INSIDE. p 12 > p 6 > p 2 > Straightforward Legal Solutions TORONTO EDITION

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1 TORONTO EDITION FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013 Vol. 17 No. 2 The ever-evolving Toronto-East York INCREASING COMPLEXITY By Jake Tobin Garrett Anyone walking around Toronto s downtown in the past five years could be forgiven for wondering if every single construction crane in the world had moved to the city. The Toronto East York district has seen the lion s share of development in the city in the last five years and it seems that more towers are peeking their heads up into the crowded skyline all the time. Aside from the many developments under construction, Toronto East York district planning director Gregg Lintern noted that there is a lot of approved development, both residential and non-residential, in the city that hasn t been built or marketed yet. Even if we didn t approve another building tomorrow, he told NRU, we d still have quite a pipeline of change coming that people are going to experience over the next five years. While Lintern said that the taller height of proposed buildings has been a big change for the district 60 is the new 40, he noted the change is more than just about height. You ve got this dynamic that s increasing in complexity, he said. The area s vibrancy and mixed-use character is getting stronger and the challenge comes in balancing all of those interests in such a complex environment. I think we get complaints sometimes that we re too CONTINUED PAGE 3 > Making cents of a possible casino SMALL BUSINESS IMPACTS By Julie Baldassi Building a casino in Toronto could bring the city about $100-million annually in hosting fees, but the added revenues are not the only economic factor to consider. While a casino could bolster the economy by creating jobs both at the casino and during its construction, questions have been raised about the impact a casino could have on the financial health of local businesses. In a recent interview with NRU, Councillor Paula Fletcher pointed to research by the Martin Prosperity Institute that has shown that there is a sterilizing impact on surrounding small businesses for a casino. Indeed, business owners in ward 27 have voiced concern about a casino s economic impact to councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. It would be disingenuous to think that a casino can land in Toronto and not have a negative impact on small to medium retail businesses, she told NRU. Wong-Tam said that she has heard from business owners in her ward who are concerned that an integrated entertainment complex the OLG s preferred option would include a new concert venue that could cannibalize CONTINUED PAGE 6 > INSIDE Budget 2013 Adding up the city s numbers p 2 > Supporting the arts Council to consider new funding p 6 > Towers appealed Hearing set in North York development p 12 > Straightforward Legal Solutions Jim Harbell jharbell@stikeman.com Calvin Lantz clantz@stikeman.com STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP Planning Development Municipal Real property Environmental Infrastructure/PPP Litigation Finance

2 CITY OF TORONTO EDITION 2 FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013 UPCOMING DATES Breaking down the budget CITY BY THE NUMBERS JANUARY 11 Toronto and East York Community Council Casino Subcommittee, 9:30 a.m., committee room 2 JANUARY 12 Casino public consultation, 1:00-4:00 p.m., North York Memorial Hall, 5110 Yonge St. JANUARY 14 Casino public consultation, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Etobicoke Olympium Gymnasium, 590 Rathburn Rd. JANUARY 15 City Council, 9:30 a.m., council chambers Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design lecture with Manuel Aires Mateus, 6:30 p.m., Daniels Faculty, 230 College Street, room 103 JANUARY 17 Casino public consultation, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Scarborough Civic Centre Rotunda, 150 Borough Dr. JANUARY 19 Casino public consultation, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Bluma Appel Salon, Reference Library, 789 Yonge St. JANUARY 21 Government Management Committee, 9:30 a.m., committee room 1 TTC Meeting JANUARY 22 Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design lecture with Bruce Kuwabara, 6:30 p.m., Daniels Faculty, 230 College Street, room 103 JANUARY 26 Etobicoke York Community Council, 9:30 a.m., Council Chambers, Etobicoke Civic Centre CITY OF TORONTO EDITION After many committee meetings and public consultations, the city s 2013 operating and capital budgets are heading to council for debate next week. Through examining city budget documents and communication with city staff, NRU has pieced together the core budget breakdown of the 2013 operating budget from the latest numbers available before deadline. The budget was presented to the executive committee yesterday. The budget committee is recommending that council approve a 2013 operating budget of $9.413-billion gross or, $3.713-billion net. The represents an increase of $8-million over the 2012 gross operating budget and 25-million over the net operating budget. The task before the city this year was to close the gap, calculated to be $465-million, between proposed 2013 expenditures and available revenues. This resulted partly from cost increases due to capital financing, inflation and compensation and benefits and increased TTC employee costs. Recommended revenue increases of $244-million to close the gap come from a variety of sources including fees, uploading, reserve funds and a property tax