Earlier today, I took part in an announcement with the Province of Ontario and the Toronto District School Board regarding the Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands. The TDSB announced that they have selected Capital Developments as the purchaser of the 7.3 acre school site. The Province announced that they will be contributing capital funding to assist with the creation of a community hub on the site and a new high school at the current site of Brockton High School.

I would like to thank everyone involved from the City, Province, TDSB and TLC for their efforts as part of an inter-governmental working group which has helped to guide the establishment of a community hub to this point in time. I would also like to thank all residents who have engaged with me and advocated for important community building priorities regarding this 7.3 acre site since it was first declared surplus by the TDSB in 2013.

The Province and City have now retained an independent facilitator, SN Management to help engage with the community in order to develop a vision for the community hub. The first step in this process is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) to not-for-profit or registered charitable community-based organizations that are located in or deliver services and/or programming to the Bloor-Dufferin community.

The REOI will help establish a Visioning Group that will be tasked to meet the following objectives:

1. Ensure that community groups are meaningfully engaged in the planning for a potential Bloor-Dufferin community hub; and
2. Develop a vision and governance and service framework for a potential community hub at the Bloor-Dufferin Redevelopment site.

I believe that resident engagement is an important part in this process and will be advocating to ensure that resident input continues to build on the input received through the June 20, 2016 community meeting and through other avenues. I will be updating you on these opportunities as they become available for both the community hub process and the development process. The developer will also be required to consult with the local community about the future of the entire site.

I look forward to working with the selected developer, local residents and our partners to ensure that this development fits within the character of the neighbourhood and contains the green space, community hub, child care, affordable housing and heritage preservation that our community expects. Our community deserves no less.

I have included below a timeline of this site and some of the steps that have brought us to today. I look forward to engaging with you on this project in the coming months.

In community,

Ana Bailão
City Councillor
Ward 18, Davenport

Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands Timeline

December 2013 – Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands Declared Surplus

The TDSB declared surplus the Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands on December 19, 2013 and the closing date for Expressions of Interest from public agencies was April 18, 2014.

March 2014 – City of Toronto Expresses Formal Interest

Upon receiving the circulation notice for the sale, I worked to coordinate City Divisions to determine available resources towards purchasing the site. These efforts resulted in a letter from the City's Real Estate Services Division on March 4, 2014, where formal interest was expressed on behalf of our Parks, Forestry & Recreation and Economic Development & Culture Divisions. However, it was communicated that the TDSB and TLC were unwilling to entertain any bid for less than the entire 7.3 acre site.

While the City of Toronto was not in a position to submit an offer the entire property, I initiated discussions with the TDSB and TLC highlighting the importance of ensuring public benefit from the property in case the site ended up being offered for sale on the open market.

April 2014 – Catholic School Board City of Toronto Joint Proposal

In an effort to have the site remain in public hands, I worked with the Toronto Catholic District School Board and City staff to put together a joint proposal for the site. As part of this, the City's Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division confirmed its interest in working with the TCDSB as a partner to create a vibrant "community hub" of services at this location.

February 2015 – Letter to Minister of Education Sandals Regarding Consideration of Catholic School Board-City of Toronto Joint Proposal

The decision on whether to accept the bid rested with the Ministry of Education and I wrote to former Minister of Education Sandals seeking a meeting and a decision on the matter.

March 2015 – Premier Wynne Appoints Karen Pitre as Special Advisor on Community Hubs to Lead the Premier's Community Hubs Framework Advisory Group

Following Karen Pitre's appointment, nine individuals were appointed to the Advisory Group, from a cross section of community, municipal government, health care and education sectors. The Advisory Group released Community Hubs in Ontario: A Strategic Framework and Action Plan on August 10, 2015 to help guide the creation of community hubs.

April 2015 – Trustee Stiles Moves to Defer Sale and Establish Interest for a Community Hub

The TDSB deferred the sale of the site until the TLC could complete a review in pursuing community hub opportunities and to report back on a feasibility plan and next steps for a community hub.

June 2015 – Councillor Bailão Members Motion to Develop a Community Hub Proposal

Toronto City Council unanimously passed my motion to mobilize numerous City Divisions in order to develop a community hub proposal for the property.

October 2015 – City Council Unanimously Approves the Concept of a Community Hub

City staff report back to Council and propose a concept for a landmark community hub for food and learning. Council authorizes City staff to enter into formal discussions on behalf of the City, with the TLC, TDSB, and the Province of Ontario.

November 2015 – Inter-Governmental Working Group Formed

Following extensive discussions between the City, Province, TLC and TDSB, an inter-governmental working group, led by Premier Kathleen Wynne's Advisor on Community Hubs, Karen Pitre was formed. The Working Group was created to investigate opportunities to improve collaboration related to the sale of the site, which was considered by all parties involved to be an important and strategic public asset.

June 2016 – Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands Community Meeting Held

A community meeting organized by the Working Group and co-hosted by the City, TDSB, TLC and the Province was held on June 20, 2016 to update the community on the working group's progress and to seek feedback to shape the future of this important site.

