2025 Highlights
Swansea Mews
This year, Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) submitted a proposal with the Development Review Division of the City of Toronto to rebuild Swansea Mews and are in the early stages of the planning application process. The proposal envisions two buildings delivering 154 replacement units and 495 new units for a total of 649 units at the site. New community, commercial, and amenity spaces are part of the proposed plan. The units will have a range of affordability from rent-geared-to-income to market rent to build a strong and resilient community.
Revitalizing Swansea Mews requires investment from multiple levels of government. The level of funding and financing available is tied to the proposed density. As a result, TCHC must plan for enough homes to ensure the project is financially viable, can withstand pressures in Toronto’s land-use market, and qualifies for government funding programs that require increased scale.
The significant advancement of this project is a result of years of thoughtful work by TCHC, largely informed by deep engagement with tenants and the community. We hope you continue to be engaged in the project in the new year.
Parkdale Hub
Parkdale’s Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT), Toronto’s first community land trust, has been selected by the City of Toronto as the successful proponent to lease and develop the West Block portion of Parkdale Hub, a 16-storey development that will deliver an estimated 175 new homes.
For the community space component of the West Block, applications are now open for organizations interested in entering a below-market lease agreement. This multi-service community hub will house existing tenants as well as welcome new neighbourhood based and locally responsive service providers.
As part of the Toronto Builds Policy Framework, this transformational city-building initiative brings together various City divisions and agencies in partnership with nonprofit organizations to deliver affordable housing along with important services at the intersection of Queen Street West and Cowan Avenue
Designation of the Teiaiagon-Baby Point Heritage Conservation District Plan
This fall we proudly designated the Teiaiagon-Baby Point Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plan under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The Teiaiagon-Baby Point HCD includes the Baby Point neighbourhood and is located primarily on a promontory overlooking the Humber River and its ravine and valley lands used for parks, north of Bloor Street West. The area is of particular significance to Indigenous communities given its known history as a site used by their ancestors for millennia and is perhaps best known as the location of the well-documented mid-to-late 17th century Haudenosaunee village Teiaiagon, associated primarily with the Seneca Nation. The area was part of Robert Home Smith’s Humber Valley Surveys, with Baby Point proceeding in development according to the garden suburb model.
The passing of this HCD Plan ensures the protection, conservation, and management of this neighbourhood’s heritage attributes and contributing properties so that the District’s cultural heritage value is protected for the long-term enjoyment of all Torontonians.
Bloor West Village Avenue Study
The City has completed an Avenue Study to assess the land uses, transportation and servicing infrastructure, community services and facilities, built form character, and redevelopment potential for Bloor Street West between Keele St and the Humber River. The study included extensive community consultation and technical review in order to evaluate existing conditions, develop a vision for the study area, and set out recommendations for an area-specific planning framework that will guide future development and infrastructure improvements.
Following the completion of this study a set of guidelines have been created to support protection of the natural areas, heritage character, and sense of place, while accommodating growth along a transit corridor in a way that respects local character. It aims to balance the objective of optimizing density around the transit stations, as directed by the Province, while protecting the existing walkable and attractive character. It also seeks to conserve cultural heritage resources and to protect and enhance the sensitive and rare natural heritage areas in the immediate vicinity.
High Park Movement Strategy
As part of the High Park Movement Strategy, the City is moving forward with design and infrastructure improvements on Colborne Lodge Drive, West Road and parts of Centre Road. These improvements are guided by the Strategy’s long-term vision and will be informed by a community engagement process on proposed designs. Phase one of engagement to inform design options was launched in Fall 2025. Park road redesign will also be informed by a public life study conducted earlier this year, reporting on how people are using and navigating the park. These options will be shared publicly in 2026 for community feedback.
Rental Renovation License Bylaw
The Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw, which came into effect this year (July 31st, 2025), requires landlords to obtain a licence before starting repairs or renovations that require tenants to move out of their rental units under the Provincial N13 process (under the Residential Tenancies Act). To obtain a licence, owners and operators (i.e. landlords) must comply with the bylaw requirements, including notifying tenants of the licence application, agreeing on arrangements for the tenant’s temporary alternate accommodation during the period of the renovations or instead making monthly rent-gap payments to the tenant if the tenant is returning to the unit, or paying compensation if the tenant has chosen not to return.
This bylaw is designed to protect tenants from bad faith evictions, preserve Toronto’s affordable rental housing and establish a transparent and equitable process for landlords to be licensed to carry out repairs or renovations that require the tenant to vacate their unit.
Traffic Calming and Transportation
City staff completed investigations for multiple requests for traffic calming from the community this year in line with the updated Traffic Calming Policy. Investigations that met the warrants were approved at the Toronto East York Community Council in November (Agenda Item History - 2025.TE27.63). Several traffic calming investigations, and intersection safety reviews are ongoing throughout our ward. While it is unfortunate that the proven Automated Speed Enforcement program has been removed by the Provincial Government, our City remains committed to investing in Vision Zero Road Safety Plan initiatives and implementing our Cycling Network Plan to keep our most vulnerable road users safe.
Transit Signal Priority measures were investigated and approved for the 505 streetcar to help keep our community moving. The City also installed priority bus lanes on Dufferin Street between Bloor Street West and the Dufferin Gate Loop as part of the RapidTO program to improve TTC bus reliability on Dufferin Street.
City-Wide News
Blue Bins: No longer City-run
A Provincial regulation means that as of January 1, 2026, the City will no longer run the Blue Bin program. A private company will take over the collection of residential recycling.
