Item - 2026.TE29.31

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the closure of the east sidewalk and a 3.5 metre wide portion of the northbound curb lane on Leslie Street, between Queen Street East and Memory Lane, and a provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the northbound curb lane, from March 26, 2026 to December 31, 2027, inclusive.

2. City Council authorize the closure of Memory Lane, between Leslie Street and a point 24.5 metres east, from March 26, 2026 to December 31, 2027, inclusive.

3. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays, on the east side of Leslie Street, between Queen Street East and Memory Lane.

4. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the east side of Leslie Street, between Queen Street East and Memory Lane.

5. City Council direct the applicant to pressure wash or sweep (weather permitting) the construction site and 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 construct and 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.

7. City Council direct 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.

8. City Council direct the applicant 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 install appropriate signage and request the applicant to install converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

10. City Council direct 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.

11. City Council direct 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.

12. City Council direct the applicant 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.

13. City Council direct the applicant 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.

14. City Council direct that Leslie Street and Memory Lane be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

15. City Council direct 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 with 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; more specifically, Toronto Transit Commission track replacement work planned on Queen Street East from 2026-2028, and Toronto Water watermain replacement work planned on Queen Street East from 2026-2028.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Leslie Street, City Council approval of this report is required.

Woodbourne Canada Management Inc. is constructing a 10-storey condominium at 1233-1243 Queen Street East. The site is located on the southeast corner of Leslie Street and Queen Street East.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to temporarily close a portion of the northbound curb lane with the provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway on the east side of Leslie Street and a full closure of Memory lane, between Leslie Street and a point 24.5 metres east, for a period of 22 months, from March 26, 2026 to December 31, 2027, in order to facilitate constructions staging operations.

Pedestrians will be redirected into a 1.8 metre wide covered and protected walkway within the closed portion of the northbound curb lane on Leslie Street. A covered and protected walkway will be on installed on the south sidewalk of Queen Street East. Advisory signage will be installed to inform road users of the Memory Lane closure.