Item - 2021.TE25.31

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Authorized the continuation of closure of the east sidewalk and a 3.3 metre wide portion of the southbound curb lane on Ontario Street, between Adelaide Street East and a point  47 metres south of Adelaide Street East, from July 1, 2021 December 31, 2022.

2. Directed the applicant to continue to pressure wash the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways weekly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

3. Directed the applicant to continue to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkway have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

4. Directed the applicant to continue to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local business improvement areas, resident associations and George Brown College administration, in advance of any physical road modifications.

5. Directed the applicant, in consultation with Transportation Services, to continue to maintain any bike lanes, and install appropriate signage to inform drivers and cyclists of any changes to the cycling lanes and to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety are considered at all times.

6. Directed the applicant to continue to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

7.  Directed the applicant to continue to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

8. Directed the applicant to continue to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

9. Directed the applicant to continue to post 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.

10. Directed the applicant to continue to provide and install 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.

11. Directed the applicant to continue a construction management working group that meets monthly and invite local stakeholders including Transportation Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Buildings, adjacent neighbours, local resident groups, and local BIAs.

12. Directed that Ontario Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

This staff report is about a matter that Community Council has delegated authority to make a final.

First Gulf is constructing a 24-storey office building at 25 Ontario Street. The site is located on the southeast corner of Adelaide Street East and Ontario Street.  The east sidewalk and a 3.3 metre wide portion of the most easterly curb lane on Ontario Street is currently closed to accommodate a construction staging area. Toronto and East York Community Council at its meeting on June 18, 2020, approved the subject staging area on Ontario Street from June 19, 2020 to June 30, 2021.  Toronto and East York Community Council approved the construction staging area for a period of one year, although the developer had indicated they would require the construction staging area until September 30, 2022. The developer has experiences some delays due to COVID-19 that has delayed the completion of their project until the end of December 2022.     

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to extend the duration of the construction staging area for an additional 18 months (i.e. July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022) to allow for the construction of the development to be completed.

Pedestrian movements on the east side of Ontario Street abutting the site are restricted. A temporary pedestrian walkway along the closed portion of the east sidewalk could not be installed due to insufficient roadway width to maintain both the temporary walkway and the southbound traffic operations on Ontario Street.