Lawrence Heights Item 3 April 25, 2008 Revitalization Update City Building Committee

To: City Building Committee Report: CBC:2008-07 From: Chief Executive Officer Date: Report Date Page 1 of 5

PURPOSE:

To inform the Board of Directors, through the City Building Committee, of staff actions and upcoming events related to Lawrence Heights revitalization.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the Board of Directors, through the City Building Committee, receives this report for information.

BACKGROUND:

At its meeting on March 28, 2007 the Board of Directors approved an update report from the City Building Committee regarding Lawrence Heights revitalization. That report provided the Board with background information regarding the Lawrence Heights community and current conditions which indicate the need to revitalize. The report also identified a number of revitalization opportunities, including the ability for Community Housing to leverage its asset, attract new market residential development necessary to assist in renewing the Lawrence Heights housing and better integrate this community into the surrounding neighbourhoods. Revitalization also provides the opportunity to transform the community into a healthy, mixed income and tenure community with better housing and community facilities.

Lawrence Heights Today: ƒ 1208 rent-geared-to income housing units with approximately 3,500 tenants ƒ Extraordinarily high youth population. Approximately 50% of the total Lawrence Heights population are aged 15 years or under (compared to 18% of the total population of the City of Toronto are aged 15 or under) ƒ Low income community with the average household annual income at $15,000. ƒ Multi-lingual community (English, Somali, Oromo, Spanish) ƒ Housing types include many family units (50% of units have 3 or more bedrooms) ƒ The community is situated within 100 acres of land, the majority of which is owned by Toronto Community Housing Lawrence Heights Revitalization Report Report: CBC:2008-07 Page 2 of 5

ƒ In October 2005, City Council designated Lawrence Heights as one of 13 priority neighbourhoods in requiring infrastructure investment and improvement of community services.

Events Completed since Last Report: a. A number of meetings and communications have been circulated to tenants with announcement of events and updates.

b. CBC broadcast live from Lawrence Heights on March 28, 2007. Live interviews were held with Toronto Community Housing staff and tenants.

c. Many Lawrence Heights tenant meetings were held.

d. Large Toronto Community Housing meeting for Lawrence Heights tenants plus local residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods was held on May 14th 2007. the purpose of the meeting was to introduce the idea of revitalization to local residents. The meeting was attended by City Councillors, senior City and Toronto Community Housing staff plus approximately 350 residents.

e. A summary of issues and opportunities was issued to all participants at the May 14th meeting.

Current and Upcoming Activities: a. Staff at Toronto Community Housing has been working with the City of Toronto to coordinate activities with regard to Lawrence Heights revitalization. In July 2007, City Council approved a report from Deputy City Managers Sue Corke and Richard Butts recommending that the Chief Planner initiate planning for the Lawrence Heights area. To this end, Council allocated $500,000 from Federal/Provincial housing funds to City Planning to begin the planning process.

Further, Council established a Revitalization Secretariat which would “be responsible for overall project coordination” and “act as the lead coordinating agency for City divisions, TCHC, other orders of government and other potential partners on the Lawrence Heights Revitalization project.” Toronto Community Housing staff has been coordinating their efforts with the work of the Secretariat and City Planning.

b. Toronto Community Housing has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a consultant team to assist and advise staff and the Board on development options. The selected team will include: architects, planners, landscape architects, urban design, environmental sustainability, transportation and infrastructure engineers along with community engagement consultants.

Lawrence Heights Revitalization Report Report: CBC:2008-07 Page 3 of 5

The Consultant Teams will be selected in May and the focus of their work will include: ƒ Develop a revitalization approach (community engagement, community revitalization principles) ƒ Develop a Concept Plan that will form the basis upon which the final development plan will be determined. (Fall 2008) ƒ Develop a Development Plan which includes a physical plan for the Lawrence Heights lands including: housing, streets and blocks, built form and open spaces (Early 2009) ƒ Business Plan including a detailed financial analysis, real estate strategy and phasing strategy. (Early 2009) ƒ Preparation of implementation documents: draft Secondary Plan, Urban Design Guidelines, Draft Zoning By-law, Plan of Subdivision (Winter 2009)

c. The City of Toronto is also issuing an RFP for a consultant team to work with them on the larger planning context within which Lawrence Heights sits. The City will hire a consultant team to set the planning framework for the area bounded by the 401 to and Bathurst Street to . The City’s study will focus on producing a Transportation Master Plan, an Infrastructure Master Plan and provide material for Planning staff to produce a Secondary Plan for this study area.

The studies of Toronto Community Housing and the City of Toronto will be coordinated through a Joint Management Committee consisting of representatives from the Revitalization Secretariat, City Planning and Toronto Community Housing. The Joint Management Committee will also coordinate a communications strategy and community engagement events.

d. Jane’s Walk at Lawrence Heights: Jane’s Walk is a series of free neighbourhood walking tours given by local citizens across North America in honour of Jane Jacob’s contributions to building healthy communities. The walks are aimed at raising urban literacy by offering a pedestrian focused event that combines insights into urban history, planning, design and civic engagement. Lawrence Heights has been selected as one of the walks in Toronto and will take place on Saturday May 3, 2008.

e. In the third week in May, once the Consultant Team has been hired, Toronto Community Housing will host an event for the Lawrence Heights community to meet the consultants. A media tour of Lawrence Heights will be held, preceding this event.

Lawrence Heights Revitalization Report Report: CBC:2008-07 Page 4 of 5

f. A design workshop with tenants of Lawrence Heights and the Consultant Team is being organized for early July. The objective of the workshop is to assist Toronto Community Housing and its tenants develop community priorities and revitalization principles. These priorities and principles will form the basis of a revitalization concept plan.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

This report is an update to the City Building Committee and Board and will be followed up with another report after the Consultant Team is hired and a more detailed strategy and workplan is in place.

CONSULTATION PROCESS: Staff has begun a series of community meetings with tenant leaders and representatives. When the selected Consultant Team begins their work a community engagement consultant, in conjunction with Toronto Community Housing staff will devise a community engagement plan to provide tenants meaningful involvement throughout the planning and design process. All efforts will be made to coordinate Toronto Community Housing’s activities with those of the City of Toronto.

CONCLUSION: This report outlines the progress of the Lawrence Heights revitalization initiative. Toronto Community Housing staff is seeking the collaboration and participation of tenants, government, community and other organizations to improve its housing and the social and economic health of the Lawrence Heights community.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

The costs of consulting work relating to undertaking the Lawrence Heights planning process from community engagement, through to the development plan & business plan through to City of Toronto approvals is currently being determined. This process will in all likelihood take more than a single year to complete. The actual budget will be submitted for approval upon completion of the RFP process. Part of the Consultant Team’s scope of work will be the generation of a Business Plan in order to ensure that the final Development Plan will be financially feasible.

Lawrence Heights Revitalization Report Report: CBC:2008-07 Page 5 of 5

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

Several legal issues are currently being addressed including: property ownership and the implications of the airport flight path.

COMMUNICATION IMPLICATIONS:

A full communication strategy is being developed for Lawrence Heights revitalization. Communications to residents including Toronto Community Housing tenants and local residents will be coordinated with Toronto Community Housing staff and City of Toronto staff.

Derek Ballantyne Chief Executive Officer

Staff Contact: Mark Guslits...... 416-981-4123 Chief Development Officer: [email protected] Lorne Cappe…………………………………………………416-981-4104 Housing Development Manager: [email protected]