Dundas West Regeneration Project

(Davenport and Trinity-Niagara)

The Economic Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (September 3, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

This report outlines the progress which has been made to date with the Dundas West Regeneration Project, and seeks authority for staff to release the funds contributed by Provigo for the purposes of the project to the West Toronto Junction Team.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

No funding is required and there are no financial implications for the Corporation of the City of Toronto.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)City Council endorse the terms of reference for the Dundas West Regeneration Project as set out in the body of this report, and grant authority to make available monies provided by Provigo for the purposes of the Dundas West Regeneration Project pursuant to the Section 37 Agreement authorized by (former) City of Toronto Council in adopting Land Use Committee Report 12, Clause 11, Recommendation 2 on August 21, 1997 to the "West Toronto Junction Team" as set out below.

(a)The funds be used for the purposes of retaining a Project Director and undertaking activities agreed to by the Commissioners of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and Urban Development Services that are required to develop new markets for Dundas Street West and attract new business locations and investment;

(b) the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be authorized to disburse the funds in installments of up to $25,000.00 to the West Toronto Junction Team upon the submission of both a current financial statement for the project, and copies of invoices documenting the expenditure of the previously disbursed funds, except as noted in 1c, and that no more than $100,000.00 be provided before June 30, 1999; and

(c)permission be given to provide the first installment when the West Toronto Junction Team has entered into a contract with a Project Director;

(2)the interest accruing on the funds held by the City be deposited in Account 304426 and be made available to the West Toronto Junction Team for the purposes of the project;

(3)staff be requested to facilitate and accommodate any requests for support, within their resource capabilities from the West Toronto Junction Team;

(4)the West Toronto Junction Team invite the four Ward Councillors and Economic Development and Urban Planning and Development staff to all meetings and provide them with copies of the Minutes and financial statements for the project;

(5)the management of Provigo be thanked for its contribution and support to date for this important regeneration project;

(6)the Commissioners of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and Urban Development Services be requested to report to Economic Development Committee on the progress of the project, results achieved and future directions after one year; and

(7)the appropriate staff be authorized to take the steps necessary to implement the foregoing.

Background:

At its meeting on August 21, 1997, the Council of the (former) City of Toronto approved draft by-laws for an Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning permitting a retail warehouse to locate on a portion of the CP Railway yards on the south side of West Toronto Street (110 West Toronto Street) (Clause 11 of Land Use Committee Report No. 12). The store is to be operated by Provigo under its banner "Maxi & Co", and will be primarily a grocery store but will also offer ancillary general merchandise and in-store banking and photofinishing services. Among the conditions of the rezoning was the requirement that, prior to the issuance of a building permit, the owner pay the City $100,000.00 and two Letters of Credit for $20,000.00 dated one year and two years in the future respectively, to contribute towards the cost of the Dundas West Regeneration Project.

This $140,000.00 contribution was required because the market impact studies completed for the Maxi & Co application indicated that supermarkets and small specialty stores along Dundas Street West could expect to experience a loss of business after the store opened. Because Dundas Street West is in a fragile economic condition, a fairly small loss of business could significantly increase its level of deterioration. Such an outcome would be particularly undesirable since Dundas West is one of the City's key main streets and the historic downtown of the West Toronto Junction. Both the City and the local business community have committed considerable resources over the last three years to encourage its revitalization, and these activities are beginning to produce positive results. The opening of Maxi & Co threatened to thwart these efforts unless additional funding were made available to undertake an accelerated and focused revitalization program.

Comments:

Maxi & Co has now deposited the required $100,000.00 and two $20,000.00 letters of credit. Staff of Urban Planning and Development and Economic Development have been working with a community based steering committee for several months to determine how the Dundas West Regeneration Project can best be undertaken. The steering committee is called "The West Toronto Junction Team", and includes representation from the Junction Gardens BIA, Malta Village Business Association, local area residents, and the West Toronto Junction Historical Society.

City Staff and the West Toronto Junction Team have successfully used the regeneration funding secured from Provigo to lever the participation of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) in the area's revitalization. HRDC has committed $100,000.00 for the first year of the project beginning in June 1998. Thus, as is summarized in Table 1, the total project budget for the first twelve months is $200,000.00. The Team is proposing to use these resources for the following:

(a)A senior project director with extensive experience and credibility in the commercial sector: This person will advise the Team as to the current impediments to Dundas West's regeneration, and will recommend and direct an action plan addressing them. He or she will represent and market the area to the media, business, and real estate and site location industries with the objective of developing new markets for the area and attracting new business locations and private sector investment.

This position will be funded by the contribution made by Provigo.

(b)A project co-ordinator who will work in close association with the project director to assist in developing and implementing the action plan, building community partnerships and liaising with the local business and residential communities and other agencies and stakeholders in the area.

This position will be funded by HRDC. A co-ordinator was recruited and retained in July.

(c)A storefront action centre on Dundas Street West to provide a visible focus for the project and a place to demonstrate ideas and results as well as office and meeting space. The Junction Gardens BIA and a community newspaper will sublease a portion of the space within the action centre.

The majority of expenses associated with the action centre will be funded by HRDC. The Steering Committee has been investigating possible locations, and is now in the final stages of negotiating a lease. It is anticipated that the action centre will open in September.

(d)Additional Project Implementation Resources for marketing and recruitment packages, newsletters, publicity, information gathering and other ingredients needed to build new markets and attract business locations and investment to Dundas Street West. The West Toronto Junction Team has identified the need for some preliminary actions, but the development of a detailed project implementation budget will be prepared as part of the action plan to be developed by the Project Director.

These expenses will be funded by both HRDC and Provigo's contribution.

Table 1:

Dundas West Regeneration Project Budget June 1998-1999

These resources will be additional to those already committed and available for the area's revitalization: $200,000.00 for facade improvement grants over the three year period 1997-1999; a $16,000.00 market adjustment budget for $100.00 training subsidies that are available to individual merchants in the area until December 31, 1998; and $66,000.00 for streetscape improvements to be implemented in conjunction of the undergrounding of the hydro wires which is scheduled to begin in September 1998. The Junction Gardens BIA also raises about $50,000.00 a year from area businesses which it reinvests in promoting the area and in undertaking streetscape improvements. The retention of the project director and co-ordinator will permit the implementation of these already ongoing initiatives to be accelerated.

The project will be highly results oriented. The terms of reference for the action plan will include the specification of concrete objectives for each three month period, and performance and success will be measured against the achievement of those objectives. Planning and economic development staff are closely involved with the project and will consult with and advise the Steering Committee and the project co-ordinator and director and facilitate access to City resources. The four Ward Councillors will be invited to all Steering Committee meetings and provided with copies of the Minutes.

Provided that satisfactory progress is achieved, it is anticipated that the project will continue for a three year period. Experience in other communities has shown that typically a three to five year period is required to develop self sustaining economic growth. The only funds secured to date for the second and third years are the two $20,000.00 letters of credit provided by Provigo. However, it is anticipated that other funding partners will be found if the report on the first year of the project demonstrates positive results and potential for future change.

Conclusions:

The West Toronto Junction Team has formed an effective partnership within the community, with the Federal Government and the City for the regeneration of Dundas Street West. The recommendations of the report authorize staff to release regeneration funds contributed by Provigo to the Team for the purposes of the project. They also seek the continued joint efforts of staff in Economic Development and Urban Planning and Development Services and the City's support for providing any in-kind services or the loan of equipment and furnishings that may be feasible without incurring additional unbudgeted costs.

Contact Names:

Judy Morgan, Economic Development, 392-1003

Brenda Librecz, Managing Director, Economic Development, 397-4700