In This Week's Newsletter
City Wide Updates
- Property Tax Bills
- Civic Centres Opportunities Study
- New EV Chargers Coming to Parkdale-High Park
- Automated Vehicle Pilot Coming to Toronto
Ward 4 Developments
Ward 4
- Community Environment Day!
- Indigenous Language Child & Family EarlyON Programs at Parkdale Library
- Green Day: Repair, Recycle, Plant with Swansea Town Hall
- Turtles on the Move Parade
- Roncy REmarket 2025
- Provide Your Input for the Humber River Watershed Plan
- High Park Walking Tour
City Wide
Property Tax Bills
The City of Toronto has started issuing the 2025 final property tax bills, the second of two tax bills sent to property owners annually. Property taxes help to fund more than 150 City services that make life more affordable, get Toronto moving, keep people safe and provide community services.
Property owners who are not signed up for pre-authorized payment must make their final bill payments by Wednesday, July 2, Friday, August 1 and Tuesday, September 2.
To avoid late fees and penalties, payments must be received by the City before the end of the day on the due date.
Property owners can access their property tax account details through the online Property Tax Lookup tool (www.toronto.ca/services-payments/property-taxes-utilities/lookup-your-property-tax).
Learn more, including about relief programs, here.
Civic Centres Opportunities Study
The City is conducting a study to assess the potential of more effectively using the interior public-facing areas of its primary Civic Centres (City Hall, Metro Hall, North York Civic Centre, Scarborough Civic Centre and Etobicoke Civic Centre – New Build).
The study will identify opportunities to:
- Maximize the potential and utilization of the interior public-facing areas in our primary Civic Centres
- Consider consolidating counter services on the main floors to provide a more seamless customer experience for the public, businesses, and visitors
- Increased public access to City space; and
- Generate revenue for the City
Key Engagement Activities:
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Community Organization Workshops (In-Person): Initial in-person workshops targeted to community organizations at the following civic centres in May and June:
- North York Civic Centre: May 26, 2025 – 6:00-8:00pm
- Scarborough Civic Centre: June 2, 2025 – 6:00-8:00pm
- City Hall: June 4, 2025 – 6:00-8:00pm
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Indigenous Engagement: (In-Person): Initial in-person sharing meeting with Indigenous-led organizations and local Indigenous community members in June
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Public Surveys: City-wide surveys launching in June
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Pop-Up Events: Outreach at high-traffic community locations. Councillors will be individually notified of pop-up events in their wards
More info on the project webpage.
New EV Chargers Coming to Parkdale-High Park
The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) is adding new Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers to our community at the Green P parking lots at 14 Fuller Avenue and 265 Willard Avenue.
The work is expected to be completed in the summer, bringing a total of 10 new EV chargers to our neighbourhood – 8 Level 2 chargers, and 2 Level 3 DC fast chargers. As part of the project, TPA will also be adding a new Bike Share e-station to the parking lots.
Decarbonizing our transportation sector to meet the ambitious goals outlined in Toronto’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy requires a robust, convenient, and reliable public EV charging network. The expansion of new chargers in Parkdale-High Park allows residents to have access to EV chargers right here in our community.
Throughout the EV charger construction, each parking lot will remain open and available for customers.
Automated Vehicle Pilot Coming to Toronto
An automated vehicle pilot is set to begin mid-May in Toronto. Approved by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Magna International will deploy one or two driverless, three-wheeled automated vehicles to deliver small packages in an area including all of Ward 9 (Davenport) and portions of Wards 4 (Parkdale-High Park), 5 (York South-Weston), 11 (University-Rosedale) and 12 (Toronto-St. Paul’s). The pilot could increase up to 20 vehicles with additional MTO approval. Note: this is not a City pilot and the City has no authority over its approval.
Important safety measures have been factored into the pilot such as a maximum speed of 32 km/h, travelling only on roads with a posted limit of 40km/h or less and avoiding left turns. Each vehicle will also have constant human oversight by someone who can intervene and assume control during complex scenarios. Vehicles are subject to all the same rules of the road as other vehicles
Important safety measures include:
- Max speed of 32 km/h
- Human supervision with ability to intervene
- No left turns
Find more information on Ontario’s Automated Vehicle Pilot Program webpage. Questions may be directed to the Ministry of Transportation, Safety Program Development Branch at [email protected] or to Magna International at [email protected].
Ward 4 Developments
Update on 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue
City Council have accepted a settlement proposal for an 18-storey building retail at 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue.
An Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit the development of a 21-storey mixed-use building containing 263 dwelling units and 213 square metres of ground floor retail at 1304-1318 King Street West and 143-145 Cowan Avenue was submitted to the City in 2023.
In May, 2024 City Council considered and approved a staff report that recommended refusal of the applications.
In June, 2024, the applicant appealed the City refusal of the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The applicant then made a confidential settlement offer to the city to resolve the Appeal.
The City Solicitor submitted a Request for Direction Report for consideration to the April 2025 City Council meeting. The report approved by City Council recommended that City Council adopt recommendations contained in a Confidential Attachment and authorize the public release of specific confidential recommendations. That information is now available.
City Council have accepted the settlement proposal for an 18-storey building. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.CC29.7 ., scroll down to Background Information (City Council) Confidential Appendix A - Confidential Information - made public on April 25, 2025.
City staff will attend the OLT Settlement Hearing to advise that a settlement has been reached.
Ward 4
Community Environment Day – May 31, 2025
Community Environment Days is one of many waste reduction programs and initiatives supporting the City’s Long-term Waste Management Strategy. This program helps reduce the amount of reusable or recyclable waste going to landfill and allows for safe disposal of household hazardous waste.
Indigenous Language Child & Family EarlyON Programs at Parkdale Library
Green Day: Repair, Recycle, Plant with Swansea Town Hall
Turtles on the Move Parade
Roncy REmarket 2025
On behalf of Parkdale-High Park 4 Climate Action (PHP4CA), I would like to inform you of the upcoming Roncy REmarket event which PHP4CA will be hosting on Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10am to 3pm, at the Roncesvalles United Church.
This public event promotes a circular economy by offering opportunities to repair, donate, and drop off items for reuse/recycle. In addition, there will be over 20 exhibitors associated with waste reduction and sustainable living, including City of Toronto Live Green and Solid Waste Management.
Since its launch in 2022 by Roncy Reduces, this has been a well attended annual event and we expect the same this year.
PROVIDE YOUR INPUT FOR THE HUMBER RIVER WATERSHED PLAN!
Progress Update:
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is developing a new watershed plan for the Humber River watershed in collaboration with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and our partner municipalities. The Humber River Watershed Plan (HRWP) is expected to be completed in 2026 and is intended to inform various TRCA and municipal initiatives including: land use and infrastructure planning; ecosystem restoration and management; low impact development/green infrastructure implementation; and, climate adaptation planning.
How to Provide Your Input and Learn More:
TRCA is looking for your input on the management framework for the watershed plan, including the objectives, indicators, and priority actions needed to address the key watershed issues. There are a few different ways that you can provide your feedback and learn more:
High Park Walking Tour
Exploring Spring Creek
Sunday May 25, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Join us for a walk where we will explore Spring Creek, from its source at Bloor Street all the way down to The Queensway. We'll pass by ponds, forests, and open areas, reaching the beautiful Duck Pond at the end.
Some of the walk will be through the dog off-leash area.
You''ll discover a number of hidden spots that you might not have seen before.
See you then!
(Note: The walk will be May 25, not May 18 as previously announced.)
Meet at the grassy centre triangle, just inside the main entrance to High Park on Bloor Street at 10:00 a.m.
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