increase. These include $42-million from TTC ridership growth, $14-million from uploading of social services to the province, $12-million from user fees, a fivecent TTC fare increase and $33-million from reserve funds. Late yesterday, the executive committee also approved an increased contribution of 6.8-million from the social housing federal reserve fund. Increased property tax revenues will bring in $81-million, which includes $33-million from assessment growth and $35-million from a 2 per cent residential property tax increase and $13-million from a 0.67 per cent non-residential property tax increase. The impact of the property tax increase amounts to an increase of $49.65 on an average household value of $474,368. The city plans to save $186-million through efficiencies and other cost savings in areas such as long term care homes, Toronto Public Library and solid waste management services. Included in that is $60-million in reduced compensation and benefits through the collective bargaining process, staff wrote to NRU. Another $44-million is saved through reduced capital financing costs. After filling the gap, this gives the city 15-million to allocate to new and enhanced services, such as washroom cleaning at TTC stations, expanded use of debit and credit card for purchasing metropasses from collector booths and more emergency medical services personnel. Reinstating the hardship fund is also part of the proposed budget. This fund provides medical supports to people in poverty who do not receive social assistance. nru Ian A.R. Graham, Publisher iang@nrupublishing.com Lynn Morrow, Editor lynnm@nrupublishing.com Jake Tobin Garrett Planning Reporter jakeg@nrupublishing.com Julie Baldassi Municipal Affairs Reporter julieb@nrupublishing.com Jeff Payette, Design/Layout jeffp@nrupublishing.com Irena Kohn Sales and Circulation irenak@nrupublishing.com SALES/SUBSCRIPTIONS circ@nrupublishing.com Annual subscription rate is $369 +HST (ON). Complimentary trial subscriptions are available. Advertising rates available upon request. NRU City of Toronto Edition is not to be redistributed without the written consent of the publisher. NRU City of Toronto Edition is published 50 times a year by by NRU Publishing Inc. NRU Publishing Inc. Editorial Office 26 Soho Street, Suite 330 Toronto, ON M5T 1Z7 Tel: Fax: Billings Department 46 Old Bridle Path Toronto, ON M4T 1A7 Tel: Fax: ISSN X CITY OF TORONTO GREA TER TORONTO VANCOUVER

3 Woodbine Ave Woodbine Ave Victoria Park Ave Victoria Park Ave CITY OF TORONTO EDITION FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013 INCREASING COMPLEXITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 3 prescriptive in what we try to achieve. People have to remember that the environment has gotten increasingly complex. The city is a dynamic and organic place and that is the city s greatest strength, Lintern said. I m not saying we don t need planning, but in doing the work that we do we can t lose that essential quality of urbanity that the city possesses. People have said that finding development sites has become harder, he said, and the city has also received proposals for tall towers on smaller sites. However, some small sites are just not development sites. And some people believe that every site is a development site. There are limitations to everything, he said, adding that smaller sites can t deliver on separation distances like larger sites can. Lintern noted the advent of what chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat has referred to as super projects developments proposed for upwards of 80 storeys or more. The biggest impact right now is the learning that has to be done that comes with these larger projects, Lintern said. That s learning for the public, for staff and for the developers. When you see projects of this scale, it s an order of magnitude change that demands that you have to step back and learn again about how to do it. One of the things that Lintern said the city has been hearing a lot about at public meetings are concerns over infrastructure. He said that while people understand intensification and growth they want more information on infrastructure and how the growth is being managed. Lintern said there are new community facilities such as a new pool in Regent Park and a library under construction in the railway lands. But while there is a lot of new publicly accessible CONTINUED PAGE 4 > Toronto & East York District Non-Residential Projects (July June 2012) Keele St Parkside Dr Keele St Parkside Dr Dufferin St Queen St King St 18 Dufferin St Queen St King St Bloor St W Dundas St W Lake Shore Blvd W Bloor St W Eglinton Ave W Bathurst St St Clair Ave W Dundas St W Lake Shore Blvd W Eglinton Ave W Bathurst St St Clair Ave W Spadina Rd Spadina Rd Avenue Rd University Ave Avenue Rd University Ave Yonge St Front St Yonge St Front St Mount Pleasant Rd 27 Mount Pleasant Rd 27 Eglinton Ave E Eglinton Ave E Bayview Ave Don Valley Parkway Danforth Ave Broadview Ave Dundas St E Toronto & East York District Residential Projects (July June 2012) SOURCE: TORONTO CITY PLANNING DIVISION, RESEARCH AND INFORMATION DATA SOURCE: IBMS / LAND USE INFORMATION SYSTEM II Pape Ave Eastern Ave Lake Shore Blvd E 30 Don Valley Parkway Danforth Ave Broadview Ave Dundas St E Pape Ave Eastern Ave Lake Shore Blvd E Proposed GFA (m2) 10,000 50, , O Connor Dr 31 Legend O Connor Dr 31 Legend Residential Projects 200 1,000 2,000 St Clair Ave E Kingston Rd St Clair Ave E Kingston Rd Community Council Area Ward Boundary Community Council Area Ward Boundary

