Item - 2025.TE19.33

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Authorized the City of Toronto to install a concrete barrier-free accessibility ramp and concrete steps abutting the ramp on the Church Street flank of 67 Adelaide Street East, which is to include the following conditions:

a. Corporate Real Estate Management Division, Toronto Shelter and Support Services Division, and Transportation Services Division will enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the ramp and concrete steps to the General Manager, Transportation Services;

b. the City will maintain the poured concrete barrier-free accessibility ramp which includes metal plate guards, metal plate top, bottom railing, steel handrails fixed to posts with rod brackets, a tactile indicator strip and poured concrete steps abutting the ramp at its own expense in good repair and a condition satisfactory and will not make any additions or modifications to the ramp and concrete steps beyond what is allowed under the terms of the memorandum of understanding;

c. Corporate Real Estate Management Division will remove the ramp and concrete steps upon receiving written notice to do so from Transportation Services Division;

d. Transportation Services Division and utility companies may remove the ramp and concrete steps at any time in order to install or maintain services within the affected public right of way with no obligation to replace them;

e. Corporate Real Estate Management Division and Toronto Shelter and Support Services Division will assume all responsibilities related to the site-specific exemption permitting the ramp and concrete steps; and

f. Toronto Shelter and Support Services Division will cover the costs for the removal and relocation of the existing litter bin and bike ring on the Church Street flank of the premises.

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

The purpose of this report is for Toronto and East York Community Council to consider a request from the property owner of 67 Adelaide Street East, the City of Toronto, regarding a proposed site-specific exemption to permit a ramp onto the right of way.  Toronto Shelter and Support Services Division will be converting the property from a 24-hour drop-in for homeless women into a Municipal Shelter for Indigenous men to be operated by Na-Me-Res, an Indigenous organization. In order to adhere to Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines (TADG) at this property, and in keeping with Indigenous culture.  Through the renovations, a poured concrete accessibility ramp including poured concrete steps abutting the ramp is required on the City's existing right of way. The ramp and steps are proposed to be constructed within the public right-of-way within the Church Street sidewalk flank of 67 Adelaide Street East. The proposed ramp contravenes City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use Of, since no encroachments other than soft landscaping are permitted within 0.50 metres of the edge of sidewalk located closest to the street line. As the owner, the City of Toronto is requesting approval for a site-specific exemption from the requirements in Chapter 743 in respect of this proposal.  As the City is the property owner of both the building and the sidewalk at hand, it does not require an encroachment agreement with itself. Rather, the City seeks a site-specific exemption to permit the proposal.

Transportation Services is recommending that Toronto and East York Community Council authorize the construction and maintenance of a concrete accessibility ramp and steps within the public right-of-way on Church Street. A 2.44-meter-wide pedestrian clearway will be maintained on the sidewalk adjacent to these structures, which is greater than the 2.1m pedestrian clearance required for permitted encroachments.