November Council Highlights

Friends,

In the ongoing November City Council meeting which started yesterday, Council has voted to advance some transformative items.

The new housing report “Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes" responds to Toronto City Council’s direction to develop a plan to approve 25,000 new rent-controlled homes in addition to what was already planned. This plan the City’s total housing target to 65,000 new rent-controlled homes including a minimum of 41,000 affordable rental, 6,500 Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) homes and 17,500 rent-controlled market homes by 2030.

By approving this plan, Council and the Mayor have taken a leadership role in addressing the housing crisis through dedicating more City-owned land to create new affordable homes; accelerating the delivery of “housing ready” projects on City and not-for-profit owned land; streamlining and optimizing people, processes and technology to expedite approvals and housing delivery; and supporting the not-for-profit and co-op housing sectors.

Council also voted in favour of expanding Toronto Community Crisis Service as a City-wide program ensuring that all Torontonians can benefit from this 24/7, community-based, client-centered and trauma informed service to support non-emergency crisis calls. In its first year of operations the Toronto Community Crisis Service received 6,827 calls for service, with 78 per cent of calls transferred from 911 successfully resolved without police involvement. This program joins Toronto Fire, Paramedic and Police as the fourth municipal emergency service.

As part of the Shelter Infrastructure Plan and the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy Council authorized and directed staff to take a number steps to maintain existing agreements as well as procure new sites for respite spaces and shelter beds .

Council also voted on a number items to address the lack of shelter spaces as the system reaches a breaking point. Over the last few years, we have grappled with the rising demand for shelter spaces while facing significant financial constraints. Council adopted a report calling on the federal government to do their fair share in responding to this crisis, including matching the provincial increase of $6.67 million funding for the Canada Ontario Housing Benefit program and urgently funding and operationalizing federal sites such as armouries to provide emergency accommodations for refugees and asylum seekers.  

With the colder weather upon us, the urgency of the matter rises. I call on you to connect with your federal representatives to urge them to do their fair share and support the City's efforts to provide warmth and shelter for those seeking refuge.

Sincerely,

Gord


- Development Items at Toronto East York Community Council

          - 403 Keele Street and 48-50 Heintzman Street

          - 209 Mavety Street

          - 2760 Dundas Street West

- Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods - Survey deadline extension

- Micromobility - Public Survey

- Bloor West Bike Lanes and Complete Street Extension Update

- Callout for a basketball tournament at Masaryk Cowan Community Centre

- Reminder: Community meeting - Development Proposal for 1730 Bloor Street West

Toronto and East York Community Council

On November 15, 2023, TEYCC will be reviewing three items in Parkdale - High Park, details below. These items will be heard on November 15th 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].

 

TE9.5: 403 Keele Street and 48-50 Heintzman Street - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Decision Report - Approval

This application proposes to construct a new 11 storey mixed-use building with 280 rental dwellings units and 265 square metres of commercial space at grade. One level of underground parking with a total of 23 parking spaces is also proposed.

Following a review of the application and a community meeting, City Planning Staff recommend approval of the application as the proposal is consistent with the pattern and scale of redevelopment in the area and represents appropriate intensification.

The full report is available on-line at https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-240425.pdf.

At this time, I will be supporting staff's recommendation to approve this application.

 

TE9.6: 209 Mavety Street - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Decision Report - Approval

This application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a Community Health Centre at 209 Mavety Street through an interior retrofit and renovation of the existing building. The Four Village Community Health Centre is a not-for-profit organization that delivers a range of health services and health promotion programs to residents living in Toronto West such as the Roncesvalles, Swansea, Bloor West, and the Junction Area communities. The services and programs offered by the organization focus on the needs of seniors, newcomers, families with children, and youth.

City Planning Staff recommend approval of the application as the proposal will facilitate the establishment of a community health centre that will encourage the adaptive reuse of an existing building, generate job opportunities, and provide important health services and programs to the community.

The full report is available on-line at https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-240309.pdf.

At this time, I will be supporting staff's recommendation to approve this application.

 

TE9.4: 2760 Dundas Street West - Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Decision Report.

