Wabash Community Recreation Centre Public Art Consultations

Friends,

The City is working on finalizing the detailed design for a new community recreation centre at Sorauren Park. I am thrilled by the progress on this project over the last year.

The preferred design was presented to the local community for a final round of feedback and revisions in 2023. The new facility will include an indoor pool, a gymnasium, and flexible multi-purpose program space. The surrounding landscape will include Indigenous placekeeping elements, a new community plaza, and a new off-leash area. Tendering for a construction team is anticipated in 2024, with construction expected from 2024 – 2027. You can learn more about the Wabash Community Recreation Centre project here.

This project includes an opportunity to install new public artworks inside the new community recreation centre. In February 2024, a specially convened Selection Panel composed of arts professionals and community members met to evaluate artist submissions. The panel determined a shortlist of five artists/teams to proceed to the second stage of the competition.

I wanted to share a friendly reminder that the City is currently welcoming community input on these five proposals.

Join the in-person Park Pop-up at Sorauren Park on May 11 and May 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or take the online survey to provide feedback on the five shortlisted proposals for the public artwork in the community recreation centre. The survey closes on May 13, 2024.

I look forward to seeing the winning proposal awarded by the Selection Panel, informed by the community’s input.

Sincerely,


  • Wabash Community Centre - Public Art Consultation
  • TTC Notice - Overnight Work at Queen & Dufferin Intersection, May 6 & 7
  • Youth Week
  • 1930 - 1938 Bloor St W and 3, 5 & 21 Quebec Ave Community Meeting and Staff Report to Toronto East York Community Council
  • Office Space Needs Study
  • Upcoming Events at Lambton House
  • Upcoming Events at Sorauren Park
  • Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants open for applications

 

TTC Notice - Overnight Work at Queen & Dufferin Intersection, May 6 & 7

Starting May 6 from 11 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. on May 7, 2024, TTC overhead crews will undertake a critical inspection of the (overhead wiring) at the intersection of Queen and Dufferin.

During this time, TTC service will be diverted around the Queen/Dufferin intersection as follows:

501/301 Queen streetcar:

  • Both ways via Queen Street West, Bathurst Street, Dundas Street West, Roncesvalles Avenue, and The Queensway to route.

501/301 Queen replacement buses:

  • Both ways via Wolseley Loop, Bathurst Street, Queen Street West, The Queensway, and Sunnyside Loop.

504A/304 King streetcar:

  • Both ways via 504A King Streetcar diverting both ways via King Street West, Bathurst Street, Dundas Street West, and into Dundas West Station.

504A King replacement buses:

  • Westbound: west on King Street West, north on Shaw Street, west on Queen Street West, north on Roncesvalles Avenue, and into Dundas West Station.
  • Eastbound: south on Dundas Street West, south Roncesvalles Avenue, east Queen Street West, south Shaw Street, east King Street West, north Bathurst Street, west Adelaide Street West, south Spadina, west King Street West.

504B King streetcar:

  • Both ways: via King Street West, Bathurst Street, Dundas Street West, and Roncesvalles Avenue into Roncesvalles Yard.

504B King replacement buses:

  • Westbound: west on King Street West, north on Shaw Street, west on Queen Street West, west on The Queensway and into Sunnyside Loop.
  • Eastbound: east on The Queensway, east Queen Street West, south on Shaw Street, east on King Street West, north on Bathurst Street, west on Adelaide Street West, south on Spadina, and west on King Street West.

 


Youth Week

Youth Week runs from May 1 to 7 in #Toronto! From sports to cooking to dance and art, young people can take part in many fun and enriching events across the city! 🌟

 


1930 - 1938 Bloor St W and 3, 5 & 21 Quebec Ave Community Meeting and Staff Report to Toronto East York Community Council

The City has received a Zoning By-law Amendment application for 1930 - 1938 Bloor St W and 3, 5 & 21 Quebec Ave. The application proposes a 17-storey mixed-use building containing 144 residential units (including 12 rental replacement units), retail on the ground floor, 159 bicycle parking spaces, and 63 vehicle parking spaces. As a result, City Planning staff scheduled a virtual Community Consultation Meeting for the evening of Tuesday, April 30th at 6pm.