September 2016 – TLC Issues a Request for Proposals to sell the Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands

The TLC formally issues a request for proposals for interested parties to purchase the Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands. Through the efforts of the inter-governmental working group, up to 30,000 sq. ft. is required to be set aside by the successful bidder for the purposes of a community hub.

Throughout the sale process, I have fought for the priorities as set out by our community including:

• The preservation of as much green space as possible;
• The preservation and expansion of child care spaces;
• The need for affordable housing to be included as part of any development on the site;
• That any proposed development fits with the character of the neighbourhood;
• The preservation of the heritage aspects of the site; and
• The need for community services, uses, and a community hub to be created on the site itself.

A coalition of residents and community stakeholders also came together during this time with a petition calling for a community voice in the Bloor-Dufferin property sale and I was pleased to support their efforts.

October 2016 – MPP Martins, Councillor Bailão and Trustee Stiles Letter to Minister of Education Hunter Requesting Support and Funding for a Community Hub

In the spirit of collaboration, MPP Martins, Councillor Bailão and Trustee Stiles write a letter to Minster of Education Hunter highlighting the strategic importance of the Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands. The letter formally requests Provincial support and funding for a community hub.

December 8, 2016 – TDSB Selects a Developer for the Site and the Province Announces Capital Funding for a Community Hub and a New High School

At a press conference on the Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands, the TDSB announced that they have selected Capital Developments as the purchaser of the 7.3 acre school site. The Province announced that they will be contributing capital funding to assist with the creation of a community hub on the site and a new high school at the current site of Brockton High School.

Bloor Dufferin TDSB Lands Update

As many of you know, the Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC), the real estate arm of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), is proceeding with the sale of the Bloor Dufferin TDSB Lands. The open bidding period in the Request for Proposals has now closed and the TLC is beginning its review of submitted proposals.

Throughout the sale process I have fought for the priorities set out by our community. Recently, a coalition of residents and community stakeholders have come together with a petition advocating for the priorities of our community in addition to the community building goals that I have been advocating for. These city-building priorities include the need for affordable housing; child care spaces; the preservation of green space; community events spaces; heritage preservation; reinvestment in the school uses on site, and a comprehensive community hub for service and arts organizations. The petition echoes what many residents and community members have said during consultations spanning the last three years, and I fully support it.

I have also written to Daryl Sage, CEO of the Toronto Lands Corporation and made clear that there is a big and important difference between the highest and best use of the site and the speculative value of the site. Any redevelopment of the Bloor Dufferin School Lands must take into consideration the character and heritage of our community. I am also in the process of reaching out to the Province to echo our community's concerns and the importance of having them contribute funding to our community hub.

I will continue to keep you updated on this important matter and will continue to advocate for the voice of our community as the sale process moves forward. You can review my previous updates regarding the Bloor Dufferin TDSB Lands by clicking here.

As you may be aware, The Toronto District School Board is in the process of selling the Bloor-Dufferin School Lands. You may have noticed a for sale sign on the property recently. The Toronto Lands Corporation (the real estate arm of the TDSB) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), during which interested buyers can submit offers on the site. Through the efforts of the City, School Board & the Province through the Bloor-Dufferin Working Group, up to 30,000 sq ft is required to be set aside by whoever the successful bidder is for the purposes of a community hub. As this process continues, I will continue to advocate for the following community building goals:

• The preservation of as much green space as possible;
• The preservation and expansion of child care spaces;
• The need for affordable housing to be included as part of any development on the site;
• That any proposed development fits with the character of the neighbourhood;
• The preservation of the heritage aspects of the site; and
• The need for community services, uses, and a community hub to be created on the site itself

I will continue to keep your informed of any updates on this important issue. To review my previous updates and a summary of the consultation feedback and information session from this past summer, please click here.

A meeting was held on June 20, 2016 to discuss the future of the Toronto District School Board's Bloor-Dufferin School Lands with members of the public. Thank you to all who attended the meeting and to those who submitted their feedback on this important community building opportunity. During the meeting a presentation was given reviewing the process and details of the TDSB's work to consolidate these surplus lands and develop a community hub. The feedback received at the meeting, online, in writing and through our offices will inform the next steps taken to transform the 7.3 acre site.

The meeting was overseen by the independent Swerhun Facilitation Team who have prepared a summary report of the meeting which includes the discussions and materials presented and the feedback received through all mediums. An abbreviated summary of the community feedback includes:

• There is concern that the sale of this 7.3 acre public asset will result in the site being largely privatized, with proceeds of the sale leaving the community. There is also concern that students from Bloor CI and ALPHA II Alternative School will be in a substandard building when they move to the renovated Brockton.

• Based on the above concerns, participants expressed significant interest in seeing a meaningful process for community participation in decisions related to the future development of the 7.3 acres of surplus lands, the community hub and public spaces, and the renovation of Brockton.

