Potential Acquisition of Hearn Generating Station - by Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Mayor John Tory

The Senior Manager, Heritage Preservation Services will be reporting on the evaluation of the Hearn Generating Station property under Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, at future meetings of the Toronto Preservation Board and City Council. The Port Lands Planning Framework planning process, informed by extensive public and stakeholder consultation, identified the Hearn Generating Station site as one of seven key destinations, with great potential as a new public park space surrounding an adaptively re-used Hearn building that would both conserve its cultural heritage value and accommodate civic, sport and cultural uses. The Port Lands Planning Framework and Official Plan Modification were adopted by City Council during its meeting of December 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2017. The Planning Framework recommendations and Official Plan Modification policies identified the Hearn Generating Station site as a major public park, and supported the re-use of the Hearn building with community uses that would serve as a catalyst for the Port Lands, creating a publically-accessible destination for residents and visitors with sports, civic, and cultural attractions, and large open spaces. In addition, a small portion of the Hearn Generating Station site is required to accommodate City infrastructure, including the new Broadview Extension, the Unwin Avenue realignment and a future streetcar loop. Accordingly, acquisition of the Hearn Generating Station site would support important City planning, recreational, cultural and infrastructure priorities.

2. City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services to report to the Executive Committee at its meeting of April 9, 2019 regarding the status of such negotiations, and for the approval of the agreed upon business terms, if applicable.