Item - 2024.TE14.31

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the continuation of the closure of the north sidewalk and a 4 metre wide portion of the westbound curb lane on Soudan venue, between Yonge Street and a point 55 metres east, from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, inclusive.

2. City Council authorize the continuation of the closure of the east sidewalk and a 2.7 metre-wide portion of the northbound curb lane on Yonge Street, between Soudan Avenue and a point 41 metres north, from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, inclusive.

3. City Council authorize the continuation to amend the existing stopping prohibition in effect between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays, on the east side of Yonge Street, between Balliol Street and a point 30.5 metres north of Soudan Avenue to be in effect from Balliol Street and Soudan Avenue.

4. City Council authorize the continuation to prohibit stopping at all times on the east side of Yonge Street, between Soudan Avenue and a point 30.5 metres north.

5. City Council direct the applicant to continue to pressure wash or sweep (weather permitting) the construction site, 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 to install wash stations at all exits within the staging area to clean truck tires in order to eliminate dirt and mud from entering the municipal road network.

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

8. City Council direct 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.

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

10. City Council direct the applicant to continue 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.

11. City Council direct the applicant to continue 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.

12. City Council direct the applicant to continue to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

13. City Council direct 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.

14. City Council direct 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.

15. City Council direct that Yonge Street and Soudan Street be returned to pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

16. City Council direct that the occupation permit for construction staging on Yonge Street and Soudan Avenue continue to be conditional subject to there being no conflicts with Metrolinx transit project construction.

17. City Council direct the applicant to cooperate with and provide all necessary assistance to the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, staff and representatives carrying out operation, maintenance and construction activities to municipal infrastructure within the vicinity of the construction staging areas, and at no cost to the City to remove any staging to accommodate the necessary municipal infrastructure work.

As Yonge Street is classified as a major arterial street, City Council approval of this report is required.

Tribute Communities is constructing a 35-storey mixed-use building at 2161 Yonge Street.  The site is located on the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Soudan Avenue. Currently, the north sidewalk and a 4 metre-wide portion of the westbound curb lane on Soudan Avenue, between Yonge Street and a point 55 metres east; and the east sidewalk and a 2.4 metre wide portion of the northbound curb lane on Yonge Street, between Soudan Avenue and a point 41 metres north are closed to facilitate construction staging operations.

City Council, at its meeting on July 14, 2021, approved the subject construction staging areas on Yonge Street and Soudan Avenue from July 16, 2021 to June 30, 2024.  The developer has requested a time extension of the duration of the construction staging areas on Yonge Street and Soudan Avenue due to a number of construction delays, such as unforeseen underground water seepage, inclement weather and approvals to change building height from 35 to 38 storeys.

In view of the above, Transportation Services is requesting authorization to extend the duration of the construction staging areas on Yonge Street and on Soudan Street for an additional 18 months, from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025.