4 INCREASING COMPLEXITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 4 downtown open spaces the city needs to understand where the gaps are and how to address those gaps. I think that s one of the challenges ahead because people do feel overwhelmed. He pointed to a midtown planning group that has been set up to look at public realm improvements in the Yonge- Eglinton area because of the large amount of development occurring there. When you have that amount of growth it s important to have an exemplary public realm. Concerns about development and the public realm were also raised by newly-elected community council chair for the district Councillor Paula Fletcher. She told NRU that community members would like to see the city take a more holistic view of planning and development decisions, rather than looking at applications on a development-by-development basis. They want us to stop taking three applications beside one another and saying well they re all separate, she said, adding that a more holistic view that looks at the impact of all the applications is needed. What s needed for parking, what s needed for green space, what s needed for public realm, what s needed for all these things. That s I think a good direction. On the smaller scale, there is the continued development of mid-rise projects in the district. Some of these projects, like 109Oz on Ossington Street and Lakehouse Beach on Queen Street East both developed by Reserve Properties with architecture by RAW Design have attracted vocal public opposition. Fletcher says she thinks there will be a lot of action around mid-rise and if we can get out ahead and have people understand exactly what the heights are, what s allowed, what isn t allowed [and] what some of the community benefits would be then I think that would be useful. I think mid-rise has a future, it s just going to take time, Lintern said. We re kind of slowly transitioning from one look to another and these things are generational, they don t happen over night. One of the areas of the city where there does seem to have been an overnight change has been along the waterfront. After years of planning, buildings and public spaces have begun to sprout up along the lake making what Lintern called an exciting march along the water s edge. Waterfront Toronto president and CEO CONTINUED PAGE 5 > Top Ten Residential Development Proposals Toronto & East York District, July 2007 June Dundas St. W. Proposal to demolish and replace 333 townhouse and apartment units, refurbish and retain 473 apartment units, add 1,540 market units and introduce retail uses on the ground fl oor at appropriate locations. 6 Glen Rd. A mixed-use development consisting of four residential towers with heights of 45, 50, 53 and 56 storeys, a fi ve-storey, mid-rise residential building, restoration of existing heritage semi-detached housing on Glen Road, a three-storey, mixed-use building and retail uses at grade along Howard St. at Sherbourne St. The proposed development will contain 1,840 units. 261 Queens Quay E. Proposal for seven mixed-use development blocks to be developed with offi ce uses containing 1,833 residential units and grade-related retail uses. 177 Front St. E. A new mixeduse development consisting of a 34 and 33 storey residential towers with 1,663 residential units and ground fl oor related retail/ commercial uses. 511 Bremner Blvd. Proposal to develop two blocks within the Railway Lands West Secondary Plan area. One block is proposed to include two residential buildings with heights of 39 and 41 storeys containing 943 dwelling units. The other block is proposed to included three residential buildings with heights of 8, 19 and 30 storeys, containing a total of 581 residential dwelling units York St. Proposal for a new 32-storey offi ce building complete with retail at grade, 65 plus 2 mechanical storey, mixed-use condominium building with 719 dwelling units and 753 square metres of retail and a new 57-storey, mixed-use condominium building with 600 dwelling units and 268 square metres of retail. 90 Harbour and 1 York St. Three buildings including a 40-storey offi ce tower, two residential buildings approximately 66 and 62 storeys with a total of 1,305 dwelling units. 475 Front St. E. Phase 2 of the West Don Lands redevelopment proposing 1,297 residential units Front St. W., Bathurst St., 33, Niagara St. A new mixed-use development consisting of 1,200 residential dwelling units in four towers ranging in height from 2 to 18 storeys with retail at grade. 27 & 37 Yorkville Ave. and 50 Cumberland St. A mixed-use development comprised of two 55 and 69 storey residential towers with a total of 1,166 residential units. SOURCE: CITY PLANNING

5 INCREASING COMPLEXITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 5 John Campbell was similarly enthusiastic about the recent developments and waterfront projects. There s a long gestation period for real estate projects. Campbell told NRU. This period is particularly long for public realm initiatives and those involving the development of entire neighbourhoods, he said. It isn t just building a building. The public thinks it starts when the tower crane arrives. That s almost the end, he said. What s nice about [the waterfront] now is that people are seeing the visible manifestations of all the work of the last nine years. Stuff is just starting to spring out of the ground. Some of that stuff springing out of the ground in the past two years includes Sugar Beach, Sherbourne Common, George Brown College, the Corus Entertainment building and Underpass Park. And expect more to be springing up in 2013 with the