3459-3461 Dundas St West Community Consultation Meeting on Sept 3
OLT Decision for Application at 2453 - 2469 Bloor Street West
3459-3461 Dundas St West Community Consultation Meeting on Sept 3
The City has received a Zoning By-law Amendment application for 3459-3461 Dundas St West and resultantly City Planning has scheduled a virtual Community Consultation Meeting for the evening of September 3rd at 6pm.
A plan has been proposed to redevelop this space into a 7-storey mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor, containing 34 residential units, 38 bike parking spaces, and 0 vehicle parking spaces. Next month's meeting, consisting of a short presentation of the proposal by the applicant, followed by a presentation from City Planning Staff, and concluding with a Q&A session, will allow you to view the proposal and share your thoughts.
Councillor Perks, City Planning staff, and the applicant will be in attendance to help answer any questions that may arise. You can register for the meeting here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b8ab74f0-2a70-4c78-a22f-7b3d59465cd7@f0bc8ec6-9ed8-4d0c-9189-411ad949cc65.
Further information on the project and what is being proposed can be found on the City's Application Information Centre website here: http://www.toronto.ca/3459DundasStW.
OLT Decision for Application at 2453 - 2469 Bloor Street West
In January 2024, a complete application was submitted for 2453-2469 Bloor St W which proposed a 13-storey mixed use building. The application proposed 260 square metres of ground floor retail and 91 dwelling units, with 111 bike parking spaces and 40 vehicle parking spaces.
This application was considered by City Planning staff to be unsuitable to the location. Instead, staff recommended, and City Council approved in their May 2024 session, an altered application that is 10-storeys high with similar residential unit counts and ground floor retail, with altered massing.
In response to Toronto East York Community Council and City Councils decision to approve an altered Zoning By-law Amendment Application for 2453-2469 Bloor St W, the applicant filed an appeal of this decision with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) on May 27, 2024. There were extensive discussions between City staff and the applicant’s team to try to resolve the matter to avoid a contested hearing. No resolution was reached.
On October 16, 2024, the applicant filed a revised proposal with the OLT to increase the height to 16 storeys. That revised proposal was rejected by Council at its December 17, 2024 meeting.
A community group, the Swansea Area Ratepayers’ Association (SARG) was a party at the hearing. They were represented by a lawyer and presented expert planning evidence. SARG’s evidence supported the City’s position, namely that 16 storeys was simply too much intensification for this site, considering the limitations associated with the site and the potential for a negative precedent to be created.
A hearing took place in March 2025 and a decision was received earlier this month: the OLT decided in favour of the applicant’s 16-storey proposal and rejected the arguments made by the City and SARG. There is no further route of appeal to this decision. This is not the outcome that Councillor Perks was hoping for, but our office will work with City Planning and the applicant to do our best with the outcome that we’ve landed on and work towards an application that works best for everyone in the neighbourhood.
More information on the original application can be found on the City’s Application Information Centre website here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-details/?id=5309673&pid=717775.
More information on the City Staff approved building, and their reasoning for their changes to the original application, can be found in the staff report here: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-243974.pdf.
The full staff report on this item is available on-line at https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.TE12.2.
Communication from Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre on the Parkdale Parkette Temporary Closure
It is with a heavy heart that Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (PQWCHC) must inform you of a difficult decision regarding the parkette at 1229 Queen Street West, our Parkdale site. After thorough consideration and in consultation with Toronto Parks and Recreation, the Centre has made the decision to install temporary fencing around the parkette, to restrict all access and to support remediation work on-site. This is not a decision we made lightly, as we recognize the mixed emotions this may evoke for everyone who cares about this space.
We are saddened that we must restrict open access to this vital public space, which many of you, over 25 years ago, contributed to building. The parkette was designed to be a place of respite, community and connection for clients of the health centre and everyone in the neighbourhood of Parkdale. For years, it has served that purpose by literally being a living room for many who do not have balconies, backyards, porches or housing.
