Council Approves Rental Housing Supply Program

Friends,

I hope you’re able to connect with friends and family this holiday long weekend and enjoy the various festivities taking place.  

This year’s Pride Parade, a vibrant celebration of Toronto’s diverse 2SLGBTQ+ communities, will take place on Sunday, June 30. More information about Pride celebrations and activities is available on Pride Toronto’s website.  The City is also offering free, city-wide programming to residents and visitors celebrating Canada Day on Monday, July 1.  More details are available on the City’s Canada Day webpage.

I am also proud to share that this week at City Council, Council adopted with amendments two items that meaningfully advance action to address housing insecurity in our city: the Renovicitons Policy Implementation staff report and the Launching the Rental Housing Supply Program staff report.

The Renovictions Policy Implementation staff report provides recommendations for developing a Toronto Renoviction By-Law to protect tenants from bad-faith evictions. Council has directed staff to move forward in developing the by-law and report back to the Planning and Housing Committee in October, 2024, with a proposed renovictions by-law and operational framework to implement the by-law.

The Rental Housing Supply Program is an ambitious suite of measures that support the City’s target of 65,000 new rent-controlled homes being built by 2030, including immediately allocating $351 million in capital funding to 18 affordable rental housing projects.

This will enable all 18 of these projects to get shovels in the ground between now and the end of 2025, creating a total of almost 6,000 new rental homes. No government in my lifetime has been building social housing at this rate.

With your continued involvement, we can build a Toronto where housing is affordable for all.

Sincerely,

Gord

 


  • An Update on 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue - Official Plan, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Rental Housing Demolition Applications

  • 1266 Queen Street West – Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application – Decision Report – Refusal of Official Plan Amendment and Approval of Zoning By-law Amendment

  • Committee of Adjustment Application 1354-1360 Queen Street West and 8-14 Brock Avenue

  • 1337-1355 King Street West - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment, and Rental Housing Demolition Applications - Decision Report - Approval

  • An Update on 1930 - 1938 Bloor St W and 3, 5 & 21 Quebec Ave - Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition & Conversion Application

  • An Update on 2453-2469 Bloor St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications

  • Have your say in the library's future and Complete the Survey!

An Update on 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue - Official Plan, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Rental Housing Demolition Applications

In response to Toronto East York Community Council and City Councils decision to refuse the Official Plan, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Rental Housing Demolition Applications for 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue, City staff have received notice that the applicant has filed an appeal of this decision with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

 

In May 2024, City Council refused the application that proposes a 21-storey mixed use building. The proposal showed 213 square metres of ground floor retail and 263 dwelling units, including 8 rental replacement units. More information on the application can be found on the City’s Application Information Centre website here: Application Information Centre - 1304 KING ST W (toronto.ca).

 

City Council also directed that in the event the applications are appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, that City Council attempt to resolve the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor.

The full staff report on this item is available on-line at https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.TE13.10.

As information on the OLT appeal becomes available, our office will share. The OLT website will also post information on their website at https://jus-olt-prod.powerappsportals.com/en/e-status/.


1266 Queen Street West – Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application – Decision Report – Refusal of Official Plan Amendment and Approval of Zoning By-law Amendment

On July 10th, 2024, Toronto and East York Community Council will consider 1266 Queen Street West – Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application – Decision Report – Refusal of Official Plan Amendment and Approval of Zoning By-law Amendment

The application proposes to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to construct a 24-storey mixed use building with a 5 storey base building, containing 331 residential units. A total of 22,104 square metres of gross floor area is proposed, including 563 square metres of commercial space on the ground floor.

The Staff Report reviewed and recommends refusal of the Official Plan Amendment (OPA) application and approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law.

Note: Staff recommend refusal of the OPA proposal as the redesignation for conversion has been reviewed and approved through a separate Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) and is waiting for the Provincial Minister’s approval. This OPA creates a duplicate of work already completed and waiting for provincial approval.