The Rezoning Application proposes a new 6 storey mixed-use building at 2760 Dundas Street West (formerly The Peacock Hotel) with 28 dwelling units and 114 square metres of commercial space at grade.

This Staff Report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law based on the following Planning decision: the mixed-use building is an appropriate scale for the site, fits within the existing and planned context and is an example of high quality design that will set a positive precedent for future development in the area.

The Staff Report is available to review at: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-240427.pdf

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

Following a review of the staff report and two community meetings, I will be recommending approval of the staff report.


Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods: Survey deadline extended

The Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods: Major Streets Study is conducting consultations on its proposal report with outreach to members of the public, residents' associations, industry, City divisions, and other stakeholders.

The consultation period has been extended to December 14, 2023, to continue to engage with and hear from as many people as possible. Survey available at toronto.ca/major streets .

Details on the Major Streets Study:

The report proposes official plan and zoning by-law amendments to permit townhouses and small-scale apartment buildings city-wide, in Neighbourhoods, along Map 3 Major Streets. These have been posted to the City's website at toronto.ca/major streets

The amendments propose to permit townhouses and small-scale apartment buildings on all properties, along major streets, designated Neighbourhoods across the city and set out built form criteria in policy and zoning. The proposals contribute to the 2023 Housing Action Plan goals to remove exclusionary zoning and to increase housing opportunities in a range of housing forms.


Micromobility Public Survey - deadline December 13

Micromobility describes small, compact, low-speed vehicles that are lighter weight than cars, which can include bicycles, cargo bikes/trikes, folding bikes, electric two, three, or four-wheeled cycles, urban mobility vehicles (i.e. small, one-person e-cars), e-mopeds, electric kick-scooters (e-scooters), and more.

The City of Toronto is seeking public feedback on the use of micromobility, e.g. bikes, e-bikes and other small vehicles. The results from this survey will be used to develop a city-wide strategy for micromobility, including what new forms might be allowed in future. The survey will be open until December 13, 2023.


Update 10: Bloor West Bike Lanes and Complete Street Extension - Nov 8/23

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 8th to 10th: 

  • Continued installation of concrete curbs, flex post bollards and planter boxes between South Kingsway and Runnymede Road.
  • Continued installation of flex post bollards between Prince Edward Road and South Kingsway.
  • Installation of remaining signage to support the complete street design.

Work scheduled for the week of November 13th, 2023: 

  • Installation of pavement markings for bus stops along the corridor, and the westbound bus lane between Armadale Avenue and Jane Street.
  • Installation of painted curb extensions at some unsignalized intersections.
  • Installation of remaining curbs and flex post bollards between Aberfoyle Crescent and Runnymede Road.
  • Ongoing signage installation and adjustments along the corridor to support the complete street design.

Work scheduled in 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 


Masaryk Cowan CRC Tournament of Champions - deadline November 16


Community Meeting to discuss development proposal at 1730 Bloor Street West

The property owners of 1730 Bloor St West, current site of strip mall and 7-11, is holding an Online Community Meeting to share preliminary plans for a 25-storey mixed-use development on this site.

Online Community Meeting Details:

Tuesday, November 14th, 6:30pm - 8:00 pm

Link to Join: bit.ly/1730bloor

Meeting ID: 835 2892 2909

Telephone Dial-in: (647) 558-0588

The meeting will be an opportunity to review a presentation as well as to ask questions and provide comments.

Councillor Perks and City Planning staff will be in attendance.

Further details are available on the attached flyer. As always, please feel free to contact Councillor Perks' Office if you have ward 4 or city-related questions or concerns.

Latest posts

Friends,

Today, the City of Toronto, in collaboration with the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle, held the annual traditional and prescribed burn (Biinaakzigewok Anishnaabeg) in High Park and Lambton Park. The burn holds the name of Biinaakzigewok Anishnaabeg, given by Elder Henry Pitawanakwat, meaning “the responsibility for a cleansing fire by all Native Peoples" in Anishinaabemowin.

