Item - 2026.TE31.12

The Director, Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Analysis recommends that:

1. City Council approve the Rental Housing Demolition application File Number 21 239181 STE 12 RH in accordance with Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code and pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to permit the demolition of 8 existing rental dwelling units located at 1196-1210 Yonge Street and 2-8 Birch Avenue, subject to the following conditions:

a. the owner shall provide and maintain 8 replacement rental dwelling units on the lands at 257 and 261 Poplar Plains Road for a period of at least 20 years beginning from the date that each replacement rental dwelling unit is first occupied and, during which time, no application may be submitted to the City for condominium registration, or for any other conversion to a non-rental housing purpose, or for demolition without providing for replacement;

b. the replacement rental dwelling units required by Recommendation 1.a. above shall collectively have a total gross floor area of at least 852 square metres and be comprised of 1 one-bedroom unit, 3 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom units, as generally illustrated in the plans submitted to the City Planning Division dated February 23, 2026. Any revision to these plans shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

c. the owner shall, as part of the 8 replacement rental dwelling units required in Recommendation 1.a above, provide at least 2 two-bedroom units replacement rental dwelling units at affordable rents, defined as gross monthly rent no greater than one times the average City of Toronto rent by unit type, as reported annually by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and 1 one-bedroom unit and 1 two-bedroom unit at mid-range rents, defined as gross monthly rent that exceeds Affordable Rent but is no greater than 1.5 times the average City of Toronto rent by unit type, all for a period of at least 10 years beginning from the date of first occupancy of each unit. The rents of the remaining 4 replacement rental dwelling units shall be unrestricted; 

d. the owner shall provide a Tenant Assistance Plan for tenants of the 8 existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

e. the owner shall provide ensuite laundry and central air conditioning in each replacement rental dwelling unit at no extra charge; and

f. the owner shall enter into, and register on title to the lands at 1196-1210 Yonge Street and 2-8 Birch Avenue and 257 and 261 Poplar Plains Road, an agreement pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to secure the conditions outlined in Recommendations 1.a. through 1.e. above all to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to issue Preliminary Approval of the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 for the demolition of the 8 existing rental dwelling units located at 1196-1210 Yonge Street and 2-8 Birch Avenue after all the following have occurred:

a. all conditions in Recommendation 1 above have been fully secured;

b. the Zoning By-law Amendments for application 21 239174 STE 12 OZ have come into full force and effect;

c. the replacement units at 257 and 261 Poplar Plains Road are ready for occupancy;

d. the lands at 257 and 261 Poplar Plains Road are owned by a single entity, as a single, consolidated parcel of land; and

e. the owner has confirmed, in writing, that all existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished are vacant.

3. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, or their designate, has given Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 2 above.

4. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Residential Demolition Permit under Section 33 of the Planning Act and Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code for 1196-1210 Yonge Street and 2-8 Birch Avenue after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has given Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 2 above, which may be included in the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 pursuant to section 6.2 of Chapter 363, on condition that:

a. the owner removes all debris and rubble from the site immediately after demolition;

b. the owner erects solid construction hoarding to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building;

c. the owner erects the proposed building on the site no later than three (3) years from the date that the demolition of the existing rental dwelling units commences, subject to the timeframe being extended at the discretion of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and

d. should the owner fail to complete the proposed building within the time specified in Part 4.c. above, the City Clerk shall be entitled to enter on the collector’s roll, as with municipal property taxes, an amount equal to the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) per dwelling unit for which a demolition permit is issued, and that such amount shall, until payment, be a lien or charge upon the land for which the Residential Demolition Permit is issued.

5. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take such actions as are necessary to implement City Council's decision, including execution of the Section 111 Agreement and any other related agreements.

This report recommends approval of a Rental Housing Demolition application which proposes to demolish 8 rental dwelling units located at 1196-1210 Yonge Street and 2-8 Birch Avenue. The 8 rental units are proposed to be replaced offsite within new multiplexes at 257 and 261 Poplar Plains Road. The proposal includes a Tenant Assistance Plan that addresses the right of existing tenants to move directly from their existing unit to one of the replacement units at similar rents and provides financial compensation to mitigate hardship.

The properties at 1196-1210 Yonge Street and 2-8 Birch Avenue are the subject of a Zoning By-law Amendment application (21 239174 STE 12 OZ), which was appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). The OLT issued a written decision on October 10, 2024, approving a settlement on the Zoning Bylaw Amendment for a 31-storey mixed-used building with 122 dwelling units, with the final Order being withheld until all outstanding matters, including the necessary agreements with the City and rental housing matters, are secured. City Council subsequently endorsed a revised proposal by the applicant to revise the OLT decision to allow for a 32 storey mixed-use building with 64 units. The revised proposal is subject to approval by the OLT.

This report also recommends approval of the Residential Demolition Permit under Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code, subject to conditions.

There are no financial implications resulting from the recommendations included in this report in the current budget year or in future years.