The Staff Report recommends approval of the Zoning proposal as it reflects area-specific policy intent for West Queen West, particularly as it relates to polices associated with built form and development within mixed use areas. Staff worked with the applicant and the community to improve the proposed height and massing, and to limit shadow impacts on adjacent properties.

The Staff Report is available for review at: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.TE15.12

Further, information submitted to the City by the applicant is available for your review on the City's Application Information Centre at:  https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-information-centre/#location=&lat=&lng=&zoom=

This item will be heard on July 10th after 10 AM.

I will be supporting the staff recommendation. I ask that you review the details of the report and share your questions and comments with my office: [email protected] , 416-392-7919.

You can register to speak or provide written comment through [email protected]. Registered speakers will be provided with instructions on connecting to the meeting.

TEYCC will also be streamed live online at www.youtube.com/TorontoCityCouncilLive

For further information on this or any other Ward 4 or city-related matter, go to www.gordperks.ca or contact my office at [email protected].


Committee of Adjustment Application 1354-1360 Queen Street West and 8-14 Brock Avenue

In August 2023, an application for rezoning proposing an 11-storey mixed use building was approved at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) contingent on satisfaction of certain conditions.

The applicant has now filed an application to alter the development standards for the 11-storey mixed-use building by increasing the height from 39 m to 40m, reducing the terracing setbacks fronting Abbs Street and Brock Avenue, increasing the total gross floor area, increasing the residential gross floor area, and reducing the indoor and outdoor amenity space. This building will provide a total of 222 residential

dwelling units, as well as non-residential spaces (to be located on the ground floor).

This alteration requires a Committee of Adjustment Minor variance. The site still requires Site Plan application approval.

The Committee of Adjustment Minor Variance request will be heard on Wednesday, July 10th.

As Councillor Perks appoints citizens to the Committee of Adjustment to make decisions on minor variances and, on the advice of the Integrity Commissioner, Councillor Perks cannot attempt to influence a member's decision on an application. He does not communicate with the panel members at committee or through written comment about the application.

The Committee of Adjustment process does offer an opportunity for the public to participate in the process. Community members have an opportunity to comment on the application at the virtual Committee of Adjustment hearing.

The Public Notice with requested variances and details on how to view and/or participate, is below.


1337-1355 King Street West - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment, and Rental Housing Demolition Applications - Decision Report - Approval

On July 10th, 2024, Toronto and East York Community Council will consider TE15.2 - 1337-1355 King Street West - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment, and Rental Housing Demolition Applications - Decision Report - Approval

The application proposes to permit a 10 storey residential building consisting of 92 affordable housing units, including 10 rental replacement units at 1337-1355 King Street West.  The existing 11 storey “Phoenix Place” apartment building and Parkdale United Church at 1355 King Street West will be fully retained on the site.

 

This Staff Report recommends approval of this application and approval of a Rental Housing Demolition application. This includes a Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan that addresses the right for existing tenants to return to rental replacement dwelling units at a similar rent, and interim accommodation for the duration of the construction period.

 

The staff Report is available for review at: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.TE15.2

Further, information submitted to the City by the applicant is available for your review on the City's Application Information Centre at: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-details/?id=5431268&pid=155209

I am proud to voice my support for this application and will recommend approval of this staff report.

This item will be heard on July 10th after 10 AM.

You can register to speak or provide written comment through [email protected].

For further information on this or any other Ward 4 or city-related matter, go to www.gordperks.ca or contact my office at [email protected].


An Update on 1930 - 1938 Bloor St W and 3, 5 & 21 Quebec Ave - Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition & Conversion Application

In response to Toronto East York Community Council and City Councils decision to refuse the Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition & Conversion application for 1930 - 1938 Bloor St W and 3, 5 & 21 Quebec Ave, City staff have received notice that the applicant has filed an appeal of this decision with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

In May 2024, City Council refused the application that proposes a 17-storey mixed use building. The proposal showed 380 square metres of ground floor retail and 144 dwelling units, including 12 rental replacement units. More information on the application can be found on the City’s Application Information Centre website here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-details/?id=5405185&pid=720789.

