Item - 2020.GL11.6

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, to continue negotiations for the acquisition of the Property Requirements in Appendix A to the report (December 18, 2019) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, municipally known as 2333 Dundas Street West and 2295 Dundas Street West and outlined on the Property Interests Sketch in Appendix B to the report (December 18, 2019) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and on the Project Map in Appendix C to the report (December 18, 2019) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and, if unsuccessful, to initiate expropriation proceedings for the Property Requirements.

2.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, to execute, serve, and publish Notices of Application for Approval to Expropriate the Property Requirements in Recommendation 1 above, to forward any requests for hearings to the Chief Inquiry Officer, to attend any hearings in order to present the City of Toronto's position, and to report the Chief Inquiry Officer's recommendations to City Council for consideration.

This report seeks authority to initiate expropriation proceedings for a temporary easement and a permanent easement as part of the property municipally known as 2333 Dundas Street West ("2333 Dundas") and temporary easements as part of the property municipally known as 2295 Dundas Street West ("2295 Dundas", and collectively, the "Properties"). These easements are required for the construction of a proposed emergency shelter for men at 2299 Dundas Street West, a transition site which is a part of the George Street Revitalization ("GSR") Project.

The City of Toronto (the "City") acquired 2299 Dundas Street West (the "City Property") in March 2019 as one of the replacement sites for the Seaton House, a shelter residence for men. The Properties adjoin the City Property and the City requires access and use of certain portions of the Properties in order to carry out the necessary renovations at the City Property (the "Project").

While negotiations with the respective owners of the Properties continue for the acquisition of the easements, it appears unlikely that a negotiated agreement can be reached and authority to initiate expropriation proceedings is requested.

This report is the first stage of the expropriation process. After the application for approval to expropriate is authorized, staff will serve and publish notice on the registered owners of the Properties. Registered owners will have 30 days to request an inquiry into whether the proposed takings are fair, sound, and reasonably necessary.

If no inquiry is requested, City Council may approve the expropriation by a subsequent Stage 2 report. At that time, staff will report to City Council with further details on the anticipated costs, based on appraisals. Following the Stage 2 report, the Expropriation Plan will be registered and Notices of Expropriation served. Statutory offers of compensation must be served prior to the City taking possession of the expropriated Properties.