Community Update: October 18, 2024

Neighbour --

We are all better off when students can learn without being hungry. At City Council last week I was proud to speak in support of a call from Mayor Chow to move us closer to a universal student nutrition program, while prioritizing communities and schools in urgent need. We know that there’s a big pay off for everyone when students are healthy and set up for success—it’s an investment in our future. 

At Council, we also saw a presentation from City staff on improvements they’ve made to the Vacant Home Tax program. Toronto is in a housing crisis, and the Vacant Home Tax protects housing supply by incentivizing more rental units, while investing in the protection of existing affordable housing. It's an important use of municipal tools to address Toronto's housing crisis. Still, I know many were confused and frustrated with the declaration process this past year. Changes for this upcoming tax season include extended timelines, improved communications with residents, and a dedicated City Customer Care Team to provide assistance and answer questions in 180 languages, as well as in-person drop-in sessions for people who need support completing their annual declaration. In early November personalized letters will be mailed directly to you, with options on how you can submit your declaration, and my office is here to help if you have any questions. 

A big topic of discussion at the meeting concerned the Toronto Island Billy Bishop Airport. Council approved a Runway Safety Area plan to align with federal safety requirements, which includes a 12-year extension for operations at the airport. While there was a big lobbying effort to push through a 40-year lease extension of airport operations at this meeting, Torontonians weren’t consulted on this option and its impacts haven’t been assessed yet. That’s why I joined the majority of my Council colleagues in supporting the necessary safety plan updates but holding off on a long-term lease extension until analysis is done and Torontonians have a chance to weigh in on this important issue. 

I moved several motions at the meeting about local issues here in Davenport, including one on the West Toronto Railpath Extension project. By extending the existing Railpath from Dundas Street West at Sterling Road to Abell Street at Sudbury Street, this project is a critical part of building the city’s cycling and pedestrian grid, and will see up to 5,000 trips by residents each day. The Extension also includes the construction of new pedestrian bridges crossing the Barrie Corridor rail line, and at Lansdowne Avenue, Brock Avenue, and Queen Street, and facilitates a protected multi-use corridor that will run all the way from our Davenport community to the Don Valley trail. But questions have come up about the early estimates on the cost of the project and how it will be delivered through the provincial agency Metrolinx. My motion, which was adopted, asks staff to assess the project costs with an independent review and ensure the City is getting the best value for money while making this important investment in public infrastructure. 

We know that congestion has affected everyone, whether you’re in a car, on public transit, or on your bike. During consideration of our city’s Congestion Management Plan, I moved a motion to proactively plan to ensure that TTC vehicles can move quickly when there is construction that takes them off their normal route. This is an important part of managing congestion for everyone that I’m looking forward to being implemented. 

You can find updates and information on upcoming local projects and other city-wide news below. Wishing you a very good weekend.

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor • Ward 9 • Davenport
Chair, Economic & Community Development Committee

In this edition

• Public Consultations: City of Toronto's 2025 Budget
• Pop-Up Consultation: Parkland & Recreation Facilities Strategies
• Community Consultation Meeting: Development Application for 1875-1901 Eglinton Ave W, 137 Kirknewton Rd & 156 Dynevor Rd
• Complete Streets on Dupont
• Gladstone Streetscape Upgrades
• TTC Notice: Bus Replacement on 512 St Clair from November 1-14
• New Registration and Booking System for City Programs and Activities
• Join the Board of the Community and Cultural Spaces Trust
• Affordable Homes at 223 Redpath Ave.
• Access Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans, and Non-Binary Youth
• S.A.D.R.A Park Playground Community-Donated Toys
• Construction & Work Notices
  • Metrolinx: Bloor Street West Rail Bridge Work
  • Road Reconstruction and Road Resurfacing on Dufferin Street from Bloor St W to Geary Ave
  • Essential Streetcar Rail Grinding Maintenance: Queen Street West from Brookfield St to Brock Ave
• Community Events
• Other updates

Public Consultations: City of Toronto's 2025 Budget

Share what matters most to you in the City’s 2025 Budget. In-person and virtual consultation meetings start tomorrow. The online survey is open until October 31. Learn more at toronto.ca/Budget. 

Take the Survey

Fill out a short survey to provide Council and City staff with your priorities and feedback to inform the 2025 Budget. Survey closes October 31.

Consultation Meetings

• Wednesday, October 23, 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Virtual Meeting
  • Register
• Thursday, October 24, 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Dr.)
  • Register
• Sunday, October 27, noon to 2 p.m.
  • Rose Avenue Junior Public School (675 Ontario St.)
  • Register
• Monday, October 28, 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Etobicoke Olympium, 590 Rathburn Rd.
  • Register
• Wednesday, October 307 to 9 p.m
  • Virtual Meeting
  • Register 

Host Your Own Conversation

Meet with your neighbours or add a Budget conversation to your next community group or organization’s meeting and ask participants to complete the survey. Use the BudgetTO Community Discussion Guide to help shape your conversations.

