January 19, 1998

TO: Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee

FROM: Department of Parks and Recreation

SUBJECT: LAND ACQUISITION -

PURCHASE OF NO. 4 WYNNVIEW COURT

CITY OF SCARBOROUGH

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) financing in the amount of $250,000.00 be approved. This amount will be financed from the Parkland Acquisition Reserve;

(2) funding, to a maximum of $250,000.00, be made available to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for the purchase of No. 4 Wynnview Court, subject to TRCA approval of the purchase; and

(3) the appropriate City of Toronto officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The Parkland Acquisition Reserve was established in 1980 to provide financing for the acquisition of parkland.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

The owners of No. 4 Wynnview Court in Scarborough, William and Vera Brady, have recently finalized discussions with the TRCA regarding the purchase of their property. The TRCA has an option to purchase these lands which expire April 2, 1998. The property is the last remaining privately-owned parcel located along the top of the bluffs between Rosetta McClain Gardens and Scarborough Heights Park.

The location of this property on the waterfront functions as a critical park connection between Rosetta McClain Gardens and Scarborough Heights Park. The TRCA also considers it a suitable acquisition in accordance with their greenspace objectives, hence, it is proposed that the TRCA acquire the property with funding assistance from the City of Toronto. The property would be owned by the TRCA and managed by our department.

The TRCA has obtained appraisals of the property and established a purchase price of $500,000.00 inclusive of legal fees, land transfer fees, and disbursements that is acceptable to the owner. Staff of the Real Estate Division of Corporate Services have reviewed the appraisals and consider this price acceptable.

The City of Toronto=s share of the acquisition, at 50 percent share of costs, will not exceed $250,000.00 based on the above-noted price. Funds are available in the Parkland Acquisition Reserve account.

On December 19, 1997, the TRCA approved a report recommending acquisition of the property on the terms outlined above.

Sharing in the cost of the purchase of No. 4 Wynnview Court as outlined above will benefit the parks system and in achieving the realization of an integrated waterfront. This acquisition is complementary to the TRCA=s approved master plan for acquisition along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

The Commissioner of Finance agrees that the acquisition outlined in this report is consistent with the statement of purpose of the Parkland Acquisition Reserve and she concurs with the recommendations.