Item - 2024.TE12.59

The Toronto and East York Community Council:  

1.  Authorized to the closure of the east sidewalk and the northbound curb lane on Devonshire Place, between a point 120 metres north of Hoskin Avenue and a point 60 metres further north and provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the eastbound curb lane, from April 30, 2024 to June 30, 2025 inclusive.

2.  Authorized the closure of the west sidewalk and the west side southbound traffic lane on Devonshire Place, between a point 35 metres south of Bloor Street West and a point 103 metres further south, from April 30, 2024 to December 31, 2026 inclusive.

3.  Designated Devonshire Place, between Bloor Street West and Hoskin Avenue, as one-way for southbound traffic only, from April 30, 2024 to December 31, 2026 inclusive.

4.  Prohibited westbound right turns at all times at the intersection of Hoskin Avenue at Devonshire Place, from April 30, 2024 to December 31, 2026 inclusive.

5.  Prohibited eastbound left turns at all times at the intersection of Hoskin Avenue at Devonshire Place, from April 30, 2024 to December 31, 2026 inclusive.

6.  Rescinded the existing parking machine regulation in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday, at a rate of $5.25 per hour and maximum period of 3 hours on, the east side of Devonshire Place, between Bloor Street West and a point 117 metres south.

7.  Prohibited stopping at all times on the east side of Devonshire Place, between Bloor Street West and a point 117 metres south.

8.  Continued to amend the existing parking machine regulation in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday; and 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday, at a rate of $5.25 per hour and for a maximum period of 3 hours, on the east side of Devonshire Place, between Hoskin Avenue and Bloor Street West, to be in effect between Hoskin Avenue and a point 120 metres north.  

9.  Continued to authorize parking machines in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday; and 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday, at a rate of $5.25 per hour and for a maximum period of 3 hours, on the east side of Devonshire Place, between a point 180 metres north of Hoskin Avenue and Bloor Street West.

10.  Continued to prohibit stopping at all times on the east side of Devonshire Place, between a point 120 metres north of Hoskin Avenue and a point 60 metres further north.

11.  Continued directing the applicant to sweep the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed, to keep clear of any construction debris and made safe.

12.  Directed the applicant to maintain a fully covered, protected and unobstructed walkway for all pedestrians, including for those with mobility devices, for the entire duration of the construction staging area permit to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and ensure it is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

13.  Directed the applicant 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.

14.  Directed the applicant to continue to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local Business Improvement Areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

15.  Directed the applicant to install appropriate signage and request the applicant to maintain all sight lines to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times. 

16.  Directed the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the 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.

17.  Directed the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the 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.

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

19.  Directed the applicant 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.

20.  Directed the applicant to cooperate with and provide all necessary assistance to the City Engineers, staff and representatives carrying out operation, maintenance, and construction activities to municipal infrastructure within the vicinity of the construction staging area, and at no cost to the City to remove any staging to accommodate the necessary municipal infrastructure work.

21.  Directed the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, on sections of the of the elevated hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Council.

22.  Continued to direct that Devonshire Place be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

23.  Directed the applicant to provide monthly community meetings, when there are major changes to the development or impacts to the public right-of-way and address any concerns concerns raised by the community.

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

RDH Architects Inc has undertaken the construction of a 4-storey University of Toronto student residence at 15 Devonshire Place. In addition, Pomerleau has been retained as the construction manager to construct a new University of Toronto building at 100 Devonshire Place. Both sites are located on Devonshire Place, between Bloor Street West and Hosking Avenue.

15 Devonshire Place (Time Extension and Revisions)

At its meeting on January 6, 2022, Toronto and East York Community Council approved the closure of the east sidewalk and a portion of the northbound curb lane from March 31, 2022 to March 31, 2024.

As such, Transportation Services is requesting authorization to closure the northbound curb traffic lane on Devonshire Place for a period of 14 months from April 30, 2024 to June 30, 2025 to accommodate construction staging operations. Pedestrian operations on the east side of Devonshire Place will be maintained in a 2.1 metre-wide covered and protected walkway within the closed northbound lane. It should be noted that at the time of the original approval, the developer indicated they would be able to maintain two-way, north-south traffic operation on Devonshire Place. Since then, the developer determined that a larger space would be required in order to proceed with the construction. In addition, the increased footprint of the construction staging area will result in the closure of the northbound traffic lane. Consequently, Devonshire Place, between Bloor Street West and Hoskins Avenue will be temporarily converted to a southbound one-way traffic operation.

100 Devonshire Place

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close the west sidewalk, and the southbound traffic lane on Devonshire Place for a period of 32 months, from April 30, 2024 to December 31, 2026 to facilitate construction staging operations. Pedestrian movements on the west side of Devonshire Place abutting the site will be restricted and pedestrians will be directed to the east sidewalk on Devonshire Place.

To provide the extra space needed to facilitate construction staging operations and maintain safe and efficient movement of traffic in the vicinity of the work areas at 15 and 100 Devonshire Place, Devonshire Place will be converted to one-way southbound traffic operations between Bloor Street West and Hoskin Avenue.