Item - 2019.TE11.65

The Toronto and East York Community Council submits the Item to City Council without recommendation.

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Requested the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to assess the feasibility of acquiring 185 Balliol Street for parkland and to report to the December 17 and 18, 2019 meeting of City Council if there are recommendations to acquire the property and amend the Approved 2019-2028 Parks, Forestry and Recreation Capital Budget and Plan to fund the acquisition.

Dear Chair and Members,

Midtown is one of the fastest growing areas of Toronto. Within Midtown, the Davisville Apartment Neighbourhood has 7,000 residents with eight new developments currently under review that, if constructed as proposed, will introduce an additional 2,000 units to the local area. In order to maintain and support the existing and incoming residents' quality of life, new green space is required to address the significant growth anticipated in this area

The private tennis club at 185 Balliol Street is currently listed for sale. The site is approximately 1.08 acres, and is the only opportunity to create a large park in this rapidly growing apartment neighbourhood.

Public parks are necessary for complete communities. Council approved the new Parkland Strategy on November 26, 2019. The Parkland Strategy identifies the area as a “Parkland Study and Acquisition Priority Area” as it has low parkland provision and high growth.

In July 2018, City Council adopted Official Plan Amendment 405: Midtown in Focus Secondary Plan for the Yonge-Eglinton Area. The Secondary Plan specifically identifies 185 Balliol Street as a proposed public park on Parks and Opens Space Network Plan (Map 21-8). Policy 3.3.5 of OPA 405 states that proposed public parks will be acquired and/or secured by the City over time.

It is important that the City of Toronto act quickly to assess the acquisition opportunity. Council has already identified that this is an area of parkland need, and specifically identifies 185 Balliol Street for a proposed park. I am asking that staff to assess the potential acquisition and funding, and report to December 17, 2019 City Council if there is a recommendation to acquire the property for parkland.