This stewardship technique in which fire is intentionally set and carefully managed under controlled conditions are a part of the City’s long-term management plan to restore and protect rare Black Oak woodlands and savannahs. Fire-dependent ecosystems, such as Black Oak savannahs, contain rare native prairie plants that respond positively to burning and grow more vigorously.

During the burn, High Park is closed to vehicles and certain sections of multi-use trails may be temporarily closed to pedestrians and cyclists. Similarly, in Lambton Park, access to areas in the park may be temporarily restricted to pedestrians during ignition.

For more information about the history of the burn, updates and a confirmed date, visit: toronto.ca/prescribedburn.

I also want to note that at today’s City Council meeting, Mayor Chow recognized the recipients of the 2026 Toronto Community Champion Award. These local organizations make extraordinary contributions to support the health, well-being and resilience of Toronto residents. Congratulations to Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC) for being one of the 25 recipients of this award who will be honoured at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 12 at the Toronto Reference Library.

There are many issues that matter to our community at this week’s City Council meeting, including defending Toronto’s interests at Billy Bishop Airport and other City-owned Waterfront lands. I will continue to voice Parkdale-High Park’s strong opposition to this Provincial overreach. I encourage you to review the Council agenda and Council meetings can be viewed live here: Toronto City Council - YouTube

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Project Swallowtail Mosquito and Tick Control Recommendations
  • Free Home Solar Accelerator Service
  • Summer International Languages Program

Ward 4 news

  • Gardiner Expressway Weekend Closure 
  • TTC Line 2 Single Day Subway Closure April 25
  • Bloom by the park hosted by Bloor by the Park BIA
  • Green Day at Swansea Town Hall - May 23
  • Construction Notices: Virtue, Sorauren and RapidTO Dufferin
  • High Park Walking Tour: Special Places In The Park - April 26
  • Compost Days - April 25th & 30th

Friends,

The summer of 2025 was among the hottest in the past decade, with a total of 29 days under a Heat Warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The severity of these events highlighted areas where the City's response measures needed strengthening, including expanded access to cool spaces and more coordinated, proactive communications.

This year, Toronto is bringing back its Air Conditioner Assistance Program, which was piloted in 2025, delivering close to 500 portable air conditioners. For 2026, Council has allocated $1 million to expand the program, providing at least 1,000  free portable air conditioners to eligible low-income residents living in multi-unit residential buildings. Eligible residents include seniors (65 years and older) with health-related needs, pregnant individuals and new parents or caregivers with infants.  This funding covers all costs for the program including delivery and installation.  

Applications for the program will be open from April 7 to 21. Program participants will be selected through a random draw and notified in May. Residents can learn more about the program, eligibility and how to apply on the City’s Air Conditioner Assistance webpage

Effective June 1, 2026, new amendments to the Indoor Temperature Standards Bylaw requires apartment buildings without air conditioning to provide access to a cooled amenity space during the summer months. Under the changes, apartment buildings with at least one existing amenity space must maintain a temperature of no more than 26 °C in at least one shared space between June 1 and Sept. 30,  if cooling is not provided in all rental units.

Building on lessons learned from 2025, the City is also advancing an updated Heat Relief Strategy for summer 2026 including expanded access to cool spaces, including the introduction of a 24-hour cool space during Heat Warnings.

These initiatives highlight the City’s work in preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change. Despite these efforts, more action is needed to close gaps and plan for risks that will continue to escalate in coming years. I will continue to update you as we take important steps for climate change adaptation as well as reducing emissions that drive climate change.

 

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Vacant Tax Home - April 30 Deadline
  • AC or Heat Pump: Home Energy Network Webinar
  • Toronto Parking Authority Update: Free EV Charging for Earth Week
  • Home Solar Accelerator - free concierge service for residential solar/battery
  • Clean Toronto Together – April 24 to 26

Ward 4 news

  • 108-162 Vine Ave OLT Appeal
  • Construction Notices: Virtue, Sorauren and RapidTO Dufferin
  • High Park Walking Tour: Special Places In The Park - April 26
  • Compost Days - April 25th & 30th

Take action

Read Our Weekly Newsletter
Sign Up for Updates
Contact our Office