Pop-Up Consultation: Parkland & Recreation Facilities Strategies

Toronto’s recreation facilities and parks offer communities spaces to play, connect, learn, exercise and celebrate. The Parkland Strategy and Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan (formerly the Facilities Master Plan) are 20-year plans that guide the growth and investment in these spaces across the city. Every five years, these plans are reviewed to ensure they continue to meet the changing needs and priorities of residents and reflect updates in population, policies and funding.

Join me at the pop-up event at Wallace Emerson Community Centre to learn more about the plans and the community engagement process, and participate in discussions about the future of Toronto’s recreation spaces and parks.

Pop-Up Consultation: Parkland & Recreation Facilities Strategies
October 24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wallace Emerson Community Centre

You can also share your thoughts on the needs and priorities for recreation spaces and parks by completing the online survey.

Community Consultation Meeting: Development Application for 1875-1901 Eglinton Ave W, 137 Kirknewton Rd & 156 Dynevor Rd

The City of Toronto’s Development Review Division has received an application to permit a mixed-use building at 1875-1901 Eglinton Ave W, 137 Kirknewton Rd, and 156 Dynevor Rd. The application proposes the following: 

• Height: 32-storeys 
• Number of Dwelling Units: 422 units 
• Parking Spaces: 121 spaces, including 9 visitor space and 23 commercial spaces 

The City is holding a virtual Community Consultation Meeting on Monday, November 4 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Pre-registration required here:  http://www.toronto.ca/cpconsultations

There is also an Open House where you can learn more about this application, ask questions, and share your comments on Tuesday November 5th, 6:00- 8:00 pm:

Location: Games Room, Fairbank Memorial Community Recreation Centre, 2213 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6E 2A8 

Complete Street on Dupont

The City of Toronto is proposing the installation of a complete street on Dupont Street between Dundas Street West and Davenport Road, covering the entire length of Dupont Street in our Ward. Complete streets enhance road safety and accessibility for all, including pedestrians, people cycling, driving and taking transit. 

How could the street be safer, more accessible, and better for all types of mobility? Complete the survey by October 30: http://toronto.ca/dupontcompletestreet

Gladstone Streetscape Upgrades

Several streetscape upgrades suggested by the community on Gladstone Avenue have now been implemented! These changes are part of the finishing touches on the Bartlett-Havelock-Gladstone Cycling Connections project. Excess paved surface has been reclaimed as a planting boulevard, new trees have been added on both sides of the street, and curbs have been repaired. Thank you to everyone for their advocacy and involvement. 

TTC Notice: Bus Replacement on 512 St. Clair from November 1-14

TTC is scheduled re-open St. Clair West Station Loop to streetcars and buses ahead of schedule on November 14, 2024. In order to complete final overhead power, structural and track upgrades at St. Clair West Station, 512 St Clair buses must replace 512 St Clair streets across the corridor temporarily from November 1 (11:00pm) to November 14 (5:00am). 

Earlier this year, my office worked with the TTC to restore as much service as possible earlier than scheduled. This allowed streetcars to serve the community, while bypassing St. Clair West Station to allow for the station-related work to continue. As that work comes to an end, this temporary removal of streetcar service is required in order to finalize the construction and bring the St. Clair West Station Loop back into service. 

Not implementing this phased return of service would have prolonged the full removal of streetcar service across the corridor from June to mid-November. This final phase of work which will take place from November 1-14 could not have been done when streetcar service was removed earlier this year. 

After service resumes on November 14, the 512 St Clair streetcar will service all stops, including the St. Clair West Station Loop. The TTC appreciates our community’s patience while this important state-of-good-repair work has been completed to ensure the continued safe operation of our public transit.

New Registration and Booking System for City Programs and Activities

This November, the City of Toronto will launch a new system for recreation and cultural activities registration, facility bookings and memberships. This system will replace eFun with a more modern look and easier navigation. Toronto residents can attend free information sessions to learn more about the new registration and booking system on October 21 and 22. Find details on the City’s Online Registration & Booking webpage. 

Join the Board of the Community and Cultural Spaces Trust

The Community and Culture Spaces Trust (CCST) is a land trust dedicated to the long-term preservation of affordable space and land for arts, culture and community activities in Ward 9 (Davenport), Toronto. Building on the successes of the community land trust movement and other community ownership models, their goal is to mitigate the current displacement of arts and community organizations from Davenport and from Toronto more broadly. CCST is looking for applications for their Board from people who are energetic, active listeners and good collaborators. 