opening of Canada Square and Ontario Square by Harbourfront Centre and Don River Park in the spring. Additionally, Campbell said that the development for the PanAm Games athlete village is going gangbusters with six cranes up right now. Once finished the project will contain market housing, affordable housing, a YMCA, George Brown College student residences and a new streetcar line. Campbell was particularly effusive about the reconstruction of Queen s Quay, which is currently underway and will finish in the spring of 2015, calling it Toronto s answer to Paris Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The reconstruction will reduce the four lanes of traffic down to two, creating a linear park along newly rebuilt streetcar tracks on the south side of the road. Looking further ahead in waterfront development, both Campbell and Lintern pointed to the precinct planning that will be undertaken for the Port Lands in the coming year, a process Lintern said is co-led by the city, Waterfront Toronto and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The Port Lands is also one of the areas where casino proponents have been sniffing around as a potential site for a proposed gaming facility in the district. For Fletcher a possible casino is one of the big issues for the district. She said the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is very interested in Exhibition Place, the Metro Convention Centre or the Port Lands as potential sites. Consultations are taking place this month across the city with one held at City Hall this past Wednesday. Fletcher listed zoning, parking and traffic patterns and the effect of a casino on small businesses as casino impacts that need to be understood. Whether or not you like casinos there are some very large planning issues that have to be looked at. nru Monarch Corporation is a residential developer and builder based in Toronto. Our portfolio includes both high rise and low rise residential developments across the GTA, Waterloo Region and Ottawa. We have an opportunity in our Low Rise Land Division at our Toronto head office for an experienced planner who is self motivated and works well in group settings: Manager of Development 7-10 years experience Monarch is seeking an individual that has a thorough understanding of the land development approvals process for low and medium density greenfield and infill site plan, subdivision and condominium development. The successful candidate should be able to take development from conception through to final approvals and plan registration. The candidate should also have experience navigating Regional, Local Official Plan and Secondary Plans policies. As the main point of contact on projects, the candidate will be expected to liaise with politicians, municipal staff, and outside agencies, consultants, joint ventures and appear before Committees and Councils and represent Monarch in Landowner Groups. The candidate will need to be able to negotiate various development related matters and agreements and lead multi-disciplinary teams of professional consultants cost effectively. As a Manager of Development the successful candidate will also have the following responsibilities: prepare annual project budgets monitor project costs on an ongoing basis under a purchase order system prepare time lines and monitor progress against corporate project delivery targets coordinate with internal departments within Monarch to integrate the land development process with site servicing and house building operations, and cost sharing groups and cost sharing agreements provide timely and effective reporting to senior management A degree in Planning or related discipline is required. Salary is commensurate with experience. Excellent company benefits provided. Attention: Human Resources Fax: (416) resumes@monarchgroup.net

6 6 CITY IN BRIEF Executive committee endorses new arts funding The executive committee adopted a motion by Councillor Gary Crawford to direct $6-million of the city s 2013 budget towards funding arts and culture. The revenue will come from the city s billboard tax, which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court. By adding this funding to the 2013 budget, Toronto s arts spending would be raised from $17 to $25 per capita, according to beautifulcity. ca. This will be considered by council next week as part of the 2013 budget debate. Mayor Ford s appeal heard Monday A three-judge Divisional Court panel heard Mayor Rob Ford s appeal of Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland s ruling that Ford had breached the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act when he voted on a matter in which he had a financial interest. The panel, comprising Regional Senior Justice Edward Then, Justice Lynne Leitch and Justice Katherine Swinton, is expected to issue a decision as soon as possible, but it could take a few weeks. Gardiner EA re-launched Councillors decided to revive the environmental assessment on the Gardiner Expressway at Tuesday s budget committee meeting. A motion from budget chief Mike Del Grande was carried, which allocates $4.41-million of the 2013 budget for the completion of the EA to determine whether the expressway should be torn down. The motion will be considered during the 2013 budget debate at council next week. CONTINUED PAGE 11 > SMALL BUSINESS IMPACTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 programming or sales activities that are taking place at Roy Thompson Hall or Massey Hall and periphery businesses. In particularly, Wong-Tam said that casinos with attached entertainment