Toronto 49 Ontario Street | 160.05m | 50s | Dream + CentreCourt | B+H

Some info in this motion to Council next week:


Summary​

On May 10, 11 and 12, 2023, City Council adopted an amendment to zoning by-law 569-2013, to permit three buildings of 11, 39 and 44 storeys containing 1,099 square metres of retail, 15,206 square metres of office and 1,094 dwelling units, retention of existing heritage rowhouses, an east-west mid-block connection and a 581 square metre public park at 49 Ontario Street and 72-94 Berkeley Street (the “Site”). (Agenda Item History - 2023.TE4.12) At the time of the application, the proposed tenure for the residential units was not specified.

The Owner of the Site has committed to provide the residential units as rental units through the City’s Rental Housing Supply Program and Purpose-Built Rental Incentives Stream and include approximately 246 affordable units. The change to secured rental housing required 74 square metres of the previously secured 581 square metre public park along Berkeley Street to be secured as an in-kind community benefit pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act while still retaining 507 square metres of statutory parkland dedication requirement pursuant of Section 42 of the Planning Act (Agenda Item History - 2025.MM31.29).

The Owner has proposed converting the approved low-rise building into additional parkland, which would result in a 689.4 square metre expansion of the parkland secured on the Site. Provided that the entire parkland expansion proceeds, the Owner has offered to convey to the City 154 square metres of additional parkland as an in-kind community benefit pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act. The remaining 535.4 square metres of land would need to be acquired by the City via an Agreement of Purchase and Sale prior to the conveyance of the Section 42 parkland dedication. In the event the Agreement of Purchase and Sale is not finalized within nine months after the execution of the Agreement, the Owner will not provide the 154 square metres as an in-kind benefit and will pay the Community Benefits Charge in cash. The City and the Owner are currently in discussions regarding this acquisition, but as it is not finalized the City will take a section 118 restriction on the land and letter of credit for the value of the remaining Community Benefits Charge benefit prior to the first building permit until such agreement is entered into or terms cannot be reached at which time the Owner will provide full payment of the remaining Community Benefits Charge benefit and the letter of credit will be released.

The City’s Real Estate Management team has appraised the proposed in-kind parkland contribution and has determined that its value is equivalent to the remaining 67 percent of the 4 percent that would otherwise have to be paid as a community benefit charge pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act. City Planning and Development Review staff support accepting the conveyance of the land under Section 37 of the Planning Act as an in-kind contribution of parkland.

The Owner has also requested a delay in the conveyance timing for the parkland dedication due to complications in the environmental process and will be required to complete a full Risk Assessment prior to submitting for a Record of Site Condition. As the Site is part of the City’s Rental Housing Supply Program and Purpose-Built Rental Incentives Stream, the timing for pulling permits is quite stringent to remain in the program. Because of this, Development Review staff are support delaying the conveyance timing to prior to two years after first above grade building permit to allow enough time to complete the full Risk Assessment required.
 
DSCToronto said:
Some info in this motion to Council next week:


Summary​

On May 10, 11 and 12, 2023, City Council adopted an amendment to zoning by-law 569-2013, to permit three buildings of 11, 39 and 44 storeys containing 1,099 square metres of retail, 15,206 square metres of office and 1,094 dwelling units, retention of existing heritage rowhouses, an east-west mid-block connection and a 581 square metre public park at 49 Ontario Street and 72-94 Berkeley Street (the “Site”). (Agenda Item History - 2023.TE4.12) At the time of the application, the proposed tenure for the residential units was not specified.

The Owner of the Site has committed to provide the residential units as rental units through the City’s Rental Housing Supply Program and Purpose-Built Rental Incentives Stream and include approximately 246 affordable units. The change to secured rental housing required 74 square metres of the previously secured 581 square metre public park along Berkeley Street to be secured as an in-kind community benefit pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act while still retaining 507 square metres of statutory parkland dedication requirement pursuant of Section 42 of the Planning Act (Agenda Item History - 2025.MM31.29).

The Owner has proposed converting the approved low-rise building into additional parkland, which would result in a 689.4 square metre expansion of the parkland secured on the Site. Provided that the entire parkland expansion proceeds, the Owner has offered to convey to the City 154 square metres of additional parkland as an in-kind community benefit pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act. The remaining 535.4 square metres of land would need to be acquired by the City via an Agreement of Purchase and Sale prior to the conveyance of the Section 42 parkland dedication. In the event the Agreement of Purchase and Sale is not finalized within nine months after the execution of the Agreement, the Owner will not provide the 154 square metres as an in-kind benefit and will pay the Community Benefits Charge in cash. The City and the Owner are currently in discussions regarding this acquisition, but as it is not finalized the City will take a section 118 restriction on the land and letter of credit for the value of the remaining Community Benefits Charge benefit prior to the first building permit until such agreement is entered into or terms cannot be reached at which time the Owner will provide full payment of the remaining Community Benefits Charge benefit and the letter of credit will be released.

The City’s Real Estate Management team has appraised the proposed in-kind parkland contribution and has determined that its value is equivalent to the remaining 67 percent of the 4 percent that would otherwise have to be paid as a community benefit charge pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act. City Planning and Development Review staff support accepting the conveyance of the land under Section 37 of the Planning Act as an in-kind contribution of parkland.

The Owner has also requested a delay in the conveyance timing for the parkland dedication due to complications in the environmental process and will be required to complete a full Risk Assessment prior to submitting for a Record of Site Condition. As the Site is part of the City’s Rental Housing Supply Program and Purpose-Built Rental Incentives Stream, the timing for pulling permits is quite stringent to remain in the program. Because of this, Development Review staff are support delaying the conveyance timing to prior to two years after first above grade building permit to allow enough time to complete the full Risk Assessment required.
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Interesting - that would result in a relatively substantial park here. I know Dream was struggling with what to do with that remnant parcel.. my interpretation of what they are proposing:

park.png


Lamb will probably want to rethink his project to the north of this at 102 Berkeley though.. it's a giant blank wall along the park in the latest plans from 2023:

1774017066239.png

Perhaps something better can be done with the silly little park dedication along the street too..

1774017129532.png
 
Would be great if they just turned the whole thing into a park. Not enough demand for a project of this scale in the area. Hopefully Rock City showcases rentals in the area as a massive failure and then Dream comes to the realization. I know not everyone will agree with this statement, but the reality is Toronto is unaffordable and losing jobs at record numbers. People are not begging to move to the city like they once used to. This is clear by RTO that didn’t boost the economy or new condo sales.
 
Undead said:
Parks are indeed great, but they don't make money for our real estate and other corporate overlords who have both of our main political parties in their pocket. Perverse incentives and all that. Enjoy the ride friendos!
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A park that makes money isn't it called "trampoline park" or "Canada's Wonderland" or the infamous one called "Disney World". I agree, i think the design of the park should have more effort too. Many developments only offer parkettes that barely get maintained and have weird, awkward bench positioning that gets underutilized!
 
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