Item - 2022.TE31.52

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the continuation of the closure of the south sidewalk and a 2.8 metre wide portion of the eastbound curb lane on Bloor Street East, between a point 26 metres west of Sherbourne Street and a point 41 metres further west and provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the eastbound curb lane, from March 10, 2022 to March 31, 2023. 

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 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.

5. City Council direct the applicant to pressure wash the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

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

7. 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.

8. City Council direct the applicant to continue installing appropriate signage and converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety is considered at all times.

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

10. City Council direct the applicant to procure, install, and maintain shipping container(s) to be used as a fully covered, protected, unobstructed, and wheelchair accessible pedestrian walkway concurrent to, or within a grace period acceptable to the Acting Director of Traffic Management, Transportation Services not exceeding three months, any permits being issued and for the entire duration of the construction staging area permit, at their sole cost.

11. City Council direct 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.

12. City Council direct the applicant to mitigate light pollution by installing a shield/barrier on any lighting standards in close proximity to adjacent residential properties, such as cranes.

13. City Council direct the applicant, in consultation with Transportation Services, to maintain any bike lanes, and install appropriate signage to inform drivers and cyclists of any changes to the cycling lanes.

14. City Council direct the Acting Director, Traffic Management, Transportation Services and the applicant to establish a construction management working group that meets monthly and invites local stakeholders including Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Buildings, adjacent neighbours, and local resident groups.

15. City Council direct the applicant to email monthly construction progress reports to the local Councillor, local residents’ association, and Business Improvement Area Board of Management.

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

SkyGrid Construction Incorporated is constructing a 54-storey residential building and a 10-storey hotel at 387-403 Bloor Street East. The development site will have frontage on both Bloor Street East and Selby Street. The site is located on the south side of Bloor Street East, one property east of Sherbourne Street. The sidewalk and a portion of the eastbound curb lane on the south side of Bloor Street East fronting the site are currently closed to accommodate construction staging operations for the development.

City Council, at its meeting on February 26, 2019, approved the subject construction staging area on Bloor Street East, from March 5, 2019 to March 5, 2020. At the time, the developer indicated they would require the staging area for a total of 34 months. At its meetings on June 29 and 30, 2020, and May 5 and 6, 2021, City Council subsequently approved extending the duration of the construction staging area until March 8, 2021 and January 31, 2022 respectively. 

The developer has requested an additional extension of the duration of the construction staging area on Bloor 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 Bloor Street East until March 31, 2023 in order to complete the construction of the development.