venues will often offer free or subsidized tickets to lure in people who will spend money gambling while they are there. And that kind of activity would have a significant impact overall on the business environment. A recent report for the city by consultant Ernst & Young touted a possible casino s many economic merits, including direct and indirect benefits to the city s GDP from the casino s construction and operations, as well as benefits from job creation. But Ernst & Young s report also acknowledged that some of the GDP contributed by an integrated entertainment complex will be at the expense of existing businesses to the extent consumers shift their entertainment and leisure spending from existing businesses to the integrated entertainment complex. I am not averse to having gaming facilities, said Wong-Tam. But I m very much averse to bad planning. I think that whatever casinos may be proposed, it would have to be a spectacular return for the city, otherwise I don t see a reason to do it. The biggest economic return that the city could gain from a casino would be from the annual hosting fee. The precise hosting fee figure has been of some dispute, with casino consultant Ernst & Young making early estimates as high as $168-million and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation quoting more conservative estimates of $50- to $100-million. At the city s first public consultation Wednesday, city manager Joe Pennachetti said that he still stands by Ernst & Young s estimate, but he told reporters that $100-million is more in line with where we re headed [and] that is a very significant annual revenue for the city. Wong-Tam, however, disputed the significance of the potential revenues saying that she doesn t believe the city has accurate financial data. Everyone seems to be bantering numbers around the $50-million to $100-million range, which is of course really nothing in the grand scheme of what the city really needs in terms of [annual] revenues. The land transfer tax alone brought in $64-million a year, and we didn t have to add a single new car onto the road, and there were no negative social impacts from gambling addictions, said Wong-Tam. The debate continues with the Executive Committee weighing in March 20 and Council at its April 3 4 meeting. nru

7 COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGENDAS 7 NORTH YORK COMMUNITY COUNCIL The North York Community Council will consider the following at its meeting on Tuesday, January 22, at 9:30 a.m. in council chamber at North York Civic Centre. SCHEDULED REPORTS 10:15 A.M. Residential demolition applications Staff report recommends community council determine whether applications to demolish single-family homes at 740, 747, 748, 813, 815 and 817 Sheppard Avenue West, 130 Hillmount Avenue and 293 Viewmount Avenue should be refused as there is no application to replace the existing buildings, approved without conditions or approved with conditions such as removing debris. 10:45 A.M. Request for a heritage evaluation Staff report recommends not including a property at 68 Parkhurst Boulevard in the city inventory of heritage buildings nor designating it as a heritage building under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. 11:00 A.M. 131, 133, 135, 137, 139 and 141 Finch Avenue East Final report recommends approval of a draft plan of common elements condominium to permit a common driveway and landscaped area for 28 residential townhouses. Also recommended for approval is a part lot control exemption with permits creating conveyable lots for the townhouses. The application was made by owner Elegant Garden Rivermill Inc. 9 Fairmeadow Avenue (formerly 17 Fairmeadow Avenue) Final report recommends approval of zoning by-law amendment and subdivision applications requested by Anna Fagyas (Sobara Group) on behalf of Toronto District School Board to permit an 11-lot, single-family dwelling subdivision designed by architect Hunt Design Associates Inc. 11:15 A.M. 148 Finch Avenue West Final report recommends approval of zoning by-law amendment and site plan applications requested by Rubinoff Design Group on behalf of The Medical Group Inc. to permit a three-storey, mixed-use building with at-grade commercial and four residential units. Nine surface parking spaces are also proposed. 183 Finch Avenue West Final report recommends approval of a zoning by-law amendment requested by Richard Min on behalf of Kardel Developments Inc. to permit a home occupation in an existing residential dwelling s ground floor York Mills Road Request for directions report seeking authorization for the city solicitor CONTINUED PAGE 8 > EXECUTIVE / PERSONAL ASSISTANT THE DANIELS CORPORATION The Daniels Corporation seeks an Executive / Personal Assistant to provide administrative support to members of its Development team and personal support for members of the senior management team. Successful candidates will posses the following qualifications: Minimum of 5+ years of experience in a professional office setting as an Assistant to Senior Level Management; Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment; Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate clearly and efficiently with multiple stakeholders; Strong analytical and organizational skills and experience creating and maintaining filing systems; Strong technical skills in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point) Interested persons should forward their resume and salary expectations in confidence to: admin@danielscorp.com Preferred candidates only will be contacted for interviews.

