Friends,
This week, the City released an extensive and ambitious housing report to tackle our growing housing crisis.
The 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, thereby increasing the City’s total housing target to 65,000 new rent-controlled homes including a minimum of 41,000 affordable rental, 6,500 RGI homes and 17,500 rent-controlled market homes by 2030.
The estimated cost to deliver the remaining 60,545 homes is between $28.6 billion and $31.5 billion across the next seven years and requires contributions from all orders of government. The report includes estimates of funding needed from each order of government to be between $500 million and $800 million per year, in addition to repayable financing.
The report details recommendations including 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.
Since the launch of the HousingTO Plan, the City has committed approximately $8 billion in land, capital and operating funding and waived fees and charges. However, the growing housing and homelessness crises require a more robust range of actions across the housing continuum to adequately address the needs of current and future residents.
While the City is committed to taking every possible action within its jurisdictional and financial capacity to address the housing crisis, financial support from the federal and provincial governments is necessary.
I call on you to connect with your provincial and federal representatives to urge them to stand with us so that we may make a concerted effort to build more affordable housing.
Sincerely,
Gord
- Seasonal Public washrooms closing soon
- Jane Street Road Resurfacing
- Junction Residents Association's Halloween Howl
- Bloor West Complete Street Extension Update
Closing of seasonal public washrooms and water fountains
Water fountains
Starting this week, crews will begin closing approximately 750 stand-alone public water fountains. This process is expected to take expected to take up to 6 weeks to complete.
Seasonal washrooms in parks
Beginning on Wednesday, November 1, weather permitting, crews will begin to close seasonal park washrooms. This process is expected to take about three weeks to complete.
The City's 57 winterized (year-round) park washrooms will continue to open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and maintained Monday to Sunday. Portable toilets, where located, are available 24/7.
There will be over 420 public washrooms available in parks and recreation facilities:
• 57 year-round parks washroom buildings
• Approximately 65 portable toilets placed in various parks
• 45 AIR washroom facilities available
• 259 community recreation washroom facilities for public use
An online washroom map is available on the City's website.
Road Resurfacing on Jane Street from Dundas to Annette
The construction of this project is currently underway with a planned completion date of November 30th, 2023 for all works, with the exception of the intersection work at Jane Street / Dundas Street West, which is scheduled for completion in Spring 2024.
Please see the notice below for details regarding work status, remaining work and other information.
Junction Residents Association Presents: Halloween Howl
This free event is happening on Saturday, October 28, 1-4pm in Malta Park (3179 Dundas Street West)
Activities will include:
- Children's Costume Parade and a chance to win prizes
- Participate in the 'Doggy Costume Parade' and a chance to win prizes
- Featuring DJ THROWIN SHAPES dance party for all ages
- Silly Squish Slime Making Station, brought to you by Sidorova Inwood Real Estate Team
- Treat bags for all the children
- Treats for pets
- Photo booth
- Halloween Themed Button Making
- Hot cider and refreshments
- A chance to win door prizes
Update 8: Bloor West Complete Street Extension
This is an update on phase 1 of the installation of the Bloor Street West 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 final roll plans have been posted on the webpage, Toronto.ca/BloorWest under the tab ‘October 2023 Update: Final Plans for Phase 1.’
Work scheduled for Oct 25th to 27th:
- Installation of concrete curbs and planter boxes between Aberfoyle Crescent and Prince Edward Drive, starting from the Aberfoyle Crescent, followed by the installation of flex post bollards.
- Installation of pavement markings between Old Mill Drive and Jane Street to reconfigure the roadway.
- Ongoing signage installation and adjustments along the corridor to support the Complete Street design.
Work scheduled for the week of October 30th, 2023:
- Installation of pavement markings for bus stops along the corridor and westbound bus lane between Armadale Avenue and Jane Street.
- Installation of curb extensions at certain unsignalized intersections.
- Continued installation of curbs and planter boxes between Aberfoyle Crescent and Runnymede Road, followed by the installation of flex post bollards.
- Ongoing signage installation and adjustments along the corridor to support the Complete Street design.
Work scheduled in early November 2023:
- Installation of painted curb extensions and all remaining pavement markings between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent.
- Continued installation of the curbs, flex post bollards and planters between Aberfoyle Crescent and Runnymede Road.
*Work will take place both during the day and at night, weather permitting, and is scheduled to avoid conflicts with other construction in the roadway.
For more project details, please visit: Toronto.ca/BloorWest
