Item - 2021.TE27.90

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to work collaboratively with all stakeholders (Toronto Transit Committee, Toronto Hydro and appropriate City divisions and Downtown Yonge BIA) to devise a detailed plan and construction schedule that will immediately address and correct the deterioration of Victoria Street and to provide quarterly updates to Toronto East York Community Council starting on November 24, 2021 and subsequently on how this planning and reconstruction work is progressing.

Located in the heart of downtown, Victoria Street has numerous notable attractions (e.g. Ed Mirvish Theatre, Fran's Restaurant, Rogers/City TV, Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre, Jazz Bistro, The Senator, Pantages Hotel, Fran's Restaurant, and Massey Hall) nearby which draw a plethora of residents and tourists.

In addition, Victoria Street is the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Areas (BIA)'s Entertainment Precinct, which has significant economic impact for the neighbourhood as well as surrounding businesses. This is especially important in the current COVID-19 landscape that has severely impacted local businesses financially. The re-opening of the province and restrictions being lifted means that we can return to normal activities albeit within appropriate COVID-19 safety guidelines and standards. As a result, both residents and tourists are frequenting the attractions in downtown Yonge. 

Massey Hall, known internationally as Canada's most important venue for concerts and lectures, attracting many of the world's leading celebrities is set to re-open on November 25th, 2021 after a 3 year hiatus due to 3 years of extensive renovations.  The local- area theatres are also set to re-open during or after this timeframe.

While we look forward to these entertainment venues re-opening that will attract tourists and residents to the area, infrastructural concerns on Victoria Street that must be addressed immediately by the City. The ongoing deterioration of infrastructure in the public realm has resulted in significant issues with sidewalks, TTC streetcar tracks, roadways, and Hydro Vaults. A large number of safety and tripping hazards exist especially for individuals using assistive devices due to constant sidewalk damage on both sides of Victoria Street. The significant damage to the adjacent existing TTC Street tracks, which run North-South along Victoria Street have rendered these tracks unusable. Metal plates have been placed over top existing TTC streetcar tracks due to the underlying and surrounding roadway collapsing. Due to a high number of potholes and cracks in the roadway, water often pools along Victoria Street following rainfall – this negatively impacts the pedestrian experience, as water is splashed onto the sidewalk (and onto pedestrians) by moving vehicles.

Victoria Street is a main entertainment precinct and a destination for Torontonians and tourists. The economic and recovery of the neighbourhood depends on this Entertainment Precinct being, which means that Victoria Street must be repaired urgently.