Hearing demand from the neighbourhood for an in-person meeting within the community, City Planning has set up another community meeting for May 15th from 6pm-7:30pm, at 569 Jane Street in the Runnymede Collegiate Institute Auditorium. The Community Consultation Meeting on May 15th will consist of presentations by City Planning followed by a Q&A session. You will have opportunity to view the proposal and share your thoughts. Councillor Perks, and City Planning staff will be in attendance to help answer any questions that may arise.            

City Planning Staff have also submitted a Staff Report to Tuesday, May 7th Toronto East York Community Council (TEYCC) that recommends that City Council refuse this application. This meeting will be reviewing Staff Report: TE13.9 - 1930-1938 Bloor Street West and 3, 5 and 21 Quebec Avenue - Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition Applications - Decision Report – Refusal.

The Report to TEYCC recommends that the City Council refuse the applications for Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition, and in the event the applications are appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, City Council attempt to resolve the Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition Applications, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the City Solicitor

The full report is available on-line at here.

Councillor Perks will be supporting the staff recommendation. Please review the details of the report and share your questions and comments with our office by email or phone 416-392-7919.

You can register to speak or provide written comment for the May 7th TEYCC meeting through [email protected]. TEYCC will also be streamed live online here.

Further information on the project, and what is being proposed, can be found on the City's Application Information Centre website here.

We look forward to seeing you there.


Office Space Needs Study

The City is undertaking a study to analyze current office market conditions, understand the benefits and risks of converting office space to alternative uses, and explore policy options that would balance office needs in the short-term and long-term, while ensuring the City’s economic role remains competitive and resilient.

Phase one of the study is now complete and is summarized in the AODA accessible copy of the Office Space Needs Study Background Report Executive Summary . If you have questions or comments regarding the Background Report Executive Summary please contact Carola Perez-Book or Rory McNeil.

Phase Two of the study includes further stakeholder and public consultation, projections, financial feasibility analysis and policy options.

For more information, please visit Office Space Needs Study.

 


Upcoming Events at Lambton House


Upcoming Events at Sorauren Park


Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants open for applications

Now open for applications! The Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants fund resident-led projects, activities and events that reduce emissions that contribute to climate change and educate the public on climate action. Grants of up to $7,500 per group are available.  

 

Applications are being accepted until noon on June 12, 2024. Find more information and apply online on the City’s Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants webpage. 

 


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2025 Staff-Prepared City Budget Highlights

Friends,

On Monday January 13th, the City of Toronto launched the 2025 Budget process with a staff-prepared budget that protects and invests in our City’s core services based on feedback gathered during Fall 2024 consultations with Toronto residents.

I am pleased to see a number of new and enhanced initiatives included in the 2025 staff-prepared budget that advance our goals of making Toronto a more affordable, connected, and safe city for all. Key investments include:

Making life more affordable:

  • Feed 8,000 more students through school food programs
  • CampTO food program to support over 31,000 youth

Getting Toronto moving

  • Increase transit service hours by 5.8 per cent (approximately half a million hours) 
  • Expand to 100 Traffic Agents to address blocked intersections, improve travel times in key corridors and decrease collision

Providing community services

  • Expand Sunday service hours for 70 Toronto Public Libraries
  • Increase access to cultural initiatives including local arts, festivals and events

Keeping people safe

  • Add 276 more Emergency Services positions (fire, police and paramedics) 
  • Expand road safety programs

Staff presentations on the 2025 staff-prepared budget are available at www.toronto.ca/budget. I encourage you learn about the various opportunities to get involved in the budget process, which includes opportunities to speak directly to the Budget Committee and submitting written feedback here.

I will also be hosting a ‘City Budget 2025 Virtual Town Hall’ on Monday, January 20th at 6pm, where we will review the proposed 2025 budget, discuss its investments and impacts on city services, and walk through the City’s budget process together.  To join the virtual meeting, please use this link: gordperks.ca/2025budget

Looking forward to seeing you there,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • CampTO Summer Programs List
  • Winterlicious returns Jan 31 - Feb 13
  • Nominations now open: Toronto Community Champion Award 🏆 

Ward 4 Updates

  • Masaryk-Cowan Presents: Community Youth Nights

2024 Highlights and Holiday Wishes

Friends,

2024 has been a transformative year for our city.

As Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, I have had the pleasure of supporting the tireless work of community activists and City staff in advancing real solutions to the housing crisis we have been witnessing.

