Item - 2021.EY26.1

The Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council approve the Rental Housing Demolition Application File Number 20 141389 WET 07 RH in accordance with Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code and pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 which allows for the demolition of two hundred and thirty six (236) existing social units located at 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 and 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway, 4 and 17 Cane Grassway and 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway, subject to the following conditions:

a. The owner shall provide and maintain not less than two hundred and thirty six (236) replacement rental dwelling units with rents geared-to-income on the subject site for a period of at least 99 years beginning from the date that each replacement rental dwelling unit is first occupied and, during which time, no application may be submitted to the City for condominium registration, or for any other conversion to a non-rental housing purpose, or for demolition without providing for replacement during the, at minimum, 99 year period; two hundred and thirty six (236) replacement rental dwelling units shall be comprised of zero (0) bachelor units, zero (0) one-bedroom units, three (3) two-bedroom units, one hundred and eighty two (182) three-bedroom units, and fifty one (51) four-bedroom units, as generally illustrated in the architectural plans submitted to the City Planning Division dated May 1, 2020. Any revision to these plans shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

b. The owner shall provide tenant relocation assistance to all Eligible Tenants of the two hundred and thirty six (236) existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished at 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 and 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway, 4 and 17 Cane Grassway and 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway, including the right to return to occupy a replacement social housing unit to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and as further detailed in the Tenant Relocation and Assistance Implementation Plan; and

c. The owner shall enter into, and register on title for 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 and 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway, 4 and 17 Cane Grassway, 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway and 2-14, 22-36 and 5 Needle Firway one or more agreement(s), to secure the conditions outlined in Recommendations 1.a. through 1.b. above, including an agreement pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, all to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to issue Preliminary Approval of the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 for the demolition of the two hundred and thirty six (236) existing social units located at 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 and 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway, 4 and 17 Cane Grassway and 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway after all of the following have occurred:

a. All conditions in Recommendation 1 above have been fully satisfied and secured;

b. The Tenant Relocation and Assistance Implementation Plan has been approved by the City of Toronto;

c. The owner has provided Typical Unit Layouts for the Replacement Social Housing Units, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

d. The owner has confirmed, in writing, that all existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished are vacant; and

e. The owner has entered into and registered on title to the Lands one or more Agreement(s) with the City pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act and Chapter 667, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

3. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has given Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 2 above.

4. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Residential Demolition Permit under Section 33 of the Planning Act and Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code for 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 and 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway, 4 and 17 Cane Grassway and 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has given Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 2 above, which may be included in the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 pursuant to section 6.2 of Chapter 363, on condition that:

a. The owner removes all debris and rubble from the site immediately after demolition;

b. The owner erects solid construction hoarding to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building;

c. The owner erects the proposed residential buildings on the site no later than four (4) years from the date that the demolition of such building commences, subject to the timeframe being extended to the discretion of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building; and

d. Should the owner fail to complete the proposed residential building within the time specified in Recommendation 4.c. above, the City Clerk shall be entitled to enter on the collector’s roll, as with municipal property taxes, an amount equal to the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) per dwelling unit for which a demolition permit is issued, and that such amount shall, until payment, be a lien or charge upon the land for which the Residential Demolition Permit is issued.

5. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take such actions as are necessary to implement City Council's decision, including execution of the Section 111 Agreement and other related agreements.

The Etobicoke York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on September 10, 2021, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This Rental Housing Demolition application proposes to demolish 236 existing social housing units within two- and four- storey residential rental apartment buildings at 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 & 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway, 4 & 17 Cane Grassway and 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway, as part of the Firgrove Community revitalization proposed by Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC).

In 2017, the 134 existing social housing units located at 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 and 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway (South Block) were deemed to be unsafe for occupancy, and were vacated and tenants relocated to other TCHC units. The 102 existing social housing units located at 4 and 17 Cane Grassway and 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway (East Block) are proposed to be demolished in order to facilitate the overall revitalization of the Firgrove Community. At this time, 49 of the 102 units have been vacated and tenants relocated. The remaining tenants will be relocated by September 30, 2021.

The overall Firgrove Community revitalization is subject to a Zoning By-law Amendment application and a Draft Plan of Subdivision application (File Numbers. 20 122745 WET 07 OZ and 20 122857 WET 07 SB respectively) which proposes to establish 9 blocks and 5 public roads that will result in 6 new buildings, a community centre, a public park and the retention of 2 existing buildings. The revitalization would result in the demolition and replacement of 236 social housing units at 3 and 36 Marsh Grassway, 7 and 11 Blue Grassway, 1, 2 and 8 Dune Grassway, 4 and 17 Cane Grassway and 5, 10 and 40 Turf Grassway and the retention of 152 social housing units at 5, 2-14 and 22-36 Needle Firway. The 236 replacement social housing units are proposed to be located in either a high rise or mid-rise form, with grade-related housing integrated at the base of the buildings.

The Rental Housing Demolition application proposes to demolish the 236 existing social housing units in advance of an approval on the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application. On February 26, 2020, City Council approved the Initial Development Proposal, which contemplated that a Rental Housing Demolition Application may precede the approval of the Zoning By-law Amendment application due to the condition of the housing and safety concerns. The South Block has been vacant since 2017 and TCHC has indicated challenges and concerns around securing the deteriorating buildings. The Final Report to recommend approval of the Zoning By-law Amendment application is anticipated for the fourth quarter of this year. This report precedes the rezoning in order to address safety concerns with the vacant and deteriorating units.

This report recommends approval of the Rental Housing Demolition application under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code and the demolition permit under Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code, subject to conditions.