Item - 2022.GL31.16

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the City to enter into an agreement of purchase and sale with Metrolinx for the acquisition by the City of a portion of the property known municipally as 2050 Finch Avenue West (the "Property"), shown on the sketch attached as Attachment A to the report (April 12, 2021) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management (Item GL22.10), substantially on the terms set out in Attachment B to the report (April 12, 2021) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management (GL22.10), and including:

a. an environmental indemnity in favour of Metrolinx with respect to any costs, claims, liabilities or damages that may arise as a result of the condition of the Property existing on or prior to the date of closing;

b. Overhead Catenary System Easement as found in major terms and conditions set out in Attachment B to the report (April 12, 2021) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management;

c. payment of Metrolinx's costs, including legal fees, in connection with the transaction and the letter of intent; and

with such revisions thereto and on such other or amended terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, or their designate, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and Director, Transaction Services to severally execute the agreement of purchase and sale and any other agreements in connection with the acquisition of the subject property on behalf of the City.

3. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, in collaboration with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to commence the pre-development phase of the Jane Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts through the implementation strategy with the Hub Organizing Committee as outlined in the Terms of Reference contained in Attachment C to the report (May 24, 2022) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and the Administration, and General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and to report back on outcomes of each phase and recommended next steps and resource requirements for the following phase, with the Phase 1 report by the third quarter of 2023.

4. City Council express its continued support for the Jane Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts and request City officials to determine an appropriate method of recognition.

As directed by City Council through Item GL22.10, this report provides an update on the development of a framework for City-community collaboration and requests City Council direction for the next phase of work under a proposed development and implementation strategy for the Jane Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts (the "Hub").

This report also seeks City Council authorization for an amendment to the terms and conditions of the agreement of purchase and sale for the City's acquisition of a portion of the property municipally known as 2050 Finch Avenue (the "Property") from Metrolinx, as originally approved by City Council in May 2021 through Item GL22.10. The Property will still be conveyed to the City from Metrolinx for nominal consideration, and currently serves as a staging area for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project.

The Jane Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts Organizing Committee (the "Hub Organizing Committee") is a coalition of residents, grassroots groups, community leaders and organizers, and supporters committed to working in collaboration with the City to lead the pre-development phase of work for the Hub. The City, as a collaborator, recognizes and is mindful of past and current work undertaken by community members including residents, community agencies and local groups in and around the Jane Finch community. The work that the City will undertake, in partnership with Hub Organizing Committee, needs to build on and amplify the work that local community groups and resident movements have advanced over many years to make the Jane Finch community thrive and to plan for a better future.

Social Development Finance and Administration and Corporate Real Estate Management in consultation with Economic Development and Culture and City Planning, have been working closely with representatives from the Hub Organizing Committee since May 2021 to develop a framework for collaboration and an implementation strategy for a future Hub on the Property. This work builds on a 2019 feasibility study undertaken by the Jane Finch community and is aligned with the development of an inclusive complete community framework for the area under the Jane-Finch Initiative, as well as advancing recommendations contained in EX17.1, the "Towards Recovery and Building a Renewed Toronto" report.