Request for Chinatown Study, Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West

The request for this review comes at a time when this neighbourhood is under increased development pressure. Due to the recent development proposals within the study area, as well as adjacent neighbourhoods, there is urgency to this request. The development pressure, in addition to the current housing crisis and rising commercial rents, threaten Chinatown's well-established neighbourhood character. A study of Spadina Avenue from Queen Street West to Dupont Street was initiated in 2012 but has not been completed. We request that the Spadina Avenue study be divided into phases, and that the first phase focus on Chinatown, with study boundaries defined as: Spadina Avenue from College Street to Queen Street and Dundas Street from Beverley Street to Cameron Street.

Request the Director, Community Planning to work with the Director, Urban Design and Director, Heritage Preservation Services, to assess the applicable policy framework in the area and consider augmenting existing policies and developing additional urban design and built form guidelines, including an assessment of heritage resources, to be used to inform the review of current and future development proposals, and to develop an understanding of what defines the character of these streets, including the unique retail environment of Chinatown; and 3. Request the Director, Community Planning to work with the Housing Secretariat and the Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to review potential for protecting existing and creating new affordable housing and community services in the context of current and future development proposals in the area.