Request from the York Community Alliance for Office Space

at 2696 or 2700 Eglinton Avenue West

(Ward 28 - York Eglinton)

The Administration Committee recommends:

(1)the adoption of the recommendation of the York Community Council embodied in the communication (August 16, 1999) from the City Clerk, York Community Council, viz:

"that the current City plans for space utilization and office consolidation with respect to future use of the York Civic Centre and 2696 Eglinton Avenue West, ensure that adequate provision is made for the immediate community space requirements of the members of the York Community Alliance.";

(2)that, in developing plans for the use of 2696 and 2700 Eglinton Avenue West, the Acting Commissioner of Corporate Services be requested to undertake community consultation as an integral part of the process, especially with respect to York Community agencies; and

(3)that the Acting Commissioner of Corporate Services be requested to submit the forthcoming report respecting office space consolidation to the Community Councils for comment.

The Administration Committee submits the following communication (August 16, 1999) from the City Clerk, York Community:

Recommendation:

The York Community Council on July 15, 1999, recommended to the Administration Committee that:

"the current City plans for space utilization and office consolidation with respect to future use of the York Civic Centre and 2696 Eglinton Avenue West, ensure that adequate provision is made for the immediate community space requirements of the members of the York Community Alliance."

The York Community Council reports, for the information of the Administration Committee, having:

(1)requested the Executive Director, Facilities and Real Estate Division, to:

(a)work with the York Community Alliance, in the event that the Alliance's space needs cannot be accommodated at 2700 Eglinton Avenue West and/or 2696 Eglinton Avenue West, to determine their precise requirements and ability to assume rental costs;

(b)assist the York Community Alliance, in securing an appropriate location in the York District on a rental basis, in the private sector or in public facilities, including the former York Hydro building at 1652 Keele Street;

(2)advised the York Community Alliance to follow the application process for requesting funds to cover the cost of rental accommodation, when identified, from the Community Services Grants Program for the year 2000; and

(3)requested the Municipal Grants Review Committee to support the above application, when submitted.

Background:

The York Community Council had before it the following communications:

(i)(July 15, 1999) from the York Community Alliance requesting that the York Community Council adopt the following motion:

"That the current City plans for space utilization and office consolidation with respect to the future use of the York Civic Centre and 2696 Eglinton Avenue West ensure that adequate provision is made for the immediate community space requirements of the members of the York Community Alliance; and

That officials of the Facilities and Real Estate Division of Corporate Services responsible for civic space utilization and office consolidation plans and officials of the Planning Department work with the York Community Alliance to formulate a concept plan for the development of a Community and Cultural Civic Centre in the facilities and on the grounds of the York Civic Centre and environs."

The York Community Alliance consists of the following groups:

-Arts York **;

-Community Information Centre for York *;

-Community Social Planning Council - York Office *;

-Cross Edge Community Network;

-Eritrean Canadian Community Centre;

-Eritrean Canadian Society for Youth Advancement;

-Eritrean Women's Committee;

-Filipino Action Committee for Toronto and Suburbs;

-For Youth Project *;

-Oromo Canadian Community Centre;

-Portuguese Outreach Committee;

-Somali Canadian Community Advancement Centre *;

-Somali Immigrant Aid Organization *;

-Somali Immigrant Women Association; and

-York Hispanic Centre *;

* groups presently located at 2696 Eglinton Avenue West

** group presently located at 2700 Eglinton Avenue West

(ii)(July 14, 1999) from Ms. Ella Jackson, Chair, Black Creek Business Association, expressing support for the request from the York Community Alliance for office space in the York community.

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The following persons appeared before the York Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Ms. Rosa Maria Andino, York Hispanic Centre;

-Mr. Peter Mutchler, York Community Information Centre;

-Mr. Peter Clutterbuck, Social Planning Council; and

-Representative from the York Community Alliance.

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The Administration Committee reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it a communication (September 3, 1999) from Mr. Peter Clutterbuck, Co-Director, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, requesting that the Administration Committee set up a process that allows community input into the recommendations of the Office Consolidation Master Plan; and that the current City plans for space utilization and office consolidation with respect to future use of the York Civic Centre and 2696 Eglinton Avenue West ensure that adequate provision be made for the immediate community space requirements of the members of the York Community Alliance.

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The following persons appeared before the Administration Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Ms. Marion Newrick, Community Information Centre for the City of York; and filed a written submission in regard thereto;

-Ms. Hawa Jilao, Somali Immigrant Women Association;

-Ms. Yasmin Khan, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto;

-Councillor Joe Mihevc, York Eglinton; and

-Councillor Frances Nunziata, York Humber.