Friends,
Yesterday, along with Mayor Chow and Minister Virani, I made a long-awaited and exciting announcement regarding the site at 11 Brock Avenue.
As part of the Federal Rapid Housing Initiative, $21.6 million in capital funding will be invested in 40 new rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes at 11 Brock Ave.
This site is one of the five housing-ready sites announced in the Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System Report. It is also the first site where the City will lead the project’s development as part of its public builder role.
The City purchased this site from the Province of Ontario in 2019 for the purpose of creating new affordable housing. The four-storey building will provide approximately 40 homes for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. These homes will be studio apartments with a bathroom and a kitchen. Rents will be geared to income and will not exceed 30 per cent of a residents’ income, or the shelter allowance of their social assistance.
The new homes will be operated as supportive housing by an experienced not-for-profit housing provider. Tenants will have access to a range of support services intended to improve their health and well-being including 24/7 staffing. The City will issue a Request for Proposals for a building operator for this site by the end of 2023.
The project is part of a systemic shift in Toronto’s housing system to create more public and not-for-profit owned and operated purpose-built rental homes. It is a direct result of the vision and efforts of community members and housing advocates to realize housing as a human right.
As the project proceeds, I welcome the community to remain involved in the process.
Sincerely,
Gord
- King Street - Watermain and TTC Track Renewal 2024
- City's Consultation meetings and Surveys:
- Budget meetings from Nov 21st - 30th
- Public Meetings - Accessible and Bicycle Parking in New Developments
- TTC Survey for Service and Customer Experience Action Plan
- Public Meeting and Survey: RentSafeTO
- Bloor West Bike Lanes and Complete Street Extension Update- Junction Window Wonderland
- Seeking Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions
- Community Events
- Heritage York @ Lambton House Board Call-out/Events
- The Junction's 4th Annual Window Wonderland
- Florence Gel is now open to public
King Street - Watermain and TTC Track Renewal 2024
The City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) plan to renew aging streetcar tracks on King Street West between Dufferin Street and Shaw Street in 2024. The City will also replace the 146-year-old watermain on King Street West between Dufferin Street and Shaw Street.
If you have questions about the upcoming work, please email [email protected]; [email protected] or our office at [email protected]
2024 Budget Consultations
As the City faces significant financial challenges with a projected $1.5 billion operating shortfall in 2024 and a $46.5 billion shortfall over the next 10 years, it is critical for Torontonians to voice what services are most important to them and how we pay for it.
The Mayor and City Council want to hear from Torontonians on the City's 2024 Budget. This year the budget process will include an additional month-long public consultation process.
There will be three virtual and five in-person meetings in various neighbourhoods across Toronto from November 21st to November 30th. Notably, there is an in-person meeting at the Toronto Reference Library from 12-3pm on Saturday November 25th and virtual meetings on Nov 23rd, 27th, and 30th. Residents can also share their thoughts through a survey which will be available until November 30. The link to the survey and the registration links for all the consultation meetings are available on the City's webpage.
What we hear from residents will help to define Toronto's priorities, guide budget decision making, and support the City's discussions with the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to secure a new deal for Toronto.
Your voice is important in this process. Be a part of this conversation so that we bring our shared vision to life and build back better.
Review of Parking Requirements for New Developments
Requirements for automobile and bike parking in newly erected or enlarged buildings are identified in the city-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013. On January 19, 2021, Planning and Housing Committee (PH20.4) 
asked staff to review these requirements to better align them with the objectives of the City’s Official Plan. The Review is guided by the principle that parking standards should allow only the maximum amount of automobile parking reasonably required for a given use and minimums should be avoided except where necessary to ensure equitable access, such as for accessible parking or in areas which would be difficult to serve with transit.
The City is hosting a series of virtual public meetings to gather feedback to inform recommendations for revised Zoning By-law standards of accessible parking and bicycle parking. These sessions will be held on November 20-21, 2023 at the following times:
Topic: Accessible Parking
Monday, Nov 20: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – WebEx meeting link
Tuesday, Nov 21: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. – WebEx meeting link
Topic: Bicycle Parking
Monday, Nov 20: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. – WebEx meeting link
Tuesday, Nov 21: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – WebEx meeting link
More information on this review is available on the City's webpage.
Survey: TTC's 5-Year Service and Customer Experience Action Plan
From April to December 2023, the TTC will engage customers, stakeholders, internal staff, and the public to help inform the 5-Year Service and Customer Experience Action Plan. The engagement will follow a three-round process.
Currently, it is in the third and final round to understand to what degree riders support TTC's draft plan.
