CreateTO
The full agenda, as filed
All 7 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
RA9.1amended
Election of Vice Chair - Board of Directors of CreateTO
Election of the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of CreateTO under Part H, Section 22, of the Board of Directors of CreateTO By-law No. 1-2018 for a term of office ending December 31, 2024, and until a successor is appointed.
The Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Elected Marcie Zajdeman as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of CreateTO for a term of office ending December 31, 2024, and until a successor is appointed.
RA9.2adopted
The Housing Now program leverages City-owned land for the purpose of creating new mixed-use, mixed-income communities near transit. Housing Now is part of the City's HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, Toronto's overall strategy to address a range of housing needs. The Housing Now sites have also been incorporated into the City's new housing plan, " EX9.3 - Generational Transformation of Toronto's Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes" and this progress update addresses how the program will incorporate the recommendations and desired outcomes of the City's accelerated housing plan (i.e., target of 65,000 rent controlled homes). Since Housing Now was launched in January 2019, the City approved 22 sites across Toronto. These sites are estimated to produce over 16,000 new homes with approximately one-third being affordable rental units. Housing Now currently has development approvals for 10 of these sites. For example, in August 2023, a ground-breaking announcement was held for the first project to reach the construction phase at 5207 Dundas Street West in the Etobicoke Civic Centre precinct. A further five sites are part of the Housing Now pipeline for preliminary due diligence. This report provides the CreateTO Board of Directors with a broad status update of the Housing Now program, including: · Priority Housing Now Sites (3 sites) · Housing Now Sites with Secured Proponents (3 sites) · Housing Now Sites tracking to Market Calls/Securing a Proponent (2 sites) · Housing Now sites tracking to final zoning (2 sites) · Update: The City's Generational Transformation of Toronto's Housing System · Update: Federal Housing Accelerator Fund · Update: Portfolio Wide Risk Factors
The Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Received the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO for information.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Executive Officer recommends that the Board of Directors of CreateTO receive this report for information.
RA9.3adopted
Strategic Opportunity at 275 Merton Street
The purpose of this report is to inform the Board of Directors of CreateTO of the ongoing discussion between CreateTO staff and the developer proponent named in Confidential Attachment 1 (the "Developer") on the opportunity to leverage the City-owned lands at 275 Merton Street to create new purpose-built rental homes, including a minimum target of 30 percent affordable rental units. The 275 Merton Street site is a City-owned property that is currently used by Toronto Water for office space and vehicle parking. The adjacent property, 267 Merton Street, was recently acquired by the Developer. In September 2023, the Developer approached the City and CreateTO with a proposal to assemble and jointly redevelop the two properties located at 267 and 275 Merton Street (see Attachment 1) as a purpose-built rental project with a mix of affordable and rent-controlled market units. The Developer also committed to financially supporting the off-site relocation of the existing Toronto Water program. CreateTO staff have conducted due diligence on this proposal and the development potential of this site. This included highest and best use massing analysis, land valuation, and consultation with Toronto Water, the Housing Secretariat, City Planning, and Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff, as well as the local Councillor and the Mayor's Office. Based on the findings of this outreach and due diligence, staff worked with the Developer to revise and enhance their proposal. Confidential Attachment 1 to this report provides an overview of the key terms that have been negotiated to date. Confidential Attachment 2 to this report outlines the financial business case for an agreement, as proposed. This report outlines the opportunity to leverage 275 Merton Street in a way that would deliver a substantial number of new affordable and rent-controlled market units in support of the Mayor's Housing Action Plan to deliver 65,000 new rent-controlled units and leverage underutilized City-owned property to create new affordable housing. This report recommends that staff work with Corporate Real Estate Management to recommend the key terms of this proposal, as outlined in Confidential Attachment 1, to City Council through the General Government Committee in March 2024.
The Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Endorsed the key terms of the transaction outlined in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and directed the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO to work with the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to advance the key terms in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO to City Council for consideration. 2. Provided City Council approves the key terms of the proposed transaction, directed the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO to work with the applicable City of Toronto officials to negotiate and finalize the necessary agreements and such other documents as may be required in order to finalize the arrangement with the Developer for 267 and 275 Merton Street. 3. Directed that Confidential Attachment 1, Confidential Attachment 2 and Confidential Attachment 3 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO remain confidential in their entirety, as they deal with a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the City of Toronto.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Executive Officer recommends that the Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Endorse the key terms of the transaction outlined in Confidential Attachment 1 and direct the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO to work with the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, to advance the key terms in Confidential Attachment 1 to City Council for consideration. 2. Provided City Council approves the key terms of the proposed transaction, direct the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO to work with the applicable City of Toronto officials to negotiate and finalize the necessary agreements and such other documents as may be required in order to finalize the arrangement with the Developer for 267 and 275 Merton Street. 3. Direct that Confidential Attachment 1, Confidential Attachment 2 and Confidential Attachment 3 to the report remain confidential in their entirety, as they deal with a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the City of Toronto.
