Item - 2021.TE24.48

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council approve the continuation of the closure of the south sidewalk on Wellesley Street East, between a point 34 metres east of Church Street and a point 19.5 metres further east, from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022. 

2. City Council approve the continuation of the closure of the bike lane and a portion of the eastbound lane on the south side of Wellesley Street East, between a point 11 metres east of Church Street and a point 68.5 meters further east and the provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed lane, from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. City Council direct the applicant to continue sweeping the construction site daily and nightly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

6. City Council direct the applicant to continue pressure washing the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways weekly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

7. City Council direct the applicant to continue ensuring that the existing sidewalks and/or the pedestrian walkway have proper lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

8. City Council direct the applicant to continue consulting and communicating all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local business improvement areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

9. City Council direct the applicant to continue installing appropriate signage and converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

10. City Council direct that Wellesley Street East be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete

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

Aragon Properties Ltd. is constructing a 28-storey residential condominium building at 81 Wellesley Street East. The site is located on the south side of Wellesley Street East, between Church Street and Jarvis Street. The sidewalk, bike lane and a portion of the eastbound lane on the south side of Wellesley Street East, fronting the site, are currently closed to accommodate construction staging operations for the development.

City Council, at its meeting on April 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2018, approved the subject construction staging area on Wellesley Street East, from May 1, 2018 to May 1, 2019. Subsequently, City Council, at its meeting on December 17 and 18, 2019 approved extending the duration of the construction staging area on Wellesley Street East for an additional 24 months, until April 30, 2021 in order to complete the construction of the development.

The developer has requested an additional extension of the duration of the construction staging area on Wellesley Street East, in order to complete the construction of the development. Based on the information provided by the developer, the site has experienced a number of construction delays due to labour shortages and availability of materials due to COVID-19.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to extend the duration of the construction staging area on Wellesley Street East for an additional 12 months (May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022) in order to complete the construction of the development.