We also recognize that, for a vulnerable segment of our community, the parkette was more than a public space; it became a refuge. It was a place where our outreach teams could connect with individuals experiencing homelessness and challenges with substance use, and provide a pathway, without judgment, to connection, community and care. Many of you are aware of the systemic issues that have converged: the removal of a nearby encampment, a critical lack of shelter beds and affordable housing, the ongoing toxic drug epidemic, and post-pandemic, the shifting landscape of support services, including the recent closure of Supervised Consumption Services across the province. These factors have created safety concerns and a need for social supports that exceed the capacity of any single organization to manage effectively.
We also want to acknowledge the community members who have expressed safety concerns and distress over the past months, including those who have had experiences that affected their real and perceived sense of safety. We understand that witnessing the visible hardship caused by the profound insecurity of homelessness is deeply unsettling especially when coupled with the presence of substance use. Your concerns about the safety of the parkette and surrounding neighbourhood have been heard.
Our dedicated staff and partner organizations, in cooperation with Toronto Police Services, Parks and Recreation and other city services have worked tirelessly to foster safety and support in the neighbourhood. However, given the volume and complexity of community needs we have witnessed in recent months, and our fears about escalating tensions, we have determined that temporarily restricting access to the parkette is the only viable course of action at this time.
While access to the space will be temporarily closed, we want to assure you this closure will allow us to make meaningful improvements to the space. We have already engaged the city to remediate the wear and tear the parkette has experienced, with the goal of restoring it for future community use.
The improvements will likely include design features to encourage pedestrian use of the concrete walkway, reseeding for grass growth and possibly installation of some additional hardscape asphalt or concrete in areas where ponding occurs.
In the wake of the parkette closure, we are immediately ramping up our efforts to:
We understand this fence will not solve the complex challenges we face in Parkdale. This is a temporary measure, not a systemic solution. We ask you to join our call in advocating for a future where every person has a safe place to call home and access to the health and social care they need.
At this time, we are unable to provide a specific timeline for reopening the parkette, however our desire is to see a reopening in fall. We are actively working toward a sustainable, safe and compassionate path forward, one that prioritizes the well-being of everyone.
To make a donation for the breakfast program you can do so at pqwchc.org/donations. Also email us at [email protected] if you would like to contribute volunteer time to this program.
Should you have questions, feedback or concerns please contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for your understanding, your compassion and your commitment to building a healthier and safer community for all.
Angela Robertson - Executive Director
Friends,
As we enter Earth Month, I wanted to highlight some of the many environmental initiatives the City is advancing to support community members in taking action.
Community Environment and Compost Days: Environment Days return this month with events scheduled across Toronto. These events provide residents with a convenient way to recycle electronics, donate reusable household items, and safely dispose of household hazardous waste. Learn more about Environment Day Events here.
In Ward 4, we will be hosting two Community Compost Days on April 25th near Warren Park Junior Public School and on April 30th near Masaryk Cowan Community Centre. Residents can pick up free loose compost, while supplies last. More information is included below in this week’s e-newsletter.
Community Stewardship Program: Community Stewardship Program volunteers help to care for natural areas across the city, and learn about native trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, invasive species, ecological monitoring, and more! Participants meet at their designated team site from spring to fall, engaging in stewardship activities such as invasive species removal and planting.
Virtual orientation for new volunteers is taking place on Wednesday April 8 from 6 to 7 p.m. Learn more about the Community Stewardship Program and orientation registration here.
Native Plants, Trees and Shrubs List: Ever wondered which plants will actually thrive in your dry, full sun, salt exposed garden? Or which native groundcovers can help you replace turf grass? Just in time for spring planting, the City has launched a dynamic new Native Plant, Tree and Shrub List for residents to plan out their gardens. Native species are naturally adapted to local conditions making them resilient, low maintenance, and great for supporting pollinators and local biodiversity. Review the Native Plants, Trees, and Shrubs List here.
