Item - 2009.EX36.6

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on November 30, 2009 without amendments and without debate.
  • This item was considered by the Executive Committee on November 2, 2009 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on November 30, 2009.

EX36.6 - Preservation of the Former Canada Malting Silos and Phased Development Plan for Silos Site - 5 Eireann Quay

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted on Consent
Ward:
20 - Trinity-Spadina

City Council Decision

City Council on November 30, December 1, 2, 4 and 7, 2009, adopted the following:

 

1.         City Council approve a phased plan to preserve the Canada Malting silos and a master planning exercise to complete improvements to the remainder of the site for public and private use as described in the report (October 26, 2009) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.

 

2.         City Council direct staff to proceed immediately with Phase I improvements which have been funded in the Approved 2009 Capital Budget

 

i.          the remediation of the east face of the silos to facilitate the opening of the East Promenade to Ireland Park including removal and storage of the marine leg;

ii.         repairs to the eastern dockwall; and

iii.        demolition of the structures to the immediate west of the 1929 and 1944 concrete silo structures.

 

3.         City Council direct staff to prepare a Phase II Master Plan for the silos site and surrounding parkland identifying additional improvements and funding sources including a potential private development site in accordance with the framework outlined in this report.

 

4.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, to explore the private development potential for a portion of the site.

 

5.         City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director to proceed at the appropriate time with all necessary planning studies required to consider and/or accommodate the proposed redevelopment on the Canada Malting site.

 

6.         City Council direct that any redevelopment of the Canada Malting site retain the 1929 and 1944 silos as iconic, landmark elements and that proceeds from any sale or lease of adjacent lands be directed to complete the required restoration as a first priority.

 

7.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to enter into negotiations with the Toronto District School Board to amend the lease and licence agreements and any other relevant agreements between the parties on such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate by the Chief Corporate Officer to facilitate any proposed redevelopment of the Canada Malting site.

 

8.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to take the necessary steps to amend or remove the restrictive covenants on title to the Canada Malting site to allow for the proposed redevelopment, on such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate by them, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Background Information (Committee)

(October 26, 2009) Report from Deputy City Manager and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer - Preservation of the Former Canada Malting Silos and Phased Development Plan for Silos Site - 5 Eireann Quay
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24719.pdf

6a - Preservation Alternatives for the Former Canada Malting Complex

Background Information (Committee)
(April 16, 2009) Report from the Chief Corporate Officer - Preservation Alternatives for the Former Canada Malting Complex
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24475.pdf

6b - 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act

Background Information (Committee)
(April 21, 2009) Letter from the Toronto and East York Community Council - 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Letter
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24476.pdf
(March 10, 2009) Director, Policy and Research, City Planning Division - 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24477.pdf
(March 27, 2009) 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Toronto Preservation Board Letter
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24478.pdf
5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act -YQNA - Letter from York Quay Neighbourhood Association
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24479.pdf

EX36.6 - Preservation of the Former Canada Malting Silos and Phased Development Plan for Silos Site - 5 Eireann Quay

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Ward:
20 - Trinity-Spadina

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that: 

 

1.         City Council approve a phased plan to preserve the Canada Malting silos and a master planning exercise to complete improvements to the remainder of the site for public and private use as described in the report (October 26, 2009) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.

 

2.         City Council direct staff to proceed immediately with Phase I improvements which have been funded in the Approved 2009 Capital Budget

 

i.           the remediation of the east face of the silos to facilitate the opening of the East Promenade to Ireland Park including removal and storage of the marine leg;

ii.          repairs to the eastern dockwall; and

iii.         demolition of the structures to the immediate west of the 1929 and 1944 concrete silo structures.

 

3.         City Council direct staff to prepare a Phase II Master Plan for the silos site and surrounding parkland identifying additional improvements and funding sources including a potential private development site in accordance with the framework outlined in this report.

 

4.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, to explore the private development potential for a portion of the site.

 

5.         City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director to proceed at the appropriate time with all necessary planning studies required to consider and/or accommodate the proposed redevelopment on the Canada Malting site.

 

6.         City Council direct that any redevelopment of the Canada Malting site retain the 1929 and 1944 silos as iconic, landmark elements and that proceeds from any sale or lease of adjacent lands be directed to complete the required restoration as a first priority.

 

7.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer to enter into negotiations with the Toronto District School Board to amend the lease and licence agreements and any other relevant agreements between the parties on such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate by the Chief Corporate Officer to facilitate any proposed redevelopment of the Canada Malting site.

 

8.         City Council authorize the Chief Corporate Officer, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to take the necessary steps to amend or remove the restrictive covenants on title to the Canada Malting site to allow for the proposed redevelopment, on such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate by them, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Origin

(October 26, 2009) Report from Richard Butts, Deputy City Manager and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer

Summary

This report recommends that City Council direct staff to pursue a two-phased plan for the Canada Malting site.  Phase 1 would include improvements to the site to secure safe waterfront access to Ireland Park, dockwall repairs and removal of the structures to the west of the Canada Malting silos.  Phase 2 would involve developing a master plan for the site that would incorporate the sale of a portion of the site to permit private development and use of the funds from the development to complete parkland improvements to the entire site and stabilize the 1929 and 1944 Silos.

