Item - 2020.PH15.13

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize an extension of the date by which WoodGreen Community Housing Incorporated, or its successor, is obligated to reconvey 444 Logan Avenue to the City to July 1, 2022, to allow time for the City to negotiate the terms of the continued operation of this social housing project.

2. City Council direct staff to report back on the results of the negotiations with WoodGreen Community Housing Incorporated and a recommended course of action by no later than March, 2022.

WoodGreen Community Centre Towers Incorporated (now WoodGreen Community Housing Incorporated) and Metropolitan Toronto entered into an agreement in October 1965, for the development and operation of 160 social housing units for low-income seniors at 444 Logan Avenue, on land conveyed to WoodGreen by the City. Under this agreement, WoodGreen Community Housing Incorporated ("WoodGreen") was originally required to reconvey the property to the City on July 1, 2017. On March 28, 2017, City Council approved an extension of the reconveyance to July 1, 2018, and on June 26, 2018, the reconveyance was further extended to July 1, 2020.

The extension of the reconveyance was also tied to a Local Agency Housing Agreement being signed between the City of Toronto and WoodGreen. This Local Agency Housing Agreement, signed on May 15, 2018, provides a framework for the coordination of three WoodGreen housing initiatives including the re-development of 1117-1119 Gerrard Street East, the social housing property at 835-841 Queen Street East, and 444 Logan Avenue which is operated as social housing for seniors. The Local Agency Housing Agreement allows the City and WoodGreen to renegotiate the terms of the reconveyance of 444 Logan Avenue, while considering all three properties together, to ensure no loss of affordable rental and social housing in the city.

This report recommends a further two year extension for WoodGreen to reconvey the social housing building at 444 Logan Avenue to the City. This extension will permit WoodGreen's continued operation of the property as social housing for seniors while both WoodGreen and the City continue to negotiate the terms and conditions of the future reconveyance.