December 8, 1998
To:North York Community Council
From:Joe Halstead
Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture & Tourism
Subject:Feasibility Study - Yorkwoods Community Centre - Ward 7
Purpose:
This report will provide the North York Community Council with an update on the progress
of the Yorkwoods project and request approval to proceed with an outside feasibility study.
The study, to be conducted by the North York Race and Ethnic Relations Committee, will
determine alternatives for the property at a cost of $30,000.
Source of Funds:
As previously reported to the North York Community Council in October 1998, Council at its
meeting on July 8 - 10, 1998 gave approval to release $30,000 from an allocation of $80,000
in the 1998 Capital Budget for demolition and park development on the Yorkwoods site.
These monies would not be released by the Treasurer until after consultation with the local
councillors and community to endorse the study. This consultation has now been completed.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
- approval be given to spend $30,000 for an outside feasibility study to be conducted by the
North York Race and Ethnic Relations Committee, to determine the possible use of this
property by the community;
- this be a status report on the activities that have taken place to date. This update will be in
addition to the report previously placed before North York Community Council October
14, 1998; and
- terms of reference be developed by staff in conjunction with the Ward Councillors.
Comments:
On November 11, 1998, a meeting was convened at the Yorkwoods Gate to make presentation
to the community and agencies/user groups on the possibility of conducting a feasibility study
in the Yorkwoods area to determine the future viability/use of this property.
Those in attendance were as follows: Councillor Peter Li Preti; Executive Assistant to
Councillor Maria Augimeri; Rick Morrelli; M.P.P Mario Sergio; staff from North District
Parks and Recreation; representatives from several community permit user groups;
community agency staff; and residents of the local community. Presentations were made by
staff with regards to the current physical plant and it was reported that to keep the building
operational, a figure of $131,000 would need to be budgeted to complete repairs to the
building in 1999. Councillor
Li Preti also made presentation with regards to the fact that there is still insufficient
community space in this area, and he had requested that $30,000 of the $80,000 that had been
set aside for demolition and creating a new park area be reallocated to conducting a feasibility
study on the future of this property.
A motion was made to conduct a feasibility study and the motion carried in favour by a vote
of 26 - 1 with 12 participants abstaining from the vote.
Conclusions:
Based on the results of this public meeting, it is recommended that the $30,000 be released for
an outside feasibility study to be undertaken by the North York Race and Ethnic Relations
Committee.
Contact Name:
Jim Bradley
Director of Parks and Recreation - North District
Telephone: 395-6054Fax: 395-0105
E-mail: jbradley@city.north-york.on.ca
Joe Halstead
Commissioner Economic Development, Culture & Tourism
CITY CLERK
Clause embodied in Report No. 11 of the North York Community Council, to be
considered by the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on October
28, 1998.
6
Feasibility Study -
Yorkwoods Community Centre -
Black Creek
The North York Community Council recommends:
(1)the adoption of the following report October 1, 1998) from the Commissioner,
Economic Development, Culture and Tourism;
(2)that the public consultation meeting be held at the Yorkwoods Community Centre;
and
(3)that the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report back
to the North York Community Council on November 12, 1998.
Purpose:
This report seeks further direction from Community Council regarding authority provided to
the Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations to undertake a $30,000.00
feasibility study for the development of a Centre for Ethno-Cultural Development and
Learning.
Source of Funds:
Through the adoption of Report No. 10, as amended in Clause 24, of the Strategic Policies and
Priorities Committee at Council on July 8, 9 and 10, 1998, approval was given to release
$30,000.00 from an allocation of $80,000.00 which had been previously approved in the 1998
Capital Budget for demolition and park development on the Yorkwoods site. These monies,
however, were to be released only upon both Councillors= consultations with their
communities to endorse the study. Their respective efforts in this regard had differing
outcomes and monies are therefore not able to be released by the Treasurer in compliance with
the amended motion that was approved.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)Parks and Recreation staff immediately convene a public consultation meeting to get
community input into the question "should the existing building be a) retained for community
uses other than recreation, or b) demolished and the green space/outside play amenities
upgraded?";
(2)if a) is their preference, "should the feasibility study be undertaken within the conditions
previously approved by Council?";
(3)if b) is their preference, Council's prior approval to demolish and redevelop the site at a
cost not to exceed $80,000.00 be carried out; and
(4)the appropriate staff be authorized to carry out all things necessary to give effect thereto.
