Prioritizing Review of The Peanut for Potential Inclusion as a Neighbourhood Improvement Area

According to the 2016 Census, The Peanut has similar socio-economic conditions to those of other North York NIAs such Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, and Black Creek. Community organizations have been working for years to support residents in The Peanut, delivering health care, legal, and food security services with little dedicated support from the City. These organizations have done fantastic work but as the pandemic goes on and we look to recovery, these organizations simply do not have the capacity to continue to meet the needs of the community without support. The Peanut was very nearly included in the review of Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, but did not meet the criteria due to the abundance of child care spaces created by former Councillor Elinor Caplan and myself as local representatives over the years. Additionally, this neighbourhood like many in Toronto, is struggling with the impacts of gentrification and displacement as more and more development comes to the Sheppard Avenue East subway corridor. A prioritized review of this neighbourhood has the potential to ensure that critical support is given to a neighbourhood that has been hit hard by the pandemic and that will continue to struggle through recovery without sufficient support. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.