Item - 2016.EX16.22

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council direct City Planning and request Build Toronto, in consultation with Real Estate Services, to lead a site planning and massing exercise for the current Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex lands and to advance the current site planning and massing exercise established by Build Toronto for the Bloor/Islington lands, to an extent sufficient to inform the business case for each site, and report back to City Council in the third quarter of 2017 with the results.

2.  City Council request Build Toronto to lead a design competition for the Westwood Theatre Lands, limited to establishing a new Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex and developing potential recommendations to the existing Build Toronto concept plans, and direct City Planning and Real Estate Services to provide advice and support to Build Toronto, and report back to City Council in the third quarter of 2017 with:

a.  results of the design competition; and

b.  a draft building program for a new Etobicoke Civic Centre.

3.  City Council direct the Chief Corporate Officer, in consultation with Build Toronto and City Planning, to establish a business case that considers the costs and revenues associated with the proposed plans for the Westwood Theatre Lands, Bloor/Islington, and current Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex lands, and report back to City Council in the third quarter of 2017 with:

a.  the cost and feasibility of relocating the Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex to the Westwood Theatre Lands;

b.  the cost associated with other proposed public spaces and/or community facilities; and

c.  potential revenues and/or funding sources, including revenue estimates from the sale of City-owned lands at the current Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex, Bloor/Islington and surplus properties near the Westwood Theatre Lands.

4.  City Council direct the Chief Corporate Officer, City Planning and the Affordable Housing Office, in consultation with Build Toronto, and to determine opportunities for affordable housing at the Westwood Theatre Lands, Bloor/Islington lands, and current Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex Lands through the business case and site planning process, and report back on such opportunities to City Council in the third quarter of 2017.

In 2007, City Council approved the urban design visions for City-owned lands at:

1.  Bloor/Islington (Northwest corner of Bloor Street West and Islington Avenue)

2.  Westwood Theatre Lands (Southeast corner of Bloor Street West and Kipling Avenue)

3.  Current Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex (Southeast corner of Burnhamthorpe Road and The West Mall).

The design exercise was known as the West District Design Initiative ("WDDI").  The report concluded that the Bloor/Islington site and the Westwood Theatre Lands were both suitable for accommodating a new West District Civic Centre.

City staff have completed a Location Evaluation Framework to evaluate Bloor/Islington and the Westwood Theatre Lands as a potential relocation site for a new Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex. The analysis determined that the Westwood Theatre Lands are more suitable for new Civic offices when compared to the Bloor/Islington site, due to improved overall accessibility, lower cost projections and greater City building opportunities.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council support for the potential relocation of the Etobicoke Civic Centre Complex to the Westwood Theatre Lands, subject to a business case to be submitted in 2017 for City Council consideration. It should be noted that no funding exists for this project in the 2016-2025 Approved Capital Plan. Accordingly, given the City's $29 billion capital back log, this project would not proceed without a self‑financing business case, given current resource constraints.