RA9.4amended
Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes
City Council on November 8 and 9, 2023, adopted Item EX9.3 as amended, and a copy is attached for the Board's information or appropriate action.
The Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Directed the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, in collaboration with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, to review the organization's current mandate and identify opportunities for enhanced alignment to support delivery of the City's housing plans and targets.
RA9.5amended
City Council on December 13, 14 and 15, 2023, adopted Item EX10.2 and a copy is attached for the Board's information or appropriate action.
The Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Directed the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO to leverage City lands and partnerships to facilitate the creation of complete communities, and to prioritize the delivery of a range of new purpose-built rental homes including new rent-geared-to-income, affordable and market rent-controlled homes, to support delivery of the City of Toronto's housing plans and targets.
RA9.6amended
The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation
The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation ("Somali Centre") is a registered non-profit organization led by a group of Somali Canadian young professionals from across Ontario aiming to create a dedicated cultural recreation and community space for the Somali population in Toronto. According to the organization, there has been a 40-year effort from the Somali community to develop a culture and recreation centre in Toronto to address the needs of this under-served community. Beginning in the 1970s, the community began working with local leaders and politicians to advocate for this type of facility. The main goal of this centre is to create a "…central space for the Somali community to gather and receive culturally appropriate community services from non-profit service providers and agencies." After decades of advocacy, Toronto City Council adopted a motion in July 2022 to direct City of Toronto and CreateTO staff to work with the Somali Centre on a feasibility study to identify potential sites for this facility. This report provides an outline of the collaborative process undertaken by CreateTO, the City of Toronto, and the Somali Centre and provides a staff review of their feasibility study. Next steps will include a continued effort to work together and to understand the operating model and long-term financial feasibility of the Somali Centre.
The Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Directed the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, in conjunction with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Executive Director of Corporate Real Estate Management, to continue to work with the Somali Centre in a collaborative process; and, to report back once a viable site has been identified with details on site due diligence, the operational model, and the financial strategy. 2. Recommends that City Council consider a request to both the Provincial and Federal governments to provide financial support for this project in the form of capital and long-term operating funding. 3. Subject to the approval of Recommendation 4 by City Council, authorized the public release of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO. 4. Recommends that City Council authorize the public release of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (February 2, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO. 5. Recommends that City Council request the City Manager to provide the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation a non-binding letter of intent, to give assurance to the provincial and federal governments of the City's intention to negotiate a long term lease with the Somali centre once an appropriate city site has been selected, conditional upon receiving the provincial and federal government funding. The letter would also stipulate that the municipal support through a long term land lease would be based on the Provincial and Federal Governments providing financial support for this project in the form of capital and long term operating funding. 6. Recommends that City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth to work with CreateTO and the Somali Centre, as part of their exploration of viable sites and funding sources for a community centre, identify potential sites, and development and funding partners, to develop affordable housing in the northwest corner of the City.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO recommends that the Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Direct the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, in conjunction with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Executive Director of Corporate Real Estate Management, to continue to work with the Somali Centre in a collaborative process; and, to report back once a viable site has been identified with details on site due diligence, the operational model, and the financial strategy. 2. Request City Council to consider a request to both the Provincial and Federal governments to provide financial support for this project in the form of capital and long-term operating funding. 3. Subject to the approval of Recommendation 4 by City Council, authorize the public release of Confidential Attachment 1 to this report following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO. 4. Recommend to City Council to authorize the public release of Confidential Attachment 1 following the closing of any transaction and at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO.
RA9.7adopted
Report Back on CreateTO's 2023 Objectives
This report is a status update and report back on CreateTO's 2023 objectives, work plan, and the corresponding performance objectives of the Chief Executive Officer.
The Board of Directors of CreateTO: 1. Approved amendments and received for information updates to Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (January 31, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, as part of the report back on CreateTO's 2023 work plan and the corporate objectives for the Chief Executive Officer in 2023. 2. Approved the performance evaluation of CreateTO's 2023 work plan and the corporate objectives for the Chief Executive Officer, as contained in Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (January 31, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO. 3. Directed that Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (January 31, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, remain confidential in its entirety, as it deals with proposed or pending acquisitions or dispositions of land by the Board of Directors of CreateTO and/or the City, and that Confidential Attachment 2 to the report (January 31, 2024) from the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, remain confidential in its entirety, as it deals with personal matters about an identifiable individual.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO recommends that the CreateTO Board: 1. Approve amendments and receive for information updates to Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 as part of the report back on CreateTO's 2023 work plan and the corporate objectives for the Chief Executive Officer in 2023. 2. Approve the performance evaluation of CreateTO's 2023 work plan and the corporate objectives for the Chief Executive Officer, as contained in Confidential Attachments 1 and 2. 3. Direct that Confidential Attachment 1 remain confidential in its entirety, as it deals with proposed or pending acquisitions or dispositions of land by the Board of Directors of CreateTO and/or the City, and that Confidential Attachment 2 remain confidential in its entirety, as it deals with personal matters about an identifiable individual.