Background/History:
In 1997, monies were approved by North York Council to build a new recreation facility in
Oakdale Park just 0.25 kilometers south of Yorkwoods Community Centre in the Jane/Finch
Area (Appendix I). In 1998, City of Toronto Council approved $80,000.00 to demolish the
Yorkwoods building/outdoor pool and develop the 1.0 acre site as a park with a children=s
play structure, plantings, furnishings and upgrades to the existing outdoor sports pad. The
recommendation to demolish the site was made based on an architectural assessment
commissioned in 1993, and on a 1996 study of parkland in the community.
In June of 1998, Councillor Li Preti made a deputation to Budget Committee seeking approval
to allocate $30,000.00 out of an approved Capital Budget to undertake a study to determine,
whether it is feasible to retain the Yorkwoods building, whether capital core and program
funding is available from sources other than the City of Toronto to sustain it, and whether a
Centre for Ethno-Cultural Development and Learning through the Faculty of Education, York
University, is viable and warranted. It should be noted that we have been advised by York's
Dean of Education that "it would be impossible for the University to share in any way in the
costs of maintenance, renovations or ongoing upkeep of the Yorkwoods Community Centre".
Subsequent approval from Council was given for the feasibility study to be conducted through
the Community, Race and Ethnic Relations Committee on the condition that both Councillors
garner support in the community. There appears to be support for further study regarding the
use of the site, but Councillor Augimeri=s consultation identified community opposition
regarding the source of funding. Their concern is that if further study supports the position
that the building is not usable or sustainable, the funds remaining in the Capital Budget
($50,000.00) would be insufficient to demolish the structure and to provide the necessary
outdoor amenities.
Comments:
The architectural assessment completed by J and R Engineering indicated that the thirty-three
year old building and the outdoor pool require major work over the next few years, totaling an
estimated $198,600.00 (at 1993) costs). The building is beyond its useful life for public
recreation purposes, and has restrictions for other uses, e.g. no parking, inaccessibility to
persons with physical disabilities.
Staff completed a review of the parkland in the Jane Heights Residential Community.
Yorkwoods Community Centre, outdoor pool and park area, is 1.0 acre in size. The footprint
of the new Oakdale building, pool, and associated parking will consume some 1.25 acres of
the available space at Oakdale Park. Even if the Yorkwoods site is retained as open space,
there will be a net reduction overall in open space in the neighbourhood of 0.25 acres. This
would impact a community which is already deficient in open space by 12.81 acres.
The Oakdale Community Centre is in the final stages of development with an anticipated
completion date of October 31, 1998. During the design stage of the Oakdale project in 1997,
feedback from the community supported reverting the Yorkwoods site to open space upon
completion of the new Oakdale, as there was some opposition to taking away green space at
the Oakdale site. Concerns were satisfied at the time through staff's recommendation to
demolish Yorkwoods and therefore, only slightly reduce the net green space in their
neighbourhood.
Conclusions:
Due to conflicting outcomes of the two Councillors' consultations with their communities, the
Treasurer is unable to release monies for the feasibility study. In order to provide further
direction regarding this centre, direct consultation between staff and the community is
warranted.
Contact Name:
Gary W. Stoner
District Lead - North
Parks and Recreation Division
Telephone: 395-6190Fax: 395-0105
E-mail: gwstoner@north-york.on.ca
---------------
The North York Community Council also reports having had before it a communication
(September 30, 1998) from Mr. Barry Rieder, Jane Finch Community Minister, Network of
Community Based Organizations, forwarding comments regarding the study.
(A copy of Appendix I referred to in the foregoing report is on file in the office of the City
Clerk, North York Civic Centre.)
October 1, 1998
To:North York Community Council
From:Joe Halstead, Commissioner
Economic Development, Culture & Tourism Department
Subject:Feasibility Study - Yorkwoods Community Centre - Ward 7
Purpose:
This report seeks further direction from Community Council regarding authority provided to
the Committee on Community, Race and Ethnic Relations to undertake a $30,000 feasibility
study for the development of a Centre for Ethno-Cultural Development and Learning.
