Item - 2020.TE13.32

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the continuation of the closure of the south sidewalk and eastbound curb lane on Queen Street East, between Laing Street and a point 83 metres east and provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the eastbound curb lane, from February 28, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

2. City Council direct the applicant to continue posting a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

3. City Council direct the applicant to continue providing and installing public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor

4. City Council direct that Queen Street East be returned to its pre-construction traffic regulations when the project is completed.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Queen Street East, City Council approval of this report is required.

Rockport (Queen & Leslie) Inc. is constructing an eight-storey mixed use development at 1327 Queen Street East. The sidewalk and a portion of the eastbound curb lane on the south side of Queen Street East fronting the site are currently closed to accommodate construction staging operations for the development. City Council, at its meeting on January 31 and February 1, 2018, authorized the subject construction staging area from March 1, 2018 to October 31, 2019.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to extend the construction staging area on Queen Street East for an additional seven months (i.e. from February 28, 2020 to September 30, 2020), in order to complete the construction of the development. It should be noted that during the lapse in approval period, the site has been operating under a monthly Street Occupation Permit.

The developer has requested an extension of the duration of the construction staging area on Queen Street East, as the site has experienced a number of construction delays due to continual flooding of the site, inclement weather and multiple redesigns of the building.