that this week at City Council we adopted two landmark policies aimed at reducing housing insecurity in our city: Establishing a New Purpose-built Rental Homes Incentives Stream and Implementing a Rental Reonvation License By-law to Address Renovictions.  Together, these two policies will steer our city’s housing system towards building the affordable rental housing options that residents need – starting with an immediate call for 7,000 new rental homes supported through the City’s own resources,  while at the same time increasing protections for tenants living in our existing rental housing stock.

City Council also adopted the Parkside Drive Study Final Report, advancing staff recommend safety improvements for achieving a safer Parkside neighbourhood. You can review the full City Council agenda here: City Council - Meeting 23 - TMMIS (toronto.ca)

I also wanted to remind residents that last week the City officially launched a new registration and booking system for its recreation programming. This new system includes a ‘wish list’ feature that will reduce the time it takes to register and eliminate the need to search for available programs on the spot. Residents are encouraged to explore the new system and create their new account before registration for winter recreation programming begins in the coming weeks. More information on how to set up an account and where to get support is included below.

I hope you and your family are able to make use of the terrific range of recreation programs offered by our City. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if we can be of support.

Sincerely,

In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates

  • Winter Recreation Programming – Create a new account and a wish list
  • 311 Toronto awareness and usage survey 🏙️ 
  • Help shape public parking in Toronto 🅿️
  • Supporting homeowners with home energy improvements 🍃 
  • 2025 Waste Collection Schedules and Waste Management Guide
  • It’s Fall Yard Waste Season!
  • Reminder: Shape the future of Toronto facilities and parks
  • Vacant Home Tax 2024 declaration 
  • Exhibition Place Community Liaison Consultation

Ward 4 Updates

  • Baby Point Gates Annual Open House 
  • Committee of Adjustment Application 1229 Queen Street West 
  • Developments
    • 138 Dowling Pre-Application Meeting
More — Read Our Weekly Newsletter

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Ward 4

City Hall

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Phone: 416-392-7919
Address:
100 Queen St W, Suite A14
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
City of Toronto
311 Toronto