Growth & Development

York South-Weston is a growth community and requires a balanced approach to housing development and commercial opportunities in order to sustain its long-term social and economic viability. It is important to look at existing metrics on housing and retail while making planning decisions in any of these areas to guarantee prosperous growth rather than doing more of the same. This will help to transform York South-Weston into the vibrant community it should be.

Inclusionary Zoning - Affordable Housing 

• At my request, City Council directed the City’s Planning staff to include the Picture Mount Dennis Study area as part of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment for Inclusionary Zoning consideration.

Inclusionary Zoning is one of the planning tools that help to maintain the diversity and affordability of the housing stock so that everyone feels that they belong in our community. I am glad that the Mount Dennis area will continue to be a diverse community in terms of income levels, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and family types.

2346 Weston Road- Affordable Seniors Housing

I have championed the development that will be constructed under the City's Open Door Affordable Rental Housing Program and funded in part through the city’s affordability programs. The 15-storey development contains 126 new rental units. The proposed units would be targeted to older adults and seniors, aged 59 and older.

Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF).

In the recent past, the LEF purchased three properties: 1240, 1246, and 1250 Weston Road. with hopes of redeveloping them and one day calling them home.

The Mount Dennis Quilt project envisions a multi-use building, offering a vibrant streetscape as well as community space on the first few floors. Above that, there will be affordable residences that will have access to much-needed support through other community partners.

I have provided strong leadership in helping LEF reach its long-time goal to offer services -and now housing. The Quilt has received Open Door pre-housing in a location more central in Mount Dennis. The Quilt has received Open Door predevelopment funding and has officially submitted its planning application to the City of Toronto.

2700 Eglinton Avenue West.

I supported the “Housing Now” proposal for 2700 Eglinton Avenue West that allows affordable housing to be built on City-owned lands. The development would be located just south of Coronation Park, this site will include a mixed-income development along the new Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The site is currently a Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) surface parking lot, it is surrounded by the York Civic Centre to the north, the York Museum and TDSB Secondary Credit Night School to the east, low-rise residential to the south and Coronation Park and the Black Creek to the northwest.

Local BIA Funding

I arranged for $200K  to be given to the Mt. Dennis Bia for their Streetscaping Plan