What does this mean for you?
• Recycling: A private company will be responsible for collecting your recycling and for any services like missed recycling collection, new bins or information about what you can recycle.
• Garbage and Green Bins: The City will continue to collect your garbage and Green Bin (organics) materials; you don’t need to do anything differently.
• Collection schedule: You should continue to follow the collection schedule provided by the City and available online at toronto.ca/collection-schedule.
The day of the week when garbage, recycling and Green Bin organic materials are collected will not change. Garbage and recycling will continue to alternate every second week and Green Bin materials will be collected weekly.
In some areas of the city, the week that garbage and recycling is set out will change, starting the first week of 2026. You can find information online at toronto.ca/collection schedule.
Questions/requests: As of January 1, questions about residential blue bin recycling services, including missed collection or bin repair, can be directed to Circular Materials at 1-888-921- 2686 or circularmaterials.ca/Toronto.
Collection schedules for houses and units above commercial properties will be mailed to households in early December 2025. Schedules will include recycling, garbage, Green Bin (organics) and yard waste information
Ward 4 news
Scarlett Road Bridge Replacement Update and Community Meeting
The City of Toronto is preparing for the upcoming replacement of the Scarlett Road bridge and reconstruction of the intersection of Scarlett Rd, Dundas St W, and St. Clair Ave W.
Before this work can begin the City has had to coordinate with all utility companies to relocate their underground and above-ground infrastructure in order to minimize risks during the bridge and road construction. Enbridge Gas, Bell, Rogers, and Lumen Technologies have completed their relocation work in the area, though the communication utilities have some minor work remaining to pull cables which is expected to cause only minimal disruption. Toronto Hydro’s relocation work is currently underway.
A public meeting is being held on Thursday, January 15, 2026 to provide an overview of the project, detail our current status in the process of preparing for construction, discuss work completed to date, and outline next steps.
Public Information Meeting
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Format: Beginning with a presentation, followed by a Q&A session
Where: Lambton Park Community School, 50 Bernice Crescent, York, ON M6N 1W9
Timing for the start of the bridge and road construction is still to be confirmed. Once confirmed, residents will receive a Pre-Construction Notice 2-3 months before the bridge work is scheduled to begin. An additional public information meeting will be held to share information about construction plans, impacts, and timelines.
For more information or to subscribe to receive project updates, go to www.toronto.ca/Scarlett.
The City of Toronto staff contact for this project is Mark De Miglio, 416-395-7178, [email protected].
RapidTO: Dufferin St - Winter Pause & What's Next
Work on Dufferin Street’s priority bus lanes is paused for the winter. The segment south of Dundas Street West is now operational and enforceable, and contractors will return in spring 2026 to complete the remaining segment from Dundas Street West to Dufferin Station.
King Street West to Dundas Street West
Installation is complete! This section is operational and enforceable. In spring 2026, as part of the installation contract, crews will repair any winter-related wear, like peeling paint. Peeling can happen when a salt
water mix or oil prevents the paint from sticking and fluctuating winter temperatures or snowplows can make it worse. Any worn pavement markings identified will be addressed in Spring 2026, as completing this work during warmer temperatures ensures a more durable application.
All other work resumes in spring 2026 when weather improves and depends on dry, above-zero conditions. Completion is planned for end of May 2026
For more information please see project website: RapidTO: Dufferin Street – City of Toronto
Sorauren Avenue Construction Update – Dec 18th
Phase one watermain connection work along intersecting streets on Sorauren Avenue has been completed. Crews will be completing temporary restorations and demobilizing from the work site by Thursday December 18th. All construction materials and equipment will be removed apart from location specific traffic barrels and the site trailer. All on street parking on Sorauren Avenue will reopen and sidewalks will be clear for pedestrian use.
To date watermain replacement work has been completed from Queen St W to Dundas St W. Once the project resumes in the spring , water service connections, water main connections, sidewalk and road works will begin. Another construction update will be circulated in spring 2026 once restart dates are finalized.
Upcoming works in 2026
Remaining water works, Sidewalk replacement & road resurfacing
Project Contacts
The project team thanks you for your ongoing patience and will be forwarding updates through Councillor Perks newsletter. Please contact [email protected] If you have any questions or concerns with the ongoing construction.
Construction Update Maher Ave
Construction Update Van Stassen Blvd
Toronto Hydro Mavety St Between Dundas St W & Annette St
Parkdale Hub West Block Community Space – REOI Final Information Session - January 15
The City of Toronto is launching a new community space at 1337 Queen Street West as part of the Parkdale Hub redevelopment. The West Block will offer 23,300 sq. ft. of community space across three floors, featuring meeting rooms, shared kitchens, and office spaces for not-for-profit organizations to lease at a below-market rate, with occupancy expected in early 2029. Agencies interested in applying for tenancy must attend one mandatory online information session and submit a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) application. The final of the three sessions will be held on January 15, 2026. To register, email [email protected]. The application deadline is Feb 27, 2026, and Mar 13 for Indigenous- and Black-led organizations.
Learn more and apply by visiting: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/community-partners/community-hubs
Ritchie Avenue Parkette Playground Improvements – Online Survey
Ritchie Avenue Parkette playground is being improved! Take the family-friendly online survey by January 12th 2026, to share your feedback and preferences. If you have kids at home, we encourage you to take the survey together.
Please see complete notice here: Ritchie_Draft_Survey.pdf
Survey link: https://ca.mar.medallia.com/RitchiePlay