Find out more and apply here.

Affordable Homes at 223 Redpath Ave

The City of Toronto has secured 90 affordable housing units in a private development at 223 Redpath Ave. Renters in Toronto who meet eligibility criteria, including the income threshold, can apply to be randomly selected for an affordable unit. The deadline to apply is Sunday, November 17.  Learn more at: https://www.223redpathaffordablerental.com/ 

Access Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans, and Non-Binary Youth

The City has launched a first-of-its-kind Access Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans and Non-Binary Youth to reduce barriers to City services and programs for gender-diverse youth aged 12 to 29 in Toronto. The Access Plan includes 56 commitments by the City and partners across six outcome areas, including housing and employment, wellbeing supports, community safety interventions and gender-inclusive improvements to data practices. Keep up to date on the progress on the City’s Access Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans & Non-Binary Youth webpage. 

S.A.D.R.A. Park Playground Community-Donated Toys

The S.A.D.R.A. Park Playground is being upgraded. As construction fencing will be going up within the next week, Parks, Forestry, and Recreation staff have asked for assistance in spreading the word to residents regarding community donated toys at S.A.D.R.A playground. Please retrieve and remove any community-donated-toys in the area of the playground this weekend before project fencing is installed.

Construction & Work Notices

Bloor Street West Rail Bridge Work 

Metrolinx will be building a new track on the Kitchener GO line, next to the West Toronto Railpath (WTRP). Part of this work will include construction of a new entrance to Bloor GO Station, a new community park at Ernest Avenue, and a realignment of the Railpath, on behalf of the City of Toronto. The remaining Bloor Street rail bridge components will be installed between Tuesday, October 15 and Saturday, October 19, 2024. The sidewalk on the south side of Bloor St, between Dundas St W and Perth Ave, will be closed for 1-2 days, followed by a closure of the north sidewalk. Traffic will be reduced to one lane the night of Friday October 18, 2024, to complete welding work.

Road Reconstruction and Road Resurfacing on Dufferin Street from Bloor Street West to Geary Avenue

In July 2024, the City of Toronto informed residents about the planned road reconstruction and resurfacing of Dufferin Street from Bloor Street West to Geary Avenue. This project will be completed in two phases:

• Phase 1: From Geary Avenue to Dupont Street, work will begin in October 2024 and continue until the planned winter shutdown in December 2024.
• Phase 2: From Bloor Street to approximately 210 m south of Dupont Street, work is scheduled to start in April 2025 and is expected to be completed by August 2025, weather permitting.

Future updates regarding key dates and completed work will be provided as construction progresses. This project is part of the Council-approved 2024 Capital Works Program to renew aging City roads and sidewalk for current and future needs.

Queen Street West from Brookfield Street to Brock Avenue Essential Streetcar Rail Grinding Maintenance

As part of the TTC's ongoing streetcar track maintenance and state-of-good-repair program, rail grinding will take place on sections of the streetcar network along Queen Street West. This process smooths the rail surface to reduce noise and vibration levels, extends the lifespan of the tracks, and provides smoother streetcar operations.

Starting as early as Monday, October 21 until Friday, October 25, 2024, TTC track crews will perform rail grinding nightly between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., on Queen Street West, from Brookfield Street to Brock Avenue. This work is scheduled during these hours to ensure safety when streetcar service is not operating and traffic is minimal.

Community Events

2024 EcoFair Toronto 

The 16th Annual EcoFair Toronto will take place on Sunday, November 3rd, from 11 AM to 4 PM at nearby Wychwood Barns, located at 601 Christie St. This is a free, family-friendly, and informative event you won’t want to miss! Visit over 60 environmentally-friendly businesses and organizations and discover how to make greener choices for your life, home, and community.

What to Expect at EcoFair:

• Explore over 60 environmental non-profits and vendors
• Test drive e-bikes and more with Zygg E-bikes
• Donate new socks to the Na-Me-Res Sock Drive 
• Recycle your electronics with Free Geek Toronto
• Donate food to The Stop Food Bank
• Delight in eco-friendly and delicious food
• Participate in a silent auction with wonderful gifts, all supporting Ecofair Toronto! 

Other updates

• City of Toronto kicks off search for local artists and designers to design FIFA World Cup 26™ Host City poster 
• City of Toronto proposes new Action Plan on Toronto’s Economy 
• City of Toronto introduces new action plan to strengthen Toronto’s cultural landscape
• Toronto Public Health encourages residents to get vaccinated during fall respiratory illness season