Authorization to Release Section 37 Funds for the Future Saint Lawrence Toronto Public Library Branch - by Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik

The Saint Lawrence branch was originally planned to be relocated to the First Parliament Site at 271 Front Street East, before the province expropriated those lands for construction of the Ontario Line. Staff also considered a new build at the City-owned site at 125 The Esplanade, but the constraints of that site and market conditions made moving forward with new construction there very challenging. Following discussions with various property owners, an existing site was discovered in the Saint Lawrence neighbourhood that could provide a 30,000 square feet district library in a significantly shorter timeframe and at a lower cost than the previously planned site at 125 the Esplanade. At its meeting on July 23 and 24, 2025, Council authorized the City to enter into an agreement of purchase and sale to acquire this property for the purposes of relocating the existing Saint Lawrence branch to this new site. This new site will provide the community with a much needed larger district library that is able to support enhanced library programming and services. Within the Toronto Public Library 2025 - 2034 approved capital budget and plan is a capital project that will allow for the acquisition of this site and to carry out the renovations to the facility needed to deliver a modern and multi-functional district branch. As part of enhanced services at this new branch, there are several components that are critical to see funded to meet community needs. These include enhanced library programming space, a digital innovation hub and fabrication studio, and virtual interview rooms, as well as other capital improvements to the facility that will contribute to enhancing programming and services offered. This motion is to provide $3 million from secured Section 37 agreements for these capital enhancements to the future site of the relocated Toronto Public Library Saint Lawrence branch. The exact location of the site remains confidential as it pertains to a proposed or pending acquisition of simple fee interests by the City of Toronto.

enhanced library programming space; b. digital innovation hub/fabrication studio; c. virtual interview rooms; and d. other capital improvements to the new library.