Feasibility Study - Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre -

Black Creek

The North York Community Council recommends the adoption of the report (June 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and adoption of the following resolution from Councillor Li Preti, Black Creek:

WHEREAS two agencies have come forward with proposals for third party operation of the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre; and

WHEREAS criteria for third party operation of the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre in the provision of community based social services to the immediate community has been established (as outlined in the staff report on Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre); and

WHEREAS this criteria can be used to evaluate the agencies interested in assuming third party operation of the Yorkwoods facility; and

WHEREAS both agencies (who have come forward with proposals) appear to be financially qualified to make the necessary renovations and sustain on-going operational costs for the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre; and

WHEREAS the Parks and Recreation Division has transferred its recreation operations and budget allotment to the Oakdale Community Centre leaving the Yorkwoods facility presently unoccupied; and

WHEREAS with the vacancy of the building, the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre has been the target of vandalism and the site has been continuously littered with debris; and

WHEREAS with the vacancy of the building, the area surrounding the Yorkwoods facility has become a community health and safety concern due to an increase in undesirable activities leaning towards criminal behaviour; and

WHEREAS perpetuating this present state of vacancy and unwelcome activity creates a habitual presence which will ultimately have negative impacts on the future service delivery of any third party operator;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

(1)the issue be considered an urgent one to be expedited immediately;

(2)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department, Parks and Recreation Division, be directed to engage in discussions with interested agencies to evaluate and recommend a viable third party operator for the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre; and

(3)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department, Parks and Recreation Division, submit his recommendation to the Toronto City Council meeting scheduled for July 27, 1999.

The North York Community Council also submits the following report (June 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

This report will provide the North York Community Council with a summary of the findings of the Staff Report On The Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre (Appendix A). The report was compiled by staff of the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department with input from community stakeholders and local Councillors. It is expected that the Staff Report will provide the North York Community Council with the relevant information to determine the future use/viability of the existing Yorkwoods building and surrounding property.

Source of Funds:

Capital Budget money had previously been allocated by Council to demolish the existing Yorkwoods building and restore the area to green space: $80,000.00 in 1998, to be carried over to 1999. When further study of the issue was requested, $10,000.00 of this Capital Budget allocation was made available to conduct a feasibility study and hire an outside consultant if necessary. This money was not expended as the review was completed internally by Departmental staff.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the Staff Report On The Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre be accepted as a review of the variables impacting on the future use/viability of the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre and surrounding property;

(2)Council determine the future use/viability of this property based on the conclusions and recommendations in the Staff Report On The Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre; the report recommends the retention of the Yorkwoods building for community social service space and the upgrading of the surrounding greenspace; and

(3)the Department be directed to review potential candidates for third party operation (based on the criteria outlined in the Report) and report back to Council.

Background:

Based on the Parkland Acquisition Study, there is a deficiency in open space in the Yorkwoods residential community of 5.81 hectares. It was planned that a portion of greenspace would be restored by demolishing the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre once the new Oakdale Community Centre was built.

The decision by Council to demolish the Yorkwoods facility and replace it with greenspace was re-visited after additional community consultation indicated a potential lack in community/social service space and the need to investigate the future viability/use of this property further. The direction given by Council at its meeting December 9, 1998 was to move forward with a feasibility study on the future of this property.

There have been four public meetings held since November 11, 1998 when community residents adopted terms of reference for a feasibility study. The latest meeting was held on Monday June 21, 1999 to share the findings of the Staff Report On The Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre with the community. At that meeting, there was agreement on the recommendations.

Comments:

It has been determined that, in its present state, the Yorkwoods facility is unacceptable for recreation use or other use by community agencies. The architectural assessment completed by J. & R. Engineering indicated that the building requires $198,600.00 of remedial work to make it usable. The annual facility operating costs, including Departmental staffing amounts to $211,251.00. There are no funds allotted in the Parks and Recreation budget to cover the cost of renovations or to provide operational budget support for community group use. The Departmental operating budget has already been re-allocated to the newly opened Oakdale Community Centre.

Community recreational needs for the area surrounding Yorkwoods and beyond will be serviced by the new facility - Oakdale Community Centre. The facility is newly opened, and it is anticipated that potential program development opportunities, previously untapped, are far greater than they were for the Yorkwoods Gate community Centre. Oakdale joins 11 other multi-purpose community recreation facilities in the West Region of the North District along with school satellite locations, arenas, sports fields, parks, and naturalized areas to provide an extensive array of recreation services for these neighbourhoods.

Throughout the course of reviewing information to compile the report on Yorkwoods, it became evident that there has been a long-standing concern in the area over a lack of space for community and social services. This was indicated throughout the consultation processes which had taken place to date and from the supplemental consultation done by staff. Although there appears to be agreement among community stakeholders that greenspace is needed and desired in the community, indoor space for community/social services is the priority.

Overwhelmingly, the feedback from the community showed that there should be an attempt to retain the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre building if there is a group which meets financial requirements and can provide relevant services to the immediate community. Included in the Staff Report is a component which outlines criteria for assessment of third party operation of the facility with the above considerations. Apart from the information required for the assessment, there is a list of criteria developed from the information and community feedback compiled for the report.

Two organizations have come forward with proposals to operate the facility at no cost to the City: Salvation Army and the Ghana Methodist Church of Toronto. The Department is aware that there is serious interest from one other organization - the Filipino Messiah Group.

Conclusions:

With respect to the future use/viability of the Yorkwoods Gate Community Centre, the Department recommends that Council retain the Yorkwoods building (provided there is a qualified third party operator) for community social service space and re-allocate the funds slated for demolition to upgrade the greenspace surrounding the building.

Contact Name:

Jim Bradley

395-6054

(A copy of Appendix A referred to in the foregoing report is on file in the office of the City Clerk, North York Civic Centre.)

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A recorded vote on the recommendation moved by Councillor Li Preti, Black Creek, was as follows:

FOR:Councillors Mammoliti, Sgro, Li Preti, Moscoe, Augimeri, Berger, Feldman, Flint, Gardner, Chong, Shiner, King

AGAINST:NIL

ABSENT:Councillors Filion, Minnan-Wong

Carried