St. Jamestown Openspace Project

[Northern Light]

A report to the April 27th board meeting of TCHC reveals plans to revitalize a chunk of open space in St. Jamestown.

Report link here: https://www.torontohousing.ca/event...mes Town Public Realm and Open Space Plan.pdf

From said report:

 

[Northern Light]

Its in the capital budget for implementation.

Surprisingly, next year (2023)

Budget $4,615,000

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-174938.pdf

p. 9

 

[44 North]

The impromptu bazaar along the unopened section of Ontario Street is imo one of the neatest things in the city. Totally random congregation of people hocking wares of sorts, and it just...happened. Kinda want to say the City could actually make it legit by providing stalls. But a lot of the stuff sold is stolen or garbage, and legitimization would definitely kill it.

 

[junctionist]

I have a soft spot for impromptu street retail and have always felt we could use more of it. But they can't be selling stolen goods.

 

[Northern Light]

This project is set to move forward with construction beginning next year.

This from a report to the General gov't Ctte 's next meeting outlining a lease of the land from TCHC (it sits over their parking garage) to Parks, Forestry and Recreation for $1 per year for up to 50 years less a day.

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/gg/bgrd/backgroundfile-236538.pdf

Lease Term Sheet here:

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/gg/bgrd/backgroundfile-236539.pdf

From the Report:

 

[Admiral Beez]

The impromptu bazaar along the unopened section of Ontario Street is imo one of the neatest things in the city. But a lot of the stuff sold is stolen or garbage, and legitimization would definitely kill it.

It’s a shoplifters and porch pirates paradise. This is how our stolen parcels get turned into a junkie’s fentanyl.

 

[Northern Light]

From the July '25 meeting of TCHC's BIFA Ctte this project is inching forward.

https://torontohousing.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/item_12c_-_2025-55_-_construction_management_agr_-_st._james_town_public_realm_and_open_space.pdf