8 COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGENDAS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 8 to attend an OMB hearing in support of a proposed development. A zoning by-law amendment was requested by Borden Ladner Gervais on behalf of Kingsberg Property Investments Ltd. to permit a two-storey, 11,254-sq.m. commercial building designed by architect Francis Leung. REPORTS 139 Buckingham Avenue Request from Councillor Jay Robinson to have the city solicitor attend an OMB hearing in support of a committee of adjustment decision to deny minor variances for two proposed two-storey dwellings. 35 Tangiers Road Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment requested by M. Behar Planning and Design Inc. on behalf of Ontario Inc. to permit an eightstorey office building with at-grade commercial uses and drive-through facility. 458 Oakwood Avenue Preliminary report on a zoning bylaw amendment requested by Peter Chee on behalf of Maria Vidal to permit eight residential or live/work units in a fourstorey building with four parking spaces. 784 Sheppard Avenue East Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment requested by MMM Group Ltd. on behalf of Mountain Equipment Co-op to permit three-storey, stacked townhouses with 48 units and a two-storey retail building designed by SMV Architects. 3358, 3360, 3362 and 3364 Bayview Avenue Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment requested by Fairpark Homes Inc. on behalf of Ontario Ltd. to permit eight, four-storey townhouses with 16 units and one level of underground parking designed by architect Joseph Campitelli Erskine Avenue Preliminary report on a zoning bylaw amendment requested by Adam Brown (Sherman Brown Dryer Karol) on behalf of Erskine Park Holdings Inc. to permit a 300-unit, 35-storey condominium building designed by Rafael + Bigauskas Architects. Eight levels of parking four underground and four aboveground in the building s podium are also proposed. An existing three-storey, six-unit rental building is proposed to be demolished. ETOBICOKE YORK COMMUNITY COUNCIL The Etobicoke York Community Council will consider the following at its meeting on Tuesday, January 22, at 9:30 a.m. in council chamber at Etobicoke Civic Centre. SCHEDULED REPORTS 10:00 A.M Albion Road Final report recommends approval of an official plan and zoning by-law amendment requested by Weston Consulting Group Inc. on behalf of Umair Ahmad Goraya to permit a two-storey commercial building for retail and professional and medical offices Royal York Road Final report recommends approval of official plan and zoning by-law amendments requested by 360 Project Management Inc. to permit a two-unit, twostorey, semi-detached building designed by architect Drew Laszlo. REPORTS Caledonia Road, and St. Clair Avenue West Report detailing a local CONTINUED PAGE 9 > FOR SALE DOWNTOWN TORONTO DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY 26 Grenville Street & 27 Grosvenor Street, Toronto. Opportunity to purchase 0.37 ha site owned by the Government of Ontario. A Request for Proposals for interested parties is available at April 16 th to June 16 th 2012 grosvenor.datarooms.com For further information please contact Frank Lewinberg at grosvenor@urbanstrategies.com

9 COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGENDAS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 9 area study with recommendations to enhance and protect the residential character of the community. 808 to 828 Runnymede Road Status report on city-initiated zoning by-law amendments to permit residential uses while the current zoning designates the area as commercial employment. A community consultation will take place in the first quarter of and 743 Renforth Drive Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment and draft plan of subdivision requested by Action Planning Consultants on behalf of 735 Renforth Development Inc. to permit 38 single-detached dwellings. 55 Ypres Road Preliminary report on zoning by-law amendment and subdivision application requested by Icon Partners Ltd. on behalf of Icon Partners Inc. Trust to permit eight single-family detached and 36 semi-detached dwellings. Also included is a report recommending approval to demolish the existing building either with or without entering into a beautification agreement with the owner Islington Avenue Report recommends refusing a demolition control application by John DeFilippis as there is no application to replace the two-storey, single-family detached dwelling on site, approving the application without conditions or approving with conditions such as removing all debris Keele Street Report on possible zoning violations requested by Councillor Frank Di Giorgio concerning an auto body repair operation, which staff noted is a legal nonconforming use. amending the official plan pursuant to a city-initiated study on a mixed-use area bounded by Queen Street West, Northcote Avenue, Peel Avenue and Dufferin Street. The amendment will ensure future development is of an appropriate scale. 21, 23 and 25 Price Street Final report recommends approval of official plan and zoning by-law amendments requested by 21 Price St. Holdings to permit a four-storey office building with 1,320 square metres of gross floor area designed by Young + Wright/IBI Group Architects. Also included is a report recommending approval of the demolition of three existing designated heritage properties. 