Old Mill Basement Flooding Protection Program & other updates

Friends,

We had several items pertaining to our ward considered at Planning & Housing Committee today. This includes items on the Swansea Mews revitalization (PH28.2. and PH28.3), vision and principles for future development proposals in South Parkdale (PH28.8), and recognizing the cultural heritage value of 40 Wabash site, which is part of an adaptive re-use project to develop a new community centre (PH28.10). I encourage you to review the full agenda here: Planning and Housing Committee - Meeting 28 - TMMIS

The Toronto Builds development application for Swansea Mews is proposing two mixed use buildings of 35 and 20 storeys with 649 residential units, including 154 rent-geared-to-income rental replacement units. The proposed development also incorporates retail and community uses at grade, publicly-accessible spaces, and indoor and outdoor amenity space. Concurrently with an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application for the development, staff have also advanced a Rental Housing Demolition application to demolish the existing units at this site, with a Tenant Relocation and Assistance Implementation Plan that addresses the right of former tenants to return to replacement social housing units at similar rents.

The vision and principles for creating more housing in South Parkdale is the outcome of an engagement process between South Parkdale University Health Network Tenant Association (SPUHNTA), UHN, and the City to inform future development on UHN-owned lands. The shared vision and guiding principles reflect a strong commitment among partners to create a range of new supportive and affordable homes that advance the Social Medicine Initiative, while also building on a strong foundation of community collaboration and care that has characterized SPUHNTA and residents of the lands for decades. The vision also articulates important priorities for SPUHNTA members with regard to engagement, relationship building, and providing support for tenants throughout and after any redevelopment.

The City-owned property at 40 Wabash Avenue contains a former linseed oil mill factory comprised of several buildings constructed in phases from 1910 into the 1940s, and varying from one- to three-storeys in height and featuring a prominent chimney stack that is visible from Dundas Street West and the adjacent rail corridor. The property is closely associated with the industrial activity of the Wabash-Sorauren area, the development history and character of which was influenced by the location of the railways to the east. The City is planning a new community recreation centre at the southeast corner of Sorauren Avenue Park, adaptively reusing this property. Staff anticipate tender award and construction start up in 2026.

Planning & Housing Committee adopted all three of these items and they will next be considered by City Council at the March 25-27 Council meeting.

I am grateful for the many Ward 4 residents that took the time to depute at today’s committee and have participated in the respective community engagement processes that have informed these projects. Together, with your continued involvement, we can ensure these initiatives deliver new and much needed affordable housing, public realm, and community amenity space in our neighbourhoods.

Sincerely,

Friends,

On Thursday, February 26^th, the Planning and Housing Committee will consider the Official Plan and Zoning-Bylaw Amendment application for redevelopment of the Swansea Mews site at 21 Windermere Ave.

Swansea Mews is being built under the Toronto Builds Policy Framework which establishes a consistent approach to guide the redevelopment of land owned by the City, its agencies and corporations to build new affordable rental homes. The City's financial incentives include exemptions from development charges, building permit fees, and parkland dedication.

On November 20, 2025, an in-person community consultation meeting took place at Swansea Junior and Senior Public School. A virtual pre-application community meeting was also held on September 22, 2025. In addition, a number of separate consultation meetings were held by TCHC with the former tenants of Swansea Mews throughout 2025. Meetings were also held by staff and TCHC in November 2025 and in January 2026 with members of community associations regarding servicing and built form.

The resulting staff report recommends approval of the Toronto Builds application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit two mixed use buildings of 35 and 20 storeys with 649 residential units, including 154 rent-geared-to-income rental replacement units. The development incorporates retail and community uses at grade, publicly-accessible spaces, indoor and outdoor amenity space, and shared pick-up and drop-off facilities.

The report makes note of key issues raised by the community during the consultation process and outlines staff’s recommendations for addressing concerns.

The Rental Housing Demolition application and replacement of units item will also be considered during the same committee meeting. This report recommends that City Council approve a Rental Housing Demolition application which proposes to demolish 154 social housing units located at 1-154 Swansea Mews.

The 154 social housing units are proposed to be replaced as part of the new development on the site. The proposal includes a Tenant Relocation and Assistance Implementation Plan (TRAIP) that addresses the right of existing tenants to return to replacement social housing units at similar rents, and provides moving assistance, including moving services and other support to assist with moving into a new replacement unit.

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

As this process progresses, we are one step closer to welcoming the Swansea mews tenants back to the neighbourhood and building much-needed social, affordable and better-quality housing. I want to thank everyone who has been involved in this process. The time and energy you’ve dedicated helps ensure that this revitalization project makes the community more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive.

Sincerely,

Friends,

This week City Council considered and approved the Mayor’s Proposed Budget with an amendment package consisting of $2 million in emergent Council priorities. As Mayor Chow issued a Mayoral Decision indicating she will not exercise the power to veto amendments, the 2026 Budget is now deemed adopted.

The 2026 Budget is comprised of an $18.9 billion operating budget and a $63.1 billion 10-year capital budget and plan (2026–2035).The budget includes a combined residential property tax increase and City Building Fund levy increase of 2.2 per cent.

Key investments in the 2026 Budget include:

Making life more affordable

• Freezes TTC fares for a third consecutive year and expands service 

• Introduces monthly fare capping after 47 paid trips, starting in September, providing 2.1 million free rides 

• Provides more weekday hours at Toronto Public Library branches, opening all 100 library branches seven days a week, year-round, starting this summer 

• Continues the Rent Bank, helping 2,800 households stay housed 

• Expands the Student Nutrition Program, providing nutritious food to approximately 330,000 students per day in 841 schools 

• Supports food programming at City-run camps, providing nutritious snacks to approximately 115,000 children per day at 185 camp locations city-wide 

• Supports new rental housing supply through a continued 15 per cent property tax discount for new multi-residential properties 

• Supports 27,000 new rental homes this year, including 9,700 rent-controlled and affordable units 

• Maintains a new multi-residential property tax subclass for newly built purpose-built rental housing, providing a 15 per cent property tax reduction 

Supporting community safety

• Adds 258 new emergency positions (police and paramedics) 

• Expands crisis support on the TTC through Toronto Community Crisis Services 

• Hires 16,000 young people for jobs in recreation, special events and museums, helping youth build skills and gain job experience 

Keeping Toronto moving

• Hires 27 additional Traffic Agents to improve traffic management and reduce travel times 

• Continues investment in smart street signal technology to keep people moving 

Providing excellent community services

• Supports low-income vulnerable residents with 1,000 air conditioning units 

• Enhances the basement flooding protection subsidy program and introduces a new furnace replacement program to help homeowners 

• Strengthens renter protections through RentSafeTO

• Increases the property tax reduction for small businesses by five per cent, for a total reduction of 20 per cent, benefiting more than 28,000 small businesses and supporting local jobs and vibrant communities 

Property tax relief programs remain available for eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities, supporting an anticipated 11,500 households this year. More information is available on the City’s Tax and Utility Relief webpage.

I am grateful for the over 25,000 residents that participated in the budget consultation process and informed this Budget. Together, we have crafted a Budget that helps Torontonians with the rising cost of living while protecting the services people count on.

Sincerely,