Financial Impact

The Facilities and Real Estate 2009 Approved Capital Budget included a project for $12.2 million with $3 million of cash flow in 2009 and $9.2 in 2010 to carry out the Phase I improvements to the site.   $3.8 million of this amount is required for the east dock wall repairs, $6 million is required for demolition of buildings to the west of the silos, $1.5 million for removal of the marine leg and stabilization of the east face of the silos to secure a safe walkway with the remaining $900,000 to be spent on necessary stabilization and repair work designed to address the rapid decay of the silo structures.  Facilities and Real Estate will retain responsibility for ongoing operational costs relating to the site that are estimated at approximately $140,000 annually and will be provided from the current Base budget of the program.

Any additional improvements to the area are anticipated to follow a successful process to facilitate redevelopment of a portion of the site. Assumptions to guide a restoration plan for the silos are not yet firm.  Estimates for  that aspect of the work are in the order of $9.0 million.  It is anticipated that other funding sources such as a land sale and other contributions could yield in excess of $10 million.

The Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.

 

Background Information

(October 26, 2009) Report from Deputy City Manager and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer - Preservation of the Former Canada Malting Silos and Phased Development Plan for Silos Site - 5 Eireann Quay
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24719.pdf

6a - Preservation Alternatives for the Former Canada Malting Complex

Origin
(April 16, 2009) Report from the Chief Corporate Officer
Summary

Facilities and Real Estate Division (F&RE) was directed by Executive Committee at its meeting of June 03, 2008, item EX21.1.10 to provide long-term options for the silos and structures of the former Canada Malting Complex in support of future development of this site and to facilitate public access to Ireland Park. The silo facilities are on the City’s inventory list of heritage properties.

 

Trow Associates Inc. (Trow), the engineering consultant of record, has provided cost estimates on the five alternatives detailed in this report and summarized in table form in Appendix “A”, which range in cost from $7.65 Million to $20.6 Million.  The project budget included in the 2009 Capital Budget submission is $12.2 Million, which incorporates an estimated $3.8 Million repair to the east dock wall, resulting in $8.4 Million for the site building structures.  The east dock wall repairs are needed and common to all Alternatives presented.  

 

The City’s Heritage Preservation Services (HPS) prefers Alternative “B”, to retain and restore all silos and demolish the buildings to the west at a total cost of about $17.7 Million.  This requires additional funding of approximately $9.3 Million to be added to the approved project budget.

 

This report recommends Alternative “D”, to demolish all silos and structures leaving only a symbolic outline representation of nine southern silos in a landscape setting at a cost of about $8.4 Million.  HPS is not in agreement with this recommendation.

Financial Impact

The content of this report has no direct financial impact to the current year’s budget provided the recommended Preservation Alternative “D” is approved.  Should Alternative’s “A”, “B” or “C” be approved additional funding will be required to implement the respective Alternative.  The capital budget plan for this project is $12.2 Million ($3 Million in 2009 and $9.2 Million in 2010); however, $3.8 Million of this amount is required for the east dock wall repairs. 

Background Information
(April 16, 2009) Report from the Chief Corporate Officer - Preservation Alternatives for the Former Canada Malting Complex
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24475.pdf

6b - 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act

Origin
(April 21, 2009) Report from the Toronto and East York Community Council
Summary

The property at 5 Eireann Quay (formerly known as 5 Bathurst Street) containing the Canada Malting Complex is included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. It was reviewed by the Federal Heritage Review Office (FHRO) and that report concluded that “the structures enjoy significant symbolic status and considerable public recognition profile.”

 

Facilities and Real Estate Division have applied to demolish the entire complex, save and except a small representative portion of the silos.

 

Four preservation options for the Canada Malting Complex that were reviewed by an Industrial Heritage Consultant (Historica Research Ltd) are described below.  The consultant was retained specifically by Facilities and Real Estate Division to comment on the heritage impacts of the proposed conservation component.

 

Comment is provided by both Heritage Preservation Services and Community Planning staff regarding the importance in conserving the site for the citizens of Toronto.

Financial Impact

While the act of passing the bylaw recommended in this report has no financial implication for the City of Toronto, the resulting expectations of remedial work to conserve the heritage structures will have financial implications.  Currently a proposal to substantially demolish the silos and leave a representative portion of the buildings behind will cost council approximately $8.4 million.  However, this option represents the least desirable approach from a heritage conservation point of view and is directly at odds with policies regarding heritage conservation in the Official Plan and the Council adopted Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, and is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement 2005.

Background Information
(April 21, 2009) Letter from the Toronto and East York Community Council - 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Letter
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24476.pdf
(March 10, 2009) Director, Policy and Research, City Planning Division - 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Report
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24477.pdf
(March 27, 2009) 5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Toronto Preservation Board Letter
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24478.pdf
5 Eireann Quay - Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act -YQNA - Letter from York Quay Neighbourhood Association
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-24479.pdf
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council