40 The Esplanade Final report recommends approval of city-initiated zoning by-law amendments to permit a mixeduse development containing two residential condominium towers with at-grade retail. CONTINUED PAGE 10 > UNIQUE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AT TORONTO S CASTLE ON THE HILL CASA LOMA The City of Toronto, through the Casa Loma Corporation, is seeking parties to improve, lease and operate the main house and grounds of Casa Loma as a heritage attraction and special events venue. A Request for Pre-Qualification is available at A Request for Proposal will be issued to pre-qualified parties only in the spring of TORONTO EAST YORK COMMUNITY COUNCIL The Toronto East York Community Council will consider the following at its meeting on Tuesday, January 22, at 9:30 a.m. in committee room one at Toronto City Hall. SCHEDULED REPORTS 10:00 A.M. City-initiated study of a mixed-use area Report recommends Casa Loma is strategically located in mid town Toronto and is one of the City s most iconic tourist attractions. The main house contains approximately 65,000 square feet on seven levels (including turrets). The house is situated on a 5.89-acre site; onsite parking areas can accommodate up to 174 cars and 12 busses. More information on Casa Loma may be found at QUESTIONS TO: casaloma.input@hlta.ca HLT Advisory Inc. 166 Pearl Street, Suite 200 Toronto ON M5H 1L3

10 COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGENDAS CONTINUED FROM PAGE Ontario Street Final report recommends approval of a zoning by-law amendment requested by Urban Strategies on behalf of Torli Office Limited to permit a 21-storey, mixeduse building with at-grade commercial uses designed by Burka Architects Inc. Also included is a report recommending approval of alterations of an existing heritage building on the site. 615 Parliament Street Final report recommends approval of a zoning by-law amendment requested by Action Planning Consultants on behalf of St. Mary Properties Ltd. to permit a three-storey building with pharmacy and medical offices designed by Balind Architect Inc River Street Final report recommends approval of draft plan of common elements condominium requested by Aird & Berlis on behalf of Jewel Valley Developments Inc. to allow for legal access to all 37 townhouses and ensure ownership of outdoor elements by the condominium corporation. 123 Torrens Avenue Final report recommends approval of the zoning by-law amendment requested by Dan Mar Drafting Design on behalf of Joseph Daniels Estate to permit two semi-detached dwellings. 635 King Street East Final report recommends lifting a part lot control exemption to facilitate ownership requirements within the River City development Richmond Street West Report recommends refusal of a zoning by-law amendment requested by Robert Dragicevic (Walker Nott Dragicevic Associates) on behalf of Joe DiGuiseppe to permit a 24-storey, mixed-use building with commercial and residential uses designed by Core Architects Inc. Staff note the proposal does not meet the tall building guidelines. 11:00 A.M 999 Dundas Street East Final report recommends approval of a draft plan of common elements condominium and part lot control exemption applications requested by Randal Dickie on behalf of Degrassi Development Ltd. to provide access to 10 three-storey townhouses and 2388 Dundas Street West Request for directions report recommends opposing a zoning by-law amendment to permit an eight-storey, mixed-use building and 23-storey tower. Staff notes approval of this development would set a negative precedent in the area Queen Street West Request for directions report recommends continued discussion with Baywood Homes regarding its zoning by-law amendment request to permit a nine-storey. mixed-use building. 24 Mercer Street Request for directions report recommends opposing a zoning by-law amendment requested by Scott Morris Architects on behalf of Ontario Inc. to permit a 21-storey residential building. 11:30 A.M. 1 Austin Terrace (Casa Loma) and 328 and 33 Walmer Road Report recommends amending heritage designation by-laws to revise the reasons for designation in accordance with the 2005 changes to the Ontario Heritage Act. 100 Adelaide Street West Report recommends approval of a sign installation on a designated heritage property for no longer than two years. 6 Astley Avenue Report recommends approval of the demolition of a designated heritage property and construction of a replacement structure in the form of a three-storey home designed by Richard Wengle Architects Inc. 1 Cluny Avenue Report recommends approval of the demolition of a designated heritage property and construction of a replacement structure in the form of a two-and-a-half-storey house. 1:30 P.M. Casino motions report Report provides information on various motions respecting casinos in the district. CONTINUED PAGE 11 >

