Advancing Reconciliation through the Creation of Affordable Housing by Indigenous for Indigenous at 15 Denison Avenue - by Mayor John Tory, seconded by Councillor Joe Mihevc

Over the past few months, working in collaboration with a number of Indigenous partners and under the leadership of the City Manager, an opportunity was identified to use this site to support the City's commitments to truth, reconciliation and justice with Indigenous Peoples. As such, this Motion recommends that, instead of the formerly approved 99 year lease arrangement, City Council convey the site to an Indigenous housing provider to design, build, finance, own and operate a new mixed-use affordable rental housing development, which will include outdoor and cultural space. The affordable housing to be created onsite will remain affordable for at least 99 years. Further, the Motion recommends that the Housing Secretariat identify the future Indigenous housing operator through a Request for Proposals process. In recognition of the right to self-determination, this Motion also recommends City Council approval to allocate any unused pre-development funding to the selected Indigenous non-profit operator to complete the design and due diligence work at 15 Denison Avenue. The property at 15 Denison Avenue has not been declared surplus yet. Following the establishment of a development plan with the successful Indigenous proponent, staff will follow the delegation of authority to declare the land surplus. Additionally, staff will include the necessary required authorities to close a portion of the public lane in the report back to City Council with the results of the Request for Proposals.

2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to issue a Request For Proposals for 15 Denison Avenue to identify an Indigenous non-profit housing provider to design, build, finance, own and operate a new mixed-use affordable rental housing building, with rental units remaining affordable for a minimum period of 99 years, and partner with the City to establish a comprehensive development plan for the property, including the cultural space and outdoor space. 3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to allocate any unused portion of the $200,000 from the Capital Revolving Reserve Fund for Affordable Housing (XR1058), designated for pre-development work for 15 Denison Avenue, to the Indigenous non-profit housing provider referred to in Recommendation 2 above, once selected, to advance the development of the site. 4. City Council direct the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to report back to City Council on the results of the Request for Proposals including any request for Open Door financial incentives to activate the affordable rental homes.