In 2024, to name a few successes, we established the Renovictions Bylaw to deter bad-faith evictions, launched an industry-supported incentive program that facilitates the development of 20,000 new rental homes, expanded permissions for townhouses and small-scale apartment buildings along major streets city-wide, and initiated steps to address excessive indoor temperatures due to the effects of climate change.

I am most proud of our work at rebuilding the City’s capacity as a Public Builder that leads the delivery of affordable housing options. Through establishing a Housing Development Office at the City, we have transformed the City from an entity that is frustrated and unable to move on affordable housing to quite possibly the biggest developer of affordable housing in the country.

In the last 15 months we have gone from zero to 13 affordable construction projects currently under construction, including the 11 Brock site in our ward, and dozens more projects with shovels in the ground next year. We are proving that when we choose to face our most pressing issues head-on, we can respond with quick and effective actions.

This week, as part of Council Mid-term Member Appointments, I was honoured to be asked to continue in my role as Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee for the remainder of this Council term.

As we celebrate the holiday season, I look forward to continuing to work together in 2025 to advance the realization of housing as a human right in Toronto.

Sincerely,


2024 Highlights

Dunn House

Dunn House (90 Dunn Ave), Canada’s first ever social medicine supportive housing initiative, opened in October. The four-storey modular housing building includes 51 new, rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes for people who were experiencing homelessness and who were also frequent users of UHN’s emergency department. The new homes will be furnished studio apartments with a bathroom and kitchen. The building will include amenities such as shared laundry, a commercial kitchen, a dining area, a communal area and programming space. They will also benefit from wrap-around social and health services provided by Fred Victor and UHN aimed at improving their well-being and housing stability.  Dunn House has been supported by all orders of government and non-profit housing partners, with continued engagement with the local community.

11 Brock Ave

Earlier this week, the City broke ground on the construction of 11 Brock Ave, the first of five ‘housing ready’ sites to be developed under the Public Developer Model. The planned four-storey building will provide 42 homes with supports to maintain people’s health, wellbeing, and housing stability. The new homes will be private apartments with a bathroom and a kitchen. The building will also include amenities such as shared laundry, a commercial kitchen and programming spaces for residents. The City has partnered with Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) as the community housing provider. PARC operates supportive homes in Toronto for adults experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, many with a history of homelessness. PARC and our office will continue to engage with the local Parkdale community on the development of this site. This work is possible due to intergovernmental partnership. In 2023, the project received $21.6 million through the Federal Rapid Housing Initiative. Beginning in 2025, annual operating funding of at least $1.2 million is required from the Province of Ontario for the support services planned for this building.

Traffic Calming Policy & Vision Zero Road Safety

There has been an update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Initiatives and Traffic Calming Policy. The updated Traffic Calming Policy was adopted by City Council in November 2023, and began applying to Community Council Reports starting January 2024. The warrants for Traffic Calming on a residential street are now based on the posted speed limit instead of the standard 40 km/h. This should help local streets in need of additional calming measures. As part of Vision Zero safety initiatives, the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) camera is designed to deter speeding motorists and increase safety for vulnerable road users. In Q1 of 2025, Ward 4 will receive two additional cameras as part of the ASE program expansion; the locations are Jameson Avenue South of Laxton Avenue and Jane Street near Page Avenue.

West Parkdale Cycling Connections

In Fall 2024 the City completed installation of the West Parkdale Cycling Connection. This project addresses a previous gap in our cycling network by providing a connection between The Queensway and Brock Avenue. In addition to the installation of the bike lanes the project included one way street conversions, changes to one way street directions, changes to on street parking, new stop signs, intersection improvements and traffic calming speed humps. A new traffic light signal will be installed in 2025 at Roncesvalles Avenue and Galley Avenue. Over the next 6 to 12 months, City staff will continue to monitor traffic counts and collect feedback from the community.

Parkside Drive

Parkside Drive’s current road configuration encourages motorists to travel at high speeds. In November City Council endorsed, in principle, to advance detailed design of the road safety changes identified in the Parkside Drive Study, which includes bike lanes and intersection safety improvements. The road reconfigurations aim to improve safety for all road users and upgrade Parkside Drive to accommodate multi-modal travel options. Council also approved as part of the Parkside Drive Study City staff recommendations for the installation of speed humps on five adjacent streets to Parkside Drive which satisfy the updated Traffic Calming Policy warrants.