11 COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGENDAS CONTINUED FROM PAGE REPORTS 383 Sorauren Avenue Preliminary report on a zoning bylaw amendment requested by Cynthia MacDougall on behalf of Ontario Inc. to permit an 11-storey, mixed-use building designed by Architects Alliance. 41 Dovercourt Road Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment requested by Orenda Development Associates to permit a 13-storey, mixed-use building designed by Kohn Shnier Architects Harbour Street and 10 York Street Preliminary report on a city-initiated official plan amendment to permit 12 condominium-registered units to be considered as affordable housing. 367 and 369 King Street West Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment requested by Tas Design Build on behalf of Ontario Inc. to permit a 15-storey, mixeduse building with commercial space in a basement, at grade and on the second floor, designed by Teeple Architects Davenport Road Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment requested by Sherman Brown Dryer Karol on behalf of Mizrahi Soaring Developments Inc. to permit a 12-storey, mixed-use building with at-grade retail designed by Page + Steele/IBI Group Architects. 625, 629 and 637 Yonge Street and 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 Isabella Street Preliminary report on a zoning by-law amendment requested by Fraser Milner Casgrain on behalf of Rml 9 Isabella Street Limited and Rml 625 Yonge Street Limited to permit a 40-storey, mixed-use building with a four-storey podium designed by Page + Steele/IBI Group Architects. Staff notes the proposal is not supportable in its current form and that tall building performance standards still need to be met. Downtown Yonge Street Studies Report outlines which city staff would be responsible for implementing projects associated with a public realm improvement plan by the Downtown Yonge BIA if council were to allocate funds for these projects and directed staff to undertake them. Downtown East Revitalization Initiatives Report provides an update on revitalization initiatives in the area bounded by Jarvis Street, Sherbourne Street, Queen Street East and Carlton Street. nru CITY IN BRIEF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Toronto condos win international competition Amexon Development Corporations received two awards at the International Property Awards gala held in London, England in December. Amexon was awarded best high-rise architecture and best mixeduse architecture in Canada for its South Beach Condos and Lofts, a 27-storey residential tower at 88 Parklawn Avenue in Toronto. Riverdale Farm stewards wanted The City of Toronto is recruiting skilled, experienced volunteers to join the Riverdale Farm Stewardship Group, which was established to help ensure the financial sustainability of the farm. The group will work closely with Councillor Pam McConnell, staff and partners to seek sustainable funding, foster partnerships, create new learning opportunities for visitors and pursue financial opportunities for the farm. The group will also work on enhancing service and public accessibility. Completed application forms must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 25. More information can be found here. Healthy fourth quarter housing market activity Royal LePage released its housing price and market CONTINUED PAGE 12 >

12 12 TORONTO OMB NEWS North York development hearing set In a decision issued December 31, board member Richard G. M. Makuch scheduled a hearing for appeals by Amexon Developments Inc. and Heritage York Holdings Inc. of zoning by-law and official plan amendments refused by the City of Toronto. The amendments are sought to permit a mixed-use development with six residential buildings varying in height from 27 to 43 storeys with 2,098 units as well as a one-storey commercial building. The 4.8-hectare site is located at 1200, 1210 and 1220 Sheppard Avenue East, west of Leslie Street. Currently there are three existing commercial buildings on site ranging in height from four to eight storeys. Amexon and Heritage York maintain that the city s application process was hasty and unfair, adding the city failed to provide them with adequate opportunity to allow them to obtain, review and respond to comments from circulated departments and agencies. Amexon and Heritage York have now obtained these reports and comments and have amended their application. The new proposal adds a public road, reduces the number of buildings from six to five and lowers the height range to 21 to 39 storeys. This corresponds to a reduction in units from 2,098 to 1,793 and increased park space. The board scheduled a prehearing conference for May 9 and a hearing for June 12, 13 and 14. It ordered the city to provide its written comments on the amended application prior to the May prehearing. Solicitors in the case are Mary Flynn-Guglietti and Annik Forristal (McMillan) representing Amexon Developments Inc. and Heritage York Holdings Inc.; Thomas Wall representing the City of Toronto; and Marc P. Kemerer (Blaney McMurtry) representing Bayview Village Association. (See OMB Case No. PL ) nru NRU is now on twitter! Follow us CITY IN BRIEF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 survey forecast Tuesday, which shows strong yearover-year price gains in the fourth quarter of 2012 for most housing types surveyed in Toronto, due to strong demand. The largest yearover-year price increase was in the standard two-storey homes category, which rose by 6.2 per cent to an average of $668,133. Prices for detached bungalows rose by 4.9 per cent to an average of $558,345. Condominium prices rose by 2.6 per cent to an average of $356,865. Public service workers reach deal with province The Ontario Public Service Employees Union reached a tentative two-year collective agreement with the Ontario government Wednesday, which includes a wage freeze. The union represents over 35,000 public service employees across the province. Further details about the deal will be released once it has been ratified by both parties. nru TORONTO PEOPLE The executive committee renewed the appointments of Councillor Mike Del Grande as budget chief and deputy mayor Doug Holyday as chair of the employee and labour relations committee at its meeting Tuesday.