Item - 2019.CC1.3

City Council on December 4, 5 and 13, 2018, adopted the following:

1.  City Council approve the activation of the 11 sites identified in Appendix 1 to the report (December 6, 2018) from Mayor John Tory for the development of affordable housing as part of creating mixed-income, mixed-use and transit oriented communities.

2.  City Council request City agencies and corporations to accelerate the declaration of underutilized City-owned lands surplus property, to expedite the use of lands in support of “Housing Now”.
 

3.  City Council direct CreateTO to support “Housing Now” and to ensure that reviews and approvals of its projects and developments give consideration to including a mix of affordable housing ownership and rental units where permissible. 

4.  City Council request the City Manager, on an urgent basis, to report to the Executive Committee on January 23, 2019 on "Housing Now":

a. with an action plan to roll-out this initiative and identify the resources required to expedite the implementation process;

b. on the City building impacts of “Housing Now”, including the application of the City’s Open Door Program to support the affordable rental homes to be constructed; and

c. on the development of a policy where Toronto Community Housing would provide new affordable housing as part of new developments.

5. City Council adopt the following guiding principles to facilitate the delivery of the Housing Now initiative: 

a. sites to be activated to achieve the highest possible public benefits;

 
b. a priority be provided to optimize the development of market and affordable rental housing with a mix of unit types and sizes;
 

c. a requirement be included in the offering of the sites to create homes affordable for a diverse range of incomes including deeply affordable homes;
 

d. through the planning and development process, existing City and other operations and uses on the 11 sites be appropriately addressed and accommodated;

 
e. utilization of the surplus properties with a priority for the public retention of sites including long-term land leases; and
 

f. a strong commitment to public consultation and engagement with City Councillors and local communities be included in planning and developing of each site.

and City Council request the City Manager to incorporate these principles in the report to the January 23, 2019 Executive Committee meeting on the implementation and business plan.

6.  City Council request the City Manager, on an urgent basis, to undertake discussions with federal and provincial government officials, as well as private and not-for-profit housing organizations, on how best to leverage funding and financing resources through the National Housing Strategy and other applicable programs to support “Housing Now”.