City Council also directed that in the event the applications are appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, that City Council attempt to resolve the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor.

The full staff report on this item is available on-line at https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.TE13.9.

As information on the OLT appeal becomes available, our office will share. The OLT website will also post information on their website at https://jus-olt-prod.powerappsportals.com/en/e-status/.


An Update on 2453-2469 Bloor St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications

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, City staff have received notice that the applicant has filed an appeal of this decision with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

City Council directed that in the event the application was appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, that City Council attempt to resolve the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor.

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.

As information on the OLT appeal becomes available, our office will share. The OLT website will also post information on their website at https://jus-olt-prod.powerappsportals.com/en/e-status/.

 


Have your say in the library's future!  

Toronto Public Library is creating a new Strategic Plan to guide the library over the next five years, and they’d like your input! Based on the ideas shared in the first round of consultations, the library has identified eight areas to focus on. Now, they need your help to further prioritize and guide their work. To participate, please visit tpl.ca/strategicplan before July 24.  

 

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Friends,

As part of the George Street Revitalization (GSR) project, the City continues to relocate existing shelter programs to new and enhanced facilities across Toronto. The 2299 Dundas St. W. Men’s Shelter will create a safe space for 80 men experiencing homelessness. This program will provide case management to assist clients in securing permanent housing and access to onsite healthcare and mental health supports, including a Managed Alcohol Program. The anticipated construction completion date for this shelter is Winter 2026.

The shelter will be staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week and offer specialized programs that will provide health and housing support to help residents improve their health and move toward permanent housing.

Services and features of the shelter will include:
• Onsite healthcare, including personal support workers, nursing, medication support, and access to an in-house physician.
• Access to health services, including a Managed Alcohol Program (MAP) and the Annex Infirmary program which provides short-term medical observation, care, and recovery support to clients experiencing health challenges.
• Case management to support clients secure permanent and supportive housing.
• Mental health services and referrals to a wide range of additional community supports

Shelters in our city provide essential support to individuals in immediate housing crisis, act as a stepping stone to permanent housing, reduce reliance on other high-cost services (e.g emergency rooms), and bring people indoors, by providing an alternative to sleeping in parks, sidewalks, or transit shelters.

If you are interested in supporting the shelter, through the offer of programs that benefit shelter residents, participating in community events or partnerships, or donating goods, please email [email protected].

There will be a community event to welcome the shelter to the neighbourhood once construction is completed. Updates will continue to be shared as the project progresses on the City’s webpage at toronto.ca/2299dundas.

If you would like to receive future updates, ask a question or share an idea, you can reach the project team at [email protected] .

 

Sincerely,

Gord


In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • TRCA Flood Safety Information
  • CultureLink Career Workshop
  • Grassy Narrows River Run Rally Save the Date

Ward 4 news

  • Pat Capponi Parkette Opening Event
  • Toronto East York Community Council
    • 1464 King Street West and 10 to 12 Maynard Avenue
    • 1497 and 1501 Queen Street West and 89 and 91 Beaty Avenue
    • 1 & 3 Close Ave & 78 Springhurst Ave
    • 1730 Bloor Street West
    • 2273, 2277 and 2279 Bloor Street West
    • 34 to 50 Southport Street
    • Renaming Close-Springhurst Parkette in Honour of Diane Rajaram
    • Transportation Items
      • CNE Traffic and Parking Regulations
      • King Street Construction
      • Armadale and Mayfield - All-Way Stop
      • Traffic Calming Various Streets
      • St. John's Road - Additional Speed Humps
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  

Friends,

On June 10, 2026, the Infrastructure and Environment Committee voted in favour of urging the Ontario government to immediately implement a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers.

Currently, Ontario operates a successful deposit return system for alcohol, seeing an average of 75 percent of all empties returned to Beer Stores each year. The deposit return provides a consumer incentive to consciously recycle. This system must be expanded to include all beverage containers.

