Item - 2024.TE11.20

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1.  Authorized the continuation of the full closure of Markham Street, between Bloor Street West and Lennox Street, from February 29, 2024 to September 30, 2024 inclusive.

2.  Authorized the closure of the north sidewalk on Lennox Street, between Markham Street and a point 20 metres further east, from February 29, 2024 to September 30, 2024 inclusive to accommodate construction staging operations.

3.  Directed 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.  Directed 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.  Directed the applicant to continue to sweep 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.  Directed that Markham Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

7.  Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services to take additional measures to deter traffic from driving illegally southbound on Markham Street from Lennox Street and to report back monthly to the Ward Councillor.

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

Westbank Projects Corp is currently redeveloping a number of properties located in the south-west quadrant of Bloor Street West and Bathurst Street and Bloor Street West and Markham Street. A temporary full closure of Markham Street, between Bloor Street West and Lennox Street is in effect to accommodate construction staging operations for the development.

Toronto and East York Community Council, at its meeting on October 17, 2017, approved the subject construction staging area on Markham Street, from October 24, 2017 to October 31, 2019. Toronto and East York Community Council, at its meeting on October 10, 2019, approved a time extension of the construction staging area on Markham Street for an additional 26 months from November 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. Due to delays caused by COVID-19 which extended fabrication timelines for construction activities, Toronto and East York Community Council at its meeting on November 24, 2021, approved a second request for construction staging area time extension on Markham Street for additional five months from January 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022. The developer is now requesting a third extension for the duration of the construction staging area on Markham Street due to unforeseen challenges, both micro and macroeconomic that have significantly impacted the construction schedule.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to extend the duration of the construction staging area on Markham Street for an additional 7 months from February 29, 2024 to September 30, 2024 to allow for Phases 2 and 3 of the development to be completed.

Transportation Services is also requesting approval to close the north sidewalk on Lennox Street, between Markham Street and a point 20 metres further east for a period of 7 months, from February 29, 2024 to September 30, 2024 to facilitate construction staging operations. Pedestrian movements on the north side of Lennox Street abutting the site will be restricted and pedestrians will be directed to the south side sidewalk of Lennox Street.