Acquisition of 196 Manor Road (Glebe Manor

Lawn Bowling Club), (Ward 22 - North Toronto)

The Corporate Services Committee recommends the adoption of the following joint report (July9, 1998) from the Commissioners of Corporate Services and Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

To obtain City Council authority to accept in principle the donation of the property known municipally as 196 Manor Road East, the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)City Council authorize in principle the acceptance of the donation of the property known municipally as 196 Manor Road East subject to the site and any structures on the site complying with all applicable Provincial laws, regulations and guidelines, including the "Guideline for Use at Contaminated Sites" published by the MOEE in 1996;

(2)the Commissioner of Corporate Services be directed to undertake a PhaseII Environmental Audit of the site and any structures and that $3,000 be allocated for this work from Parkland Acquisition Account 216-401;

(3)the appropriate City officials be directed to take the actions necessary to implement the foregoing; and

(4)the Commissioner of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, report further on the findings of the Environmental Audit and the actual costs associated with the transaction.

Source of Funds:

Parkland Acquisition Account 216-401

Comments:

The City has been approached by Ms. Georgina Rayner, president of the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club with an offer to donate the subject property to the City. In order to ensure that the lands remain as open space/parkland should the Club discontinue operations, the members have expressed a desire to convey the lands to the City. The subject site is located on the north side of Manor Road, just east of Mount Pleasant Road and occupies an area of 1,477 square metres (0.37 acres).

At its meeting of June 1, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club Limited recommended to the shareholders that the Club property at the above-noted address be transferred to the City of Toronto, with the agreement that the City will designate the site as City Green Space having the purpose of lawn bowling and other recreational activities as described in the Letters Patent dated February 23, 1923, as long as the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club Limited continues to offer the foregoing recreational activities to the residents of the area. This motion was adopted at the shareholders meeting of June 17, 1998.

Prior to accepting the donation it will be necessary to confirm the environmental conditions on site permit its use for parks purposes, in this regard, it is recommended that the Commissioner of Corporate Services undertake a Phase II Environmental Audit of the soil and any structures on the site. It will also be necessary to clarify the transaction costs associated with the process. Subsequent to the completion of the audit, it is recommended that a report outlining the findings of the Environmental Audit and identifying the transaction costs, including the amount of the Land Transfer Tax be submitted by the Commissioner of Corporate Services in consultation with the Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism.

With respect to the issue of taxes associated with this property, the property is currently taxes at $2,722.00 per annum and the Club has paid the required Interim Realty Tax Bill for 1998. This income is offset by a grant to the Club from the City of $2,500.00 which reduces net income to the City of $222.00. The Detailed Listing of the Preliminary Tax Impact Study indicates that the taxes on this property would increase to approximately $12,770.00 based on a Current Value Assessment of $1,027,000.00. However, the Club has recently received an Amended Assessment Notice with a value of $326,000.00, this equates to 32percent of the previous assessment. If this reduction in assessment is applied to the tax amount, it would realize taxes of $4,086.00. Application of taxes at this rate combined with a continuation of the grant would realize net income of $1,586.00 on an annual basis; this is dependant on any decisions by Council respecting phasing in of the potential revised tax rates.

Regarding day to day operations, the Club will continue to operate and maintain the premises during the existence of the Club on a permit basis from the City. Should the Club discontinue operation it will be necessary to assess the impact on operational costs to the City at that time.

Contact:

Name:Susan Richardson, Director, Development and Tourism

E-mail:srichard@city.toronto.on.ca

Tel:392-1941

Fax:392-0845

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The Corporate Services Committee reports, for the information of Council, also having had before it a communication (July16, 1998) from Councillor Michael Walker, North Toronto, advising that he is in support of the staff recommendations to accept the donation of the property known as 196Manor Road East, the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club; and forwarding, for the information of the Committee, correspondence in regard thereto.