Live Green Toronto is also offering residents a chance to win a kit of pollinator-friendly native wildflowers to help boost Toronto’s buzzing pollinator habitats. Each kit comes with 10 beautiful native wildflower plants and an optional native shrub. The contest is open until April 21, 2026. Learn more about the Native Plant Kit Contest here.
Help grow Toronto’s tree canopy: The City plants and maintains trees on the portion of land between roadways and private property, known as the City right-of-way. Each year, the City carefully plans and prioritizes where new trees will be planted.
If you receive a notice that a tree will be planted in front of your property, carefully read the instructions or reach out to 311 with any questions. The City will take care of the planting and ongoing maintenance; you get to enjoy the new tree.
If you are a property owner and would like a tree planted in front of your home, you can submit a request to 311 at Request a City Tree Planting.
Clean Toronto Together – April 24 to 26: You can join thousands of residents, families, businesses and community groups in the annual citywide cleanup from April 24 to 26. Register by April 22 to choose your cleanup location from a pre-approved parks list, pick up supplies and receive a participant toolkit. Registering for your community clean up in advance will help the City coordinate clean up locations, arrange waste collection and recognize the impact of volunteer efforts across Toronto’s parks and public spaces. Learn more at toronto.ca/CleanToronto.
Toronto continues to be a leader amongst North American municipalities in protecting the environment and building sustainable communities, in large part due to the level of resident participation in these initiatives. Whether you’re a perennial participant or looking to try something new, I encourage you take part in greening our city in a way that excites you.
Sincerely,
Friends,
High Park just got easier to explore with the advancement of a key component of the High Park Movement Strategy – expansion of public transit in High Park.
Starting March 15, 2026, TTC’s 203 High Park is running an expanded bus service through the ‘High Park Loop’ on weekends to support increased travel to High Park. The service will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with buses arriving every 20 minutes.
The 203 High Park brings park visitors directly to various stops within the park from High Park Station, with no extra fare required.
Additionally, from May to September, the bus will be operational during the weekdays.
Wheel-Trans service in High Park will continue be a year-round service. Information on service schedules and locations can be found on Wheel-Trans or by calling the Wheel-Trans Reservation line at 416-393-4222.
Plan your visit to High Park: toronto.ca/highpark
The City’s Parks and Recreation Division is hosting a High Park Movement Strategy Road Design Options Public Meeting on Tuesday, April 7th, 6 p.m to 8 p.m. The portal to register for the meeting is available at Toronto.ca/highparkmove . This is an opportunity for community to learn about and provide feedback on the road design options for the next phase of High Park Movement Strategy implementation.
As part of CampTO, High Park will also be hosting a children’s cycling camp out of Colborne Lodge in August. Enrollment opens on March 31 on the City’s webpage.
As we continue to improve the travel network in High Park, I want to thank everyone for your continued interest in making the park more accessible, safe, and vibrant. Together we can champion a park that is conveniently accessed through public transit, supports active transportation, strengthens its natural environment and brings people together in a safe and welcoming public space.
Sincerely,
Friends,
Spring is around the corner, and as the snow melts, City crews are hard at work filling potholes and responding to local roads in bad condition because of this year’s winter weather.
I was happy to support Mayor Chow’s motion at Executive Committee this week aimed at building upon the City’s successful Fixing Roads Faster program. Launched in 2025, this program accelerated resurfacing of local roads ahead of their original schedule, including those with the most significant pothole issues. In 2025, this resulted in over 250,000 potholes being filled, an increase of 44% since 2022.
The City’s 2026 Budget invests $11 million in new funding to build upon the Fixing Roads Faster program and expand local resurfacing above and beyond the previous level of local road repair.
Residents can help inform this year’s ongoing pothole blitz strategy by reporting damage on a road, bike lane, or expressway to 311. A service request can be submitted online at toronto.ca/311 or by calling 311. You can learn more about the City’s response to potholes here: Potholes – City of Toronto
Next week is March Break and I encourage you to review and enjoy the various events and activities taking place across our city, including March Break Fun at Colborne Lodge.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy March Break week and our e-newsletter will resume the following week.
Sincerely,
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