Item - 2020.MM24.17

City Council on September 30, October 1 and 2, 2020, adopted the following:

1. City Council request the City Manager to report to the Executive Committee as soon as possible on the following urgent actions required to insure immediate help for the survival of small businesses on Eglinton Avenue West that are impacted by 10 years of construction in building the Eglinton Crosstown:

a. compensation to small business owners for losses suffered by ten (10) years of Eglinton LRT Crosstown Construction;

b. immediate completion of westerly portion from Eglinton West to Black Creek as requested by City Council Motion MM16.8 (February, 2020);

c. reform of the Provincial Property Tax Assessment System whereby commercial property is assessed on actual and present use and not on highest and best use speculative; and

d. an immediate request for Metrolinx/Crosslinx to eliminate all the surface construction equipment on Eglinton West from public sidewalks and road allowances.

2. City Council direct the City Manager, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, along with Anti-Black Racism Unit (CABR) to report back as soon as possible on the immediate actions required to establish the Eglinton West area as a Little Jamaica Heritage and Innovation Heritage Hub that recognizes and promotes the local Black History and culture of the area, including the following:  

a. the feasibility of creating an Eglinton West (Dufferin Street to Allen Road) Little Jamaica Heritage and Economic Innovation Hub;

b. creation of a framework for a consultation process in consultation with organizations that the General Manager and City Staff recommend be included in the public outreach and consultation process including Metrolinx/Crosslinx, the local Business Improvement Areas, the Black Business Professional Association and the Canadian Jamaican Association; and

c. incorporate recognition of outstanding local Eglinton West Black Civil Rights leaders like Charles Roach, Dudley Laws and Jimmy Wisdom at the 3 Crosstown Stations of Fairbank, Oakwood and Eglinton West-Crosstown interchange Station.