Item - 2018.TE34.90

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends:

1. City Council endorse the St. James Town Connects Framework, including its Key Projects and Work Plan set out in Attachments 2 and 3 to the report (June 26, 2018) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to establish an interdivisional team in coordination with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Social Development and Finance Administration and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation to meet quarterly, or as needed, to advance the implementation of the St. James Town Connects Framework.

3. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to determine whether the Community Improvement Plan in 2019 for the St. James Town Community Improvement Plan area needs to be updated, including alignment with St. James Town Connects and, if necessary, report back in the 4th quarter of 2019.

4. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to review the St. James Town Connects Public Realm and Open Space Framework to inform the Implementation Strategy for the Downtown Parks and Public Realm Plan.

5. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development and Finance Administration, Tower and Neighbourhood Revitalization Unit, in consultation with City the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to develop a model for an outdoor market pilot program along Ontario Street, south of St. James Avenue,  together with input from Municipal Licensing and Standards, Solid Waste Management Services, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Economic Development and Culture and community partners. 

6. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and the community to develop and implement as soon as practical, streetscape plans for improvements on:

a. the east side of Bleecker Street between Wellesley Street East and Howard Street; and

b. Glen Road between Howard Street and the north end of Glen Road at the Pedestrian Bridge.

7. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services and General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director, Social Development and Finance Administration, Tower and Neighbourhood Revitalization Unit and the local community to prepare a coordinated/integrated transportation plan while implementing the St. James Town Connects Framework and Downtown Parks and Public Realm Plan, including:

a. investigation and coordination of opportunities for road right-of-way and parkland enhancement and acquisition

b. improved pedestrian, cycling, roadway infrastructure and mid-block connections to serve St. James Town particularly in relation to Ontario Street, St. James Avenue and Rose Avenue as shown in Attachments 2, 16 and 17 attached to the report (June 26, 2018) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East District with such plan to include consideration of two-way traffic on Bleecker Street between Earl Street/St. James Avenue and Howard Street;

c. alternative ownership and stewardship models for effective and efficient operations and maintenance of road, park and community infrastructure

8. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development and Finance Administration, Tower and Neighbourhood Revitalization Unit, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, Toronto Employment and Social Services, the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and other divisions, to investigate and coordinate potential opportunities to leverage community benefits such as local employment and procurement for the St. James Town neighbourhood through community benefits agreements with developers, or other mechanisms.

9. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and working with stakeholders/property owners, to review parking utilization, organization and opportunities to expand bicycle parking, in alignment with the ongoing bicycle parking strategy.  This will take place through the future review and consideration of development applications received in St. James Town.

St. James Town (SJT) Connects Framework is intended to establish key directions to improve St. James Town's public realm and open space by creating safer, greener and more usable open spaces and pedestrian connections.  This implements Council’s direction in 2013 (Item 16), that a committee of City staff led by Community Planning, including Parks Forestry and Recreation (PFR) and staff from related divisions, review the improvement and optimization of parks and open space in St. James Town, together with the St. James Town Community Improvement Plan, and report back to Toronto and East York Community Council:

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.TE28.7

This report sets out the St. James Town Connects Framework, including background, consultation, recommendations and next steps. The key projects and work program identify short, medium and long term projects, as well as direction for longer term initiatives (see Attachments 1, 2 and 3). These include improvements for:

- St. James Avenue Streetscape;

- Open Space and Ontario Street Walkway  South;

- Market Place;

- Midblock connection behind 325-375 Bleecker Street;

- Bleecker Street Streetscape;

- Ontario Street –North of St. James Avenue and area in front of Rose Avenue Public School;

- Glen Road – Streetscape and Pedestrian Bridge;

- Bloor Street East – Great Street – Ravine Connection;

- Howard Street – Shared Street;

- Parliament Street – Great Street; and

- Additional neighbourhood-wide priorities.

The framework provides direction to City divisions to prioritize and coordinate projects, identify funding sources and develop strategies and tools to advance the priorities identified. The report also provides an update on the design concepts and implementation for key project areas including St. James Avenue; the Ontario Street walkway connecting from Wellesley Street East to St. James Avenue; and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC)-owned open space.

The St. James Town Connects study team reviewed and analyzed previous studies and related neighbourhood initiatives and met with the community and stakeholders to identify key priorities. Community priorities include improvements to lighting, continuous pedestrian connections, management of the informal vending area along Ontario Street, and safe, programmed open space areas. These ideas were then refined and advanced to develop key projects to form the overall framework. This included further consultation and work with stakeholders and partners to coordinate and align projects with capital work, future development applications and future civic priorities. The project and its key principles are also aligned with and supported by recent City initiatives and strategies, such as the Parkland Strategy, Downtown Parks and Public Realm Plan, Complete Streets and Long Term Waste Management Strategy. The key principles are:

- Connecting the community to the street network to improve accessibility;

- Creating new pedestrian networks and expanding the public realm; and

- Creating new, accessible open spaces and parks for all users

Ongoing coordination and further development of design, planning, and implementation will require an interdivisional team to identify longer term stewardship, ownership, management and maintenance plans. The key projects, work plan/chart and recommendations below set out a structure, direction and target timelines to advance the St. James Town Connects Framework.

The need for an updated Community Improvement Plan (CIP) will be considered as part of the future implementation of key projects.