Parkdale Community Hub Project Community Information Meeting May 16 th, 2018
This Evening 1. Welcome & Introduction 2. Project Context & Status 3. Planning WQW & Heritage 4. Visioning 5. Challenges 6. Share Your Vision & Questions 7. Staying Engaged 2
Context & Background 3
City of Toronto Uses & Properties Queen Street West & Cowan Avenue (South View) Park TCHC Apartment Building Community Centre Laneway Library PACC Parking Lot 4
Street Views City Properties 1313 Queen St W Parkdale Arts & Culture Centre 1303 Queen St W Parkdale Public Library Laneway (rear of library) 220 Cowan Ave Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre 1325 Queen St W TPA Lot 220 Cowan Ave Masaryk-Cowan Park 245 Dunn Ave - TCHC 5
The Opportunity Important cluster of City facilities and community services. Existing City facilities in need of repair and/or improvement. Adjacencies of multiple City-owned properties. Potential efficiencies cost and space sharing. Better utilization of City lands and facilities through a coordinated plan to better serve the community. Queen & Cowan provides an excellent opportunity to plan and build the City's assets for service delivery in a more coordinated and effective manner. 6
Council Direction to Study March 28, 2017 Council Direction Background: Queen/Cowan provides an excellent opportunity to build the City's capacity to think and plan its assets for service delivery in a more coordinated and effective manner. Direction: City Council request the three Deputy City Managers to convene an interdivisional agency table to determine the feasibility of a coordinated City plan for City owned properties located at 1313, 1303 Queen Street West and 220 Cowan Avenue. Possible Parkdale Hub Area within WQW Planning & Heritage Study Areas 7
What is a Feasibility Study? What? An assessment of a project or opportunity to determine its viability. How? Gather information, knowledge, and data. Qualitative and quantitative analysis. Why? To identify needs and opportunities. To minimize risk. To determine future phases. 8
Work Plan Status 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Preliminary Background Research Division and Agency Feedback Community Engagement Feedback Results (Summer 2018) Massing concepts/options (Late Fall 2018)* Phase 1 report to Executive Committee & Council (Spring 2019 target)* *As relate to Planning WQW & Heritage reports. We are here Phase 1 Preliminary Feasibility Assessment Phase 2 Detailed Design, Feasibility & Development Plan 9
Planning WQW & Heritage 10
WQW Planning Study Heritage Conservation Districts Study July 2014 Planning Study Starts Stage 1: Transportation Summer 2016 Planning Study Stage 1: Transportation Recommendations Summer 2016 HCD Study Phase Starts Planning Study Pauses Spring 2018 HCD Plan Phase Starts (Planning Study Continues) Summer 2017 Planning Study Resumes Stage 2: Built Form Summer 2017 HCD Study Phase Recommendations: West Queen West HCD Parkdale Main Street HCD Early 2019 Public Consultation on Draft Planning Policies and Draft HCD Plans Early 2019 Planning Policy & HCD Plan Recommendations to TPB, TEYCC & Council 11
WQW Planning Study Urban Structure 12
What Happens on Avenues? The Avenues form part of the City s growth management strategy Avenues are main commercial streets that can accommodate new housing and jobs while improving public space. Growth on Avenues is established through studies of each Avenue over time, Avenues across the City experience different levels of growth and change; Not all lands along Avenues are designated for growth. (such as Institutional and Neighbourhood designations) 13
WQW Planning Study Land Use Designations 14
What s Allowed in Mixed Use Areas? Will absorb a portion of Toronto s growth over time. Create of a balance of uses that reduce automobile dependence, meet the needs of the community and provide new jobs and homes. New buildings will frame streets, minimize shadow impacts, transition toward lower scale areas and provide an attractive, safe and comfortable pedestrian environment. Variable building scale and density subject to area context. 15
Heritage Conservation District Study What we heard from the community during the HCD Study phase: Historical / Associative Value Contextual Value Design / Physical Value Social / Community Value Indigenous heritage Working class heritage History of tolerance, acceptance of mental illness Sense of time and place history, decay and renewal Consistent streetscape character with distinct identities Diversity of historic buildings Evolving retail/storefront character Culturally-driven community Independent, Progressive, Textured, Diverse, Gritty Community activism Immigrant entrepreneurship 16
New Development & Vertical Additions Much of the development potential on WQW is in the form of Vertical additions to the top of existing buildings, whether they have identified heritage value or not, while some sites on WQW have potential for new development. In both cases the WQW Study is looking to secure many of the form and scale aspects of the new construction while the HCD Plans would determine character attributes. 17
Focus Areas & Entry Nodes Focus Areas Areas where people and the community are drawn to places to gather or centres of cultural or commercial activities Entry Nodes A place where changes of character happen usually where one feels they have entered a different neighbourhood 18
Visioning 19
Visioning Integrating Uses & Programming Social Hub & Meeting Space (Brooklin C.C.) Performances/Exhibits (Wychwood Barns) Business Incubator/Worskshop Café Study Areas (TPL Gladstone) Library Stacks & Technology (TPL Albion) Urban Agricultrue /Community Garden Studios (Branksome Hall Athletic Centre) Gymnasium (Pan Am Sports Centre) Community Kitchen/Classes 20
Vision Statement (in progress) To create a welcoming and vibrant space that serves Parkdale s needs today, and is adaptive to evolving needs of the community in the future. 21
Guiding Principles (in progress) Integration Quality Principles Parkdale Community Hub Responsiveness Respect Collaboration 22
Guiding Principles (in progress) Integration We will bring people and services together to find opportunities, and better serve the community. Quality Principles Parkdale Community Hub Responsiveness Respect Collaboration 23
Guiding Principles (in progress) Integration Quality Principles Parkdale Community Hub Responsiveness We will make sure the project serves the community today and will respond to future needs. Respect Collaboration 24
Guiding Principles (in progress) Integration Quality Principles Parkdale Community Hub Responsiveness Respect Collaboration We will keep the community informed and engaged throughout the process. 25
Guiding Principles (in progress) Integration Quality Principles Parkdale Community Hub Responsiveness Respect We will make sure everyone is heard and that Parkdale s history and culture are respected. Collaboration 26
Guiding Principles (in progress) Integration Quality We will design a space that is welcoming and universally accessible, that is both functional and beautiful. Principles Parkdale Community Hub Responsiveness Respect Collaboration 27
The Challenge 28
Challenges Overview Potential Conflicting Interests for programming space. Design & Planning Considerations Mid-rise guidelines & density. Relationship to street. Improved linkages between buildings and properties. Limitations & Financial Support Realities of demand vs. supply (space & funding). 29
Sharing Your Vision and Questions 30
What works well? What to Think About What does not work well? How can community space be improved? What is your vision for a future facility? How can a future facility better serve the Parkdale community? 31
Questionnaire Hard copy this evening OR www.parkdalehub.ca Staying Engaged Feedback Results Summer 2018 - posted electronically Conceptual Design Options Feedback Early 2019 32
Thank You! 33