The Plan is organized into seven Pillars of Opportunity:
Pillar 1 – Foster a customer-centric mindset
Pillar 2 – Enhance the transit network
Pillar 3 – Improve service reliability
Pillar 4 – Prioritize surface transit
Pillar 5 – Accelerate integration with other transit agencies and complementary modes of transit
Pillar 6 – Enhance safety and comfort at stops, stations, and in vehicles
Pillar 7 – Streamline information and services
Across the seven Pillars, there are 30 actions, and each action includes one or more specific initiative(s).
Take the survey to learn more and share your feedback at ttc5yearplans.ca . The survey will be available online and by mail until December 1.
RentSafeTO Program Update & Fee Changes
The RentSafeTO team is hosting in-person and virtual public consultations to discuss a change in fees as well as the new building evaluation tool and process. Learn more about the changes being made to the evaluation tool and how it will impact building owners and tenants.
Get involved by joining the consultation meeting on Monday, November 20 at 6pm or take the online survey to provide feedback. Details are available on the City's webpage.
Update 10: Bloor West Bike Lanes and Complete Street Extension - Nov 16/23
This email is to provide an update on phase 1 of the installation of the Bloor West Bike Lanes and Complete Street Extension from Runnymede Road to Aberfoyle Crescent. Installation of phase 1 began the week of September 11, 2023. Initial installation is planned for completion in December 2023, with upgrades planned for 2024 and beyond.
*Please note that the traffic study, monitoring strategy and final roll plans have been posted on the webpage, toronto.ca/BloorWest
Work scheduled for November 15th to 17th:
- Continued installation of flex post bollards between Prince Edward Drive and South Kingsway.
- Installation of pavement markings for bus stops along the corridor, and the westbound bus lane between Armadale Avenue and Jane Street.
- Installation of remaining signage to support the complete street design.
Work scheduled for the week of November 20h, 2023:
- Closure of the east leg entrance to Mossom Road. Mossom Road will be converted to two ways for drivers to maintain access.
- Installation of painted curb extensions at some unsignalized intersections.
- Ongoing signage installation and adjustments along the corridor to support the complete street design.
Work scheduled for the rest of November 2023:
- Installation of painted curb extensions and all remaining pavement markings between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent.
*Work will take place both during the day and at night and is scheduled to avoid conflicts with other construction in the roadway. The work scheduled is dependent on weather conditions.
For more project details, please visit: Toronto.ca/BloorWest
Seeking Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions
The City of Toronto is seeking local neighbourhood leaders to engage with community residents on environmental issues and inspire climate action. Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions will inspire, motivate, and encourage other residents to undertake community-focused actions to support the City’s TransformTO climate action strategy and reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Applications from community leaders and residents from communities experiencing social, economic and other barriers, including people of colour, newcomers, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, women, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities / disabled will be given priority.
Find more information and the online application here.
Heritage York @ Lambton House/Tavern Board Call-out and Events
Heritage York is seeking 3 people to fill Board of Directors positions, preferably one with interest in the Treasurer’s job. The Board positions are all volunteer. Please send an e-mail by Sunday, 19 November at 5:00 p.m., to [email protected] providing information about you and what skills, interests and time you could contribute to our Board. We look for a minimum one-year commitment and about 10 hours a month on site.
EVENTS
November 2023
Tuesday, 21 November 7:00 p.m.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING at Lambton House
Heritage York is seeking 3 people to fill Board of Directors positions, preferably one with interest in the Treasurer’s job. The Board positions are all volunteer. Please send an e-mail by Sunday, 19 November at 5:00 p.m., to [email protected] providing information about you and what skills, interests and time you could contribute to our Board. We look for a minimum one-year commitment and about 10 hours a month on site.
Friday, 24 November 7:00 p.m. - Cider Tasting
Link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/heritage-york/events/cider-tasting/
December 2023
Friday, 1 December 6 p.m. - Community Pub with Terry Jones and Friends
Saturday, 2 December 2-4 p.m. - Santa Photos and Wreath Making
Link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/heritage-york/events/santa-photos-2023-and-wreath-making/
Friday, 8 December 6 p.m. - Christmas Carolling with a child focussed format including seasonal refreshments!
The Junction's 4th Annual Window Wonderland
With the holiday season upon us, Toronto’s award-winning winter art exhibit, Window Wonderland, returns to the Junction for its fourth consecutive year. From November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024, the magical urban art walk, presented by Isaan Der Thai Kitchen, will transform the Junction into a FREE outdoor art gallery featuring 20 spectacular augmented reality (AR) window installations and five murals, all designed by local and international artists.
