Item - 2020.GL19.12

The General Government and Licensing Committee received the report (November 16, 2020) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management for information.

The purpose of this report is to provide a status update on activating the Sir Robert L. Borden Business and Technical School (the "Borden Site"), located at 200 Poplar Road, for City of Toronto (the "City") and community purposes, in light of significant community interest in accessing the site.

The activation of the Borden Site has been subject to ongoing negotiations between the City of Toronto and the Toronto Lands Corporation, negotiating on behalf of the Toronto District School Board, to finalize the terms of a land exchange agreement that was authorized by City Council in 2019. The land exchange contemplated the City obtaining the fee simple interest in Borden Site, an 11.93 acre property owned by the Toronto District School Board, to be used to create a community hub servicing the needs of the local community along with allowing the City to explore city-building opportunities with other City-owned properties nearby.

In order to expedite the City's access to, and the activation of the Borden Site, the Toronto Lands Corporation has agreed to provide the City with a five year occupancy agreement, pursuant to which the City would assume full care and control of the facility and be permitted to grant use or otherwise permit the occupation of the facility by City divisions, agencies, and corporations, as well as community groups.

In order to activate the site, the following requirements need to be met in a sequential order, as follows:

- Budget approvals

- Community space activation and City Council authorization, including authority to execute the early occupancy agreement with the Toronto Lands Corporation

 
- The execution of the early occupancy agreement with the Toronto Lands Corporation;

- Site design, fit up and space allocation

It is anticipated that the outlined process to activate the Borden Site will take approximately 12 months.