Item - 2021.TE26.10

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that: 

1. City Council approve the Rental Housing Demolition application (20 232691 STE 14 RH) under Chapter 667 of Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to allow the demolition of nine (9) rental dwelling units at 685 Queen Street East, subject to the following conditions:

a. The owner shall provide and maintain nine (9) replacement social housing units on the lands at 685 Queen Street East for a period of at least 99 years from the date each such unit is first occupied. During such 99-year period, no replacement social housing unit shall be registered as a condominium or any other form of ownership housing that provides a right to exclusive possession of a dwelling unit, including life-lease or co-ownership, and no application shall be made to demolish or convert any replacement unit to a non-residential rental purpose. The nine (9) replacement social housing units shall be comprised of two (2) bachelor units, five (5) one-bedroom units, and two (2) two-bedroom units, as generally illustrated in the plans submitted to the City Planning dated March 11, 2021. Any revision to these plans shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

b. As part of the nine (9) replacement social housing units required in Recommendation 1.a. above, the owner shall provide at least six (6) replacement social housing units to households in receipt of rent-geared-to-income assistance for a period of at least 25 years from the date each such unit is first occupied, subject to the continued provision of funding from federal, provincial, and/or municipal government programs;

c. The owner shall provide and maintain an additional seventeen (17) new secured rental dwelling units on the lands at 685 Queen Street East for a period of at least 99 years beginning from the date that each unit is first occupied. During such 99-year period, no secured rental dwelling unit shall be registered as a condominium or any other form of ownership housing that provides a right to exclusive possession of a dwelling unit, including life-lease or co-ownership, and no application shall be made to demolish or convert any secured rental dwelling unit to a non-residential rental purpose. The seventeen (17) new secured rental units shall be comprised of eight (8) one-bedroom units, seven (7) two-bedroom units, and two (2) three-bedroom units, as generally illustrated in the plans submitted to the City Planning dated March 11, 2021. Any revision to these plans shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

d. The owner shall provide an acceptable resident relocation and assistance plan for all Eligible Tenants of the nine (9) existing social housing units at 685 Queen Street East, addressing the provision of alternative accommodation at similar rents, the right to return to occupy one of the replacement social housing units, and other assistance to mitigate hardship, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and

e. The owner shall enter into, and register on title at 685 Queen Street East, an agreement pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to secure the conditions outlined in Recommendation 1.a) to 1.d) above, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to issue Preliminary Approval of the application under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code for the demolition of the nine (9) existing rental dwelling units at 685 Queen Street East after all of the following have occurred:

a. The conditions in Recommendation 1 above have been fully satisfied and secured;

b. The Minor Variance is final and binding;

c. The issuance of Notice of Approval Conditions for site plan approval by the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning or their designate pursuant to Section 114 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006;

d. The issuance of excavation and shoring permits for the approved structure on site;

e. The execution and registration of an agreement pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 securing the conditions in Recommendation 1 above; and

f. The City has received confirmation that all nine (9) existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished are vacant.

3. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official to issue a Rental Housing Demolition permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has issued the Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 2 above.

4. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a residential demolition permit under Section 33 of the Planning Act and Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code for 685 Queen Street East after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has issued the Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 2 above, which may be included in the Rental Housing Demolition permit pursuant to section 6.2 of Chapter 363, on condition that:

a. The owner removes all debris and rubble from the site immediately after demolition;

b. The owner erects solid construction hoarding to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building; and

c. The owner erects the proposed new building no later than three (3) years from the date that the demolition of the existing building commences.

5. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take such actions as are necessary to implement the recommendations above, including execution of the Section 111 agreement and other related agreements.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on June 24, 2021 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

A Rental Housing Demolition application (20 232691 STE 14 RH) has been submitted by Riverdale Co-operative Houses to demolish the rear half of the existing residential building at 685 Queen Street East, which currently contains nine non-profit co-operative rental dwelling units, and construct a five-storey rear addition comprised of 26 new affordable rental dwelling units, for a net increase of 17 rental units. The façade and front portion of the building would be retained and incorporated into the redevelopment.

The property is also the subject of a Minor Variance application (21 123288 STE 14 MV or A0276/21TEY), which was approved by the Committee of Adjustment on May 26, 2021 on condition that City Council approve the Rental Housing Demolition application submitted by Riverdale Co-operative Houses to demolish the existing nine rental dwelling units.

This report recommends approval of the Rental Housing Demolition application under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code and the demolition permit under Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code, subject to conditions.