CITY CLERK
Clause embodied in Report No. 15 of the North York Community Council, as
adopted by the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on December
16 and 17, 1998.
18
Feasibility Study -
Yorkwoods Community Centre -
Black Creek
(City Council on December 16 and 17, 1998, adopted this Clause, without amendment.)
The North York Community Council recommends that the report (November 26, 1998)
from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, not be
adopted and that:
(1)the City retain the building and open space pending further study of community
needs;
(2)the two local Councillors, York University, North York Committee on Community
Race and Ethnic Relations and other interested parties be requested to assist in the
development of the terms of reference for an internal study; and
(3)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism report to North
York Community Council by February 1999.
The North York Community Council submits the following report (November 26, 1998)
from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:
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 $30,000.00.
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 $30,000.00 from an allocation of
$80,000.00 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:
(1)approval be given to spend $30,000.00 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;
(2)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
(3)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 $131,000.00 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 $30,000.00 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 $30,000.00 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
February 1, 1999
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 feasibility study. The study, to be conducted by Economic Development,
Culture and Tourism Department staff, with input from the local Councillors and community
stakeholders, will determine the future use of the existing building and property.
Source of Funds:
As previously reported to the North York Community Council, $80,000.00 was approved in
the 1998 Capital Budget to demolish the existing building. At the previous Community
Council Meeting, a motion was passed by Council directing the Commissioner of Economic
Development, Culture & Tourism Department, Parks and Recreation Division to commission
a study to determine the future use of the building and property, at a cost not to exceed
$30,000.00. The majority of the elements in this feasibility study will be conducted internally
by staff. An outside firm will be required to do an analysis of the facility's interior, based on
the recommendations. The Department estimates that this cost approximates $10,000.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department, Parks
and Recreation Division and staff continue with the co-ordination and completion of this
study; the cost not to exceed $10,000.00;
(2)this report be received as an update 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 December 9-10, 1998; and
(3)the report reflect terms of reference developed by staff in conjunction with the Ward
Councillors and interested community stakeholders.
Background:
On November 11, 1998, a meeting was convened at Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre to
make presentations to the community, its agencies and user groups regarding the conducting
of 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; Rick Morrelli - Executive
Assistant to Councillor Maria Augimeri; M.P.P. Mario Sergio; staff from North District Parks
and Recreation; representatives from several community permit user groups; and residents of
the local community. Councillor Li Preti made a presentation to the effect that there is still
insufficient community space in this area, and he had requested $30,000.00 of the $80,000.00
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 by a vote of 26-1, with 12 participants abstaining from the vote.
Based on the results of this public meeting, a recommendation was made to Community
Council by the Department at its December 9-10, 1998 meeting, to have $30,000.00
reallocated for a feasibility study, to be conducted by the North York Race and Ethic Relations
Committee. Council discussed the recommendation, and a motion was moved by Councillor
Peter Li Preti and subsequently approved with the following amendments:
(1)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department, Parks
and Recreation Division be directed to commission a study, not to exceed $30,000.00, to
determine the future of the building and property;
(2)the City retains the building and open space pending further study of community needs;
(3)the two local Councillors, York University and North York Committee on Community
Race and Ethnic Relations be requested to assist in the development of the terms of reference
for the study; and
(4)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department, Parks
and Recreation Division report to Community Council by February, 1999.
Council also conveyed the message that a competitive process be put in place to select a
consultant to conduct the study, if the study could not be completed by the Department.
Park land is at a premium in the Yorkwoods residential community; there is deficiency in
open space by 5.81 hectares. In addition, the Yorkwoods facility in its current state is
unacceptable for recreation use or other use by community agencies. The architectural
assessment completed by J. and R. Engineering indicated that the building requires
$198,600.00 of remedial work to make it usable (i.e. Recreation usable).
Comments:
Status Update:
- North District Parks and Recreation staff have met with Policy and Development staff to
formulate a discussion paper to establish terms of reference for the study.
(See Appendix A.)
- North District Parks and Recreation staff have met with the two local Councillors to review
the discussion topics.
- North District Parks and Recreation staff have developed a critical path for the completion
of the study.
- A meeting is being convened during the week of February 8, bringing the two local
Councillors and community stakeholders together to develop the terms of reference and
review the critical path.
Conclusions:
A feasibility study on the future of the Yorkwoods Community Centre will be conducted by
staff, based on the terms of reference developed in consultation with the two local Councillors
and the community. The study will also establish a business plan for the building and the
impact to the surrounding community, as a result of recommendations put forth. It is
anticipated that the study, at a cost of $10,000.00, will be completed by June 1999.
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
Appendix A