Source of Funds:
Through the adoption of Report No. 10, as amended in Clause 24, of the Strategic Policies and
Priorities Committee at Council on July 8, 9 and 10, 1998, approval was given to release
$30,000 from an allocation of $80,000 which had been previously approved in the 1998
Capital Budget for demolition and park development on the Yorkwoods site. These monies,
however, were to be released only upon both Councillors' consultations with their
communities to endorse the study. Their respective efforts in this regard had differing
outcomes and monies are therefore not able to be released by the Treasurer in compliance with
the amended motion that was approved.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)Parks and Recreation staff immediately convene a public consultation meeting to get
community input into the question "should the existing building be a) retained for community
uses other than recreation, or b) demolished and the green space/outside play amenities
upgraded?";
(2)if a) is their preference, "should the feasibility study be undertaken within the conditions
previously approved by Council?";
(3)if b) is their preference, Council's prior approval to demolish and redevelop the site at a
cost not to exceed $80,000 be carried out; and
(4)the appropriate staff be authorized to carry out all things necessary to give effect thereto.
Background/History:
In 1997, monies were approved by North York Council to build a new recreation facility in
Oakdale Park just 0.25 kilometers south of Yorkwoods Community Centre in the Jane/Finch
Area (Appendix I). In 1998, City of Toronto Council approved $80,000 to demolish the
Yorkwoods building/outdoor pool and develop the 1.0 acre site as a park with a children's
play structure, plantings, furnishings and upgrades to the existing outdoor sports pad. The
recommendation to demolish the site was made based on an architectural assessment
commissioned in 1993, and on a 1996 study of parkland in the community.
In June of 1998, Councillor LiPreti made a deputation to Budget Committee seeking approval
to allocate $30,000 out of an approved Capital Budget to undertake a study to determine,
whether it is feasible to retain the Yorkwoods building, whether capital core and program
funding is available from sources other than the City of Toronto to sustain it, and whether a
Centre for Ethno-Cultural Development and Learning through the Faculty of Education, York
University, is viable and warranted. It should be noted that we have been advised by York's
Dean of Education that "it would be impossible for the University to share in any way in the
costs of maintenance, renovations or ongoing upkeep of the Yorkwoods Community Centre".
Subsequent approval from Council was given for the feasibility study to be conducted through
the Community, Race and Ethnic Relations Committee on the condition that both Councillors
garner support in the community. There appears to be support for further study regarding the
use of the site, but Councillor Augimeri's consultation identified community opposition
regarding the source of funding. Their concern is that if further study supports the position
that the building is not usable or sustainable, the funds remaining in the Capital Budget
($50,000) would be insufficient to demolish the structure and to provide the necessary outdoor
amenities.
Comments:
The architectural assessment completed by J & R Engineering indicated that the thirty-three
year old building and the outdoor pool require major work over the next few years, totaling an
estimated $198,600.00 (at 1993) costs). The building is beyond its useful life for public
recreation purposes, and has restrictions for other uses, e.g. no parking, inaccessibility to
persons with physical disabilities.
Staff completed a review of the parkland in the Jane Heights Residential Community.
Yorkwoods Community Centre, outdoor pool and park area, is 1.0 acre in size. The footprint
of the new Oakdale building, pool, and associated parking will consume some 1.25 acres of
the available space at Oakdale Park. Even if the Yorkwoods site is retained as open space,
there will be a net reduction overall in open space in the neighbourhood of 0.25 acres. This
would impact a community which is already deficient in open space by 12.81 acres.
The Oakdale Community Centre is in the final stages of development with an anticipated
completion date of October 31, 1998. During the design stage of the Oakdale project in 1997,
feedback from the community supported reverting the Yorkwoods site to open space upon
completion of the new Oakdale, as there was some opposition to taking away green space at
the Oakdale site. Concerns were satisfied at the time through staff=s recommendation to
demolish Yorkwoods and therefore, only slightly reduce the net green space in their
neighbourhood.
Conclusions:
Due to conflicting outcomes of the two Councillors' consultations with their communities, the
Treasurer is unable to release monies for the feasibility study. In order to provide further
direction regarding this centre, direct consultation between staff and the community is
warranted.
Contact Name:
Gary W. Stoner
District Lead - North
Parks and Recreation DivisionTelephone: 395-6190Fax: 395-0105
E-mail: gwstoner@north-york.on.ca
Joe Halstead
Commissioner
Economic Development, Culture & Tourism Department
GWS:sf