High Park Movement Strategy

Improvements as part of the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS) continue to be advanced in High Park. New pick-up/drop-off spaces at key destinations on Colborne Lodge Drive between the Grenadier Cafe and Bloor Street West were added, and TTC 203 High Park Route operated seasonal service this summer with an expanded route that was run via Keele Station, providing a transfer-free accessible connection between High Park and Line 2. The High Park Movement Strategy includes the implementation of a shuttle service to help visitors get around High Park all year long. The City of Toronto has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the provision of this shuttle service, which will help visitors get around key locations within High Park. The City has also partnered with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to undertake a road ecology study within High Park to better understand existing conditions, potential risk factors to wildlife, and possible mitigation measures.

Sunnyside Beach Shoreline Resiliency Project

The Sunnyside Beach Shoreline Resiliency Project is one of 36 locations where work is being undertaken to rehabilitate and increase resiliency along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Periods of high lake water levels, coupled with increased frequency and severity of storms have put pressure on the existing erosion control measures in place along Lake Ontario’s shoreline and the City must deliver proactive solutions to address this. This project is carried out through the Federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The mandate of this work, under this funding structure, is to address the impacts of flooding and erosion by repairing, remediating, and enhancing the resilience of Toronto's waterfront shoreline. As part of these mitigation efforts, three seat walls in different locations have been installed as a protective barrier against high lake water effects. The City installed new sand to restore the sand quality at Sunnyside Beach following completion of the Shoreline Resiliency Project.


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Vacant Home Tax 2024 Declaration
  • New Year's Skating Parties
  • City of Toronto Consultation: Growing Space for Trees & Infill Housing
  • Planning for the Holiday Season in Toronto
  • Toronto Parking Authority Rate Change Communication

Ward 4 Updates

  • Developments
    • *New Date* Committee of Adjustment Application, 1375 Queen St W
    • Update on 2453-2469 Bloor Street West: Ontario Land Tribunal Hearing - Request for Directions
    • An Update on 2461-2475 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition & Conversion

Increasing Shelter Infrastructure and Our Public Developer Capacity

Friends,

I am encouraged by the progress announced this week on the City’s Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS). The City unveiled the first six shelter sites that are being developed as part of this 10-year strategy and has expanded winter services for people experiencing homelessness.

The City is currently providing emergency accommodations to approximately 12,000 people. These shelter spaces enable our unhoused neighbours to have a roof over their heads while accessing services that help them transition to permanent housing. In 2023, more than 5,900 people experiencing homelessness moved from the shelter system into permanent housing.

Although the City is providing shelter to thousands of people, hundreds of people are unable to be matched to shelter each night. The HSCIS was developed to meet the unmet demand for shelter space by building new shelters across Toronto. Between 2024 and 2033, the City plans to develop up to 20 new purpose-built shelter sites, creating a total of approximately 1,600 shelter spaces.

Each shelter will be smaller by design and serve approximately 80 people, focusing on providing safety, comfort and resources to help residents transition to stable housing. I encourage you to learn more about the City’s work to open new shelter sites on the project webpage.

I am also pleased to share that Executive Committee adopted a staff report this week on strengthening the City’s role as a Public Developer to deliver housing faster.

This report outlines steps to establish a Housing Development Office that will focus exclusively on advancing and accelerating the delivery of housing on City-led and City-supported sites. Through this new Office, the City will either lead projects directly or leverage Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) and CreateTO on a project-by-project basis, based on each organization’s unique expertise and best practices. This item will be considered by City Council next week.

I will continue to use my voice and vote on Council to support improving and increasing our shelter infrastructure and expediting the City’s delivery of housing.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Vacant Home Tax 2024 Declaration
  • Support your community: Holiday Wish List 🎁 
  • Skate Lending Library is back this winter  
  • Illuminating holiday experiences at Toronto History Museums ✨

Ward 4 Updates

  • Junction BIA's Window Wonderland
  • Junction Residents' Association: Community Caroling Sing-a-long in the Junction!!
  • Attention Parkdale Village BIA Members: Board Members Wanted
  • Developments
    • *New Date* Committee of Adjustment Application, 1375 Queen St W

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