Item - 2024.TE16.72

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1.  Authorized the parking regulations on Mercer Street, between John Street and Blue Jays Way, as described in Attachment 1 to the letter (September 25, 2024) from Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik.

The Nobu Restaurant and Hotel located at 35 Mercer Street has requested the implementation of three Passenger Loading Zones on Mercer Street to be utilized as a pick-up/drop-off area so that their valet team are able to ferry cars to and from the below grade parking levels. The commercial parking spaces utilize mechanical parking stackers which complicate their ability to have patrons retrieve their own vehicles and may provide significant delays and backups given the size of the restaurant and the expected popularity of the Nobu Brand.

The Nobu Restaurant will encompass two and half floors, with bar and restaurant space on the ground floor, private dining and event space on the 2nd floor and back of house operations within the mezzanine levels. The restaurant is expecting to open in August 2024.

In consultation with Transportation Services, Toronto Parking Authority (TPA), Nobu Restaurant/Hotel representatives and my office, three passenger loading zones will be established on the south side of Mercer Street fronting the restaurant entrance. The passenger loading zones will operate at all times and will not negatively impact traffic, cycling or transit operation.  Of note, the passenger loading zones cannot be established for the exclusive use of  the applicant.  Anyone will be able to use this space for the exclusive use to pick-up/drop-off passengers.  Three paid parking spaces will be eliminated as a result, which Nobu Restaurant and Hotel has agreed to reimburse Toronto Parking Authority a loss of revenue fee of $111,840 in accordance with TPA Policy Resolution 2-12, “Cost Recovery - Permanent Removal of On-Street Meter Locations”.

As part of the parking amendment noted above, Transportation Services conducted a detailed on-street parking review on Mercer Street. During their investigation, staff discovered various discrepancies between the traffic by-laws and posted parking regulations on this roadway. Therefore, additional parking amendments have been made on Mercer Street to better reflect current conditions and demand.