Ontario is one of Canada’s only provinces without a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverages. As a result, Ontario has the lowest beverage container recovery rate in Canada—at roughly 50% of containers being recycled. Other provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia have an expanded deposit return program and see recovery rates 50% higher than Ontario. The Ontario government proposed expanding the deposit return program to include non-alcoholic containers in 2023 but has yet to do so.

The City of Toronto will join the Peel Region, the City of Waterloo, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative in urging the Ontario government to immediately implement a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers.

The IEC Committee received a letter of support from the Canadian Beverage Association to expand the Deposit Return Program as the current mixed recycling system is inefficient, resulting in higher cost for producers with worse outcomes.

You can hear my comments on the matter at the IEC meeting here: https://youtu.be/73ZTlD1yDIU

As we push for ways to be more sustainable, I encourage you to participate in the Plastic Free July challenge, a global campaign encouraging individuals and communities to cut down on single use plastics throughout the month of July.  We can use this movement to make incremental changes in individual habits but also to mobilize as a community to influence our governments and businesses to adopt sustainable practices.

 

Sincerely,

Gord


In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes

Ward 4 news

  • Sorauren Construction Progress Update – June 18,2026  
  • Swansea Town Hall: Clean Indoor Air Toronto
  • Summer Fest - Baby Point Gates BIACommunity Environment Day - June 27
  • Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Parkside Live: A Summer Music Series
  • Taste of the Junction 2026
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  

Friends,

This week at City Council we adopted a landmark funding deal in which $1.5 billion in funding will be provided to the City of Toronto to reduce development charges in partnership with the provincial and federal governments. The full City Council agenda can be reviewed here: City Council - Meeting 42 - TMMIS

The City can now reduce its residential development charges by 40 to 60 per cent for the next three years, and use this funding to pay for major infrastructure projects including our road network, water infrastructure, and enhanced transit capacity to support a growing population.  These reductions will apply across the board for residential development. Deeper development charge discounts (60 per cent) will be offered to units with two or more bedrooms, to help incentivize building more housing for families.

At a time when our housing market has slowed down, these development charge reductions will help make projects more financially viable, build more of the kind of housing we need, and make homes more affordable for residents. It will also help generate an estimated 143,000 jobs through construction and related industries.

This funding deal was inspired by the City’s successful Purpose-Built Rental Housing Incentives program.

The first phase of the program, launched in fall 2024 with more than $1.2 billion in financial contributions from the City of Toronto, supported more than 8,000 rental homes, including more than 2,000 affordable homes.

Building on that success, with the greater financial stability provided through the $1.5 billion in federal and provincial infrastructure funding, the City of Toronto is now in a position to launch a new phase of Purpose-Built Rental Incentives.

The second phase of the program will support up to 10,000 new rental homes, including a minimum of 2,000 affordable rental homes. We will prioritize shovel-ready projects and City staff will review and approve applications on a rolling basis over the coming weeks and months.

We are proving as a city that there is a crucial role for government to steer development towards building housing that Torontonians can afford to live in.  In doing so as a municipal government, we are influencing other orders of government to invest in Toronto with us.

 

Sincerely,

Gord


In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Celebrate Canada Day
  • Pride Weekend
  • Outdoor Swimming Pools
  • FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes

Ward 4 news

  • Toronto East York Community Council
    • 1464 King Street West and 10 to 12 Maynard Avenue
    • 1497 and 1501 Queen Street West and 89 and 91 Beaty Avenue
    • 1 & 3 Close Ave & 78 Springhurst Ave
    • 1730 Bloor Street West
    • 2273, 2277 and 2279 Bloor Street West
    • 34 to 50 Southport Street
    • Renaming Close-Springhurst Parkette in Honour of Diane Rajaram
    • Transportation Items
  • Sorauren Ave Construction Update
  • Celebration of Compassion at Roncesvalles United Church
  • Celebrate Around the World on Roncy in Roncesvalles Village!
  • Swansea Town Hall: Clean Indoor Air Toronto
  • Summer Fest - Baby Point Gates BIA Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Parkside Live: A Summer Music Series
  • Taste of the Junction 2026
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  

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