Item - 2026.MM39.83
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on March 25 and 26, 2026 with amendments.
MM39.83 - Implementing the Cultural Districts Program - by Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow
- Status:
- Amended
- Ward:
- 13 - Toronto Centre
Caution: Motions are shown below. Any motions should not be considered final until the meeting is complete, and the decisions for this meeting have been confirmed.
Recommendations
Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow, recommends that:
1. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to bring forward the final program design and implementation plan for the Cultural District Program.
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to report to the June 9, 2026, Economic & Community Development Committee meeting with the necessary recommendations and bills to formally recognize and designate the Little Jamaica Cultural District, the Church-Wellesley Village Cultural District, and the Chinatown Cultural District.
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to report to the June 11, 2026, Planning and Housing Committee meeting with necessary recommendations to initiate Community Improvement Plans in Little Jamaica, Church-Wellesley Village, and Chinatown.
4. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Chief Planner, City Planning and Executive Director, Development Review and community partners, to report through the 2027 budget process on any elements of the Cultural Districts Program that require financial resources, either as base budget requests or as new and enhanced budget requests that allow City Council to make an informed decision on implementing those elements of the program.
Background Information (City Council)
Motions (City Council)
That Councillor Chris Moise be permitted to add to the agenda of today's meeting an urgent Motion without Notice concerning:
Implementing the Cultural Districts Program
Reason for Urgency:
This Matter is considered urgent as Council direction on this approach to implement Cultural District is necessary to ensure staff have time to submit the necessary reports and bills for June 2026.
That:
1. City Council amend Recommendation 2 by adding the words "and the Little Iran Cultural District" after the words "Chinatown Cultural District" so that it now reads as follows:
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to report to the June 9, 2026, Economic & Community Development Committee meeting with the necessary recommendations and bills to formally recognize and designate the Little Jamaica Cultural District, the Church-Wellesley Village Cultural District, and the Chinatown Cultural District, and the Little Iran Cultural District.
2. City Council amend Recommendation 3 by adding the words "and Little Iran" after the words "Chinatown" so that it now reads as follows:
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to report to the June 11, 2026, Planning and Housing Committee meeting with necessary recommendations to initiate Community Improvement Plans in Little Jamaica, Church-Wellesley Village, and Chinatown, and Little Iran.
That:
1. City Council amend Recommendation 2 by adding the words "and the Banglatown Cultural District in Ward 19" after the words "Chinatown Cultural District", so that it now reads as follows:
2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to report to the June 9, 2026, Economic & Community Development Committee meeting with the necessary recommendations and bills to formally recognize and designate the Little Jamaica Cultural District, the Church-Wellesley Village Cultural District, and the Chinatown Cultural District and the Banglatown Cultural District in Ward 19.
2. City Council amend Recommendation 3 by adding to the end the words "and Banglatown", so that it now reads as follows:
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to report to the June 11, 2026, Planning and Housing Committee meeting with necessary recommendations to initiate Community Improvement Plans in Little Jamaica, Church-Wellesley Village, and Chinatown, and Banglatown.