Reviewing City-Building Options for the New St. Lawrence Library Site at 125 The Esplanade - by Councillor Joe Mihevc, seconded by Councillor Ana Bailão

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The decision

2022-06-15 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on June 15 and 16, 2022, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the Board of Directors, CreateTO and the Toronto Public Library Board, and direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to explore options for the 125 The Esplanade City of Toronto owned property designated for a new Toronto Public Library, to include other City and community uses, including affordable housing, and to

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provide feasible options to the local community for feedback through a process to be determined in consultation with the local City Councillor.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

In March 2022, the City of Toronto, Toronto Public Library, and CreateTO announced the new location of an expanded St. Lawrence district library on City-owned land at 125 The Esplanade. The new library will be approximately 30,000 square feet, more than six times the size of the current neighbourhood branch in St. Lawrence. The St. Lawrence branch was initially set to relocate to the First Parliament site at 271 Front Street East, however, due to the Province of Ontario's expropriation of the site for its Transit-Oriented Communities and development timelines of at least 15 years, the City, Toronto Public Library, and CreateTO identified 125 The Esplanade as the St.

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Lawrence branch's new home. 125 The Esplanade had long been designated as open space and part of the David Crombie Park revitalization project. The site change will allow the new branch to be operational in a condensed timeframe of approximately six years. Building this brand new district library is a tremendous opportunity to create a landmark community hub for this rapidly-growing neighbourhood. 125 The Esplanade is a key intersecting site between the St. Lawrence Market Precinct and the David Crombie Park revitalization, and presents opportunities for new pedestrian links, publicly accessible outdoor spaces, and green outdoor infrastructure. A complete review of options for public uses on the site, including affordable housing and community infrastructure, should be conducted to determine the City-building opportunities that can be incorporated together with the expedited Library project. This Motion is urgent as Toronto Public Library, CreateTO and City staff require direction to maintain timelines for delivery of the expedited Library site at 125 The Esplanade.

Staff recommended

Councillor Joe Mihevc, seconded by Councillor Ana Bailão, recommends that: 1. City Council request the Board of Directors, CreateTO and the Toronto Public Library Board, and direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to explore options for the 125 The Esplanade City of Toronto owned property designated for a new Toronto Public Library, to include other City and community uses, including affordable

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housing, and to provide feasible options to the local community for feedback through a process to be determined in consultation with the local City Councillor.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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