• Participants also expressed significant interest in seeing the redevelopment include a wide range of uses that would benefit the local community, including community uses, affordable housing, affordable community space, better connections, green and park space, safety for pedestrians and cyclists, maintenance of heritage, thriving small businesses, and
  a mix of uses.

I share these concerns and the interests of our community. As mentioned in my previous update, my commitment for any development or changes on the Bloor-Dufferin Lands is centered on these key principles:

• The preservation of as much green space as possible;
• The preservation and expansion of child care spaces;
• The need for affordable housing to be included as part of any development on the site;
• That any proposed development fits with the character of the neighbourhood;
• The preservation of the heritage aspects of the site; and
• The need for community services, uses, and a community hub to be created on the site itself.

I will continue to work with community members, the TDSB and the Province of Ontario as the TLC moves forward with the sale process to ensure that any plan on this site meets these goals to best serve our community interests. 

To review the full meeting summary prepared by the Swerhun Facilitation Team, please click here. To review the appendix files which include plans for the Brockton CI renovations and copy of the presentation given at the meeting, please click here. 

Thank you to those who took the time to provide their feedback and be a part of the process. I look forward to continuing our work with you as we move forward on this important community building opportunity.

You might recall that a week and a half ago, I sent you an update on the Bloor-Dufferin TDSB Lands and an invitation to attend a community meeting that took place on Monday. The meeting was co-hosted by the City of Toronto, Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC), and the Province. The purpose of the meeting was to update residents on the progress of an inter-governmental working group and to seek your feedback to shape the future of this important site.

At the start of the meeting I spoke about how this site is a strategically important city-building site and that I believe all of us have an interest in doing something great for our community here. I outlined some of the past history and City involvement that you can read by clicking here to see my previous updates on this topic. I also reiterated that any future development of this TDSB owned site must include but not be limited to:

• The preservation of as much green space as possible;
• The preservation and expansion of child care spaces;
• The need for affordable housing to be included as part of any development on the site;
• That any proposed development fits with the character of the neighbourhood;
• The preservation of the heritage aspects of the site; and
• The need for community services, uses, and a community hub to be created on the site itself.

The TLC (the TDSB's real estate arm) will be issuing a request for proposals at some point in the future to maximize revenues from the sale of the site. In my opinion it is important that the RFP reflects the discussions that the community has had over the years. Once the site is purchased and if a development application is submitted, the formal City planning process would then take over with additional opportunities for public consultation and input.

It was great to hear the feedback, ideas, and concerns that many residents proposed to the independent meeting facilitators yesterday. Your engagement can shape the future of this important site and I encourage you to provide your thoughts and feedback to the working group. Please click here to access the online feedback form and make your voice heard. You can also send any feedback directly to Nicole Swerhun, Swerhun Facilitation (the Independent Meeting Facilitators) at [email protected]. The deadline to submit comments is Monday June 27, 2016 at the end of the day. All comments will be included in the meeting summary that they are preparing and I will be sending out to everyone.

I look forward to continuing to update you on this process and welcome any additional comments, questions, and feedback that you would like to make me aware of. I am including below the materials produced by the Working Group for the meeting. Please click on each title to download them in PDF format. To see my previous updates and efforts on this important community issue please visit: http://www.anabailao.com/bloor_dufferin_school_lands

Materials Produced by the Working Group for the Meeting

• Meeting Agenda and Set of Questions
• Bloor Dufferin Community Update
• Slides from Overview Presentations

October 1, 2015 Update: Toronto City Council has unanimously passed the concept of a landmark community hub for food and learning at the TDSB Bloor-Dufferin Redevelopment Site. 

I am pleased to announce that yesterday, City of Toronto staff have released a report concerning the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) lands at Bloor and Dufferin. The report is going to the September 21, 2015 Executive Committee meeting.

Ever since the site was first put up for sale by the TDSB in 2013, I have been working hard to try to create a community hub on the site. The report was a direct result of my motion asking City staff to assess the City's interests in the Bloor-Dufferin school lands as a site for such a purpose.

The report discusses the concept of creating a landmark community hub for food and learning on the Bloor-Dufferin school lands, and notes that this is a promising location for Toronto's first Urban Agriculture Centre/Food Hub. A key factor for this is that FoodShare and its Kitchen Incubator program currently operates on the site.

This initiative would establish Toronto as a leader in cross-cutting social, educational, environment, and economic development innovations. The creation of parkland and the capital expansion of infant and child care spaces would also be prioritized as part of any community hub plan.

It is also exciting to see so many expressions of support from an unprecedented number of City departments, namely: Children's Services, City Planning, Economic Development and Culture, Parks, Forestry, and Recreation, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and Toronto Public Health. This proves what I have been saying for years; this is a special site that has the potential to provide benefits to our community and city for generations to come.

The report seeks authorization for the City to approach the TDSB, the Toronto Lands Corporation, local community partners, and the Province of Ontario to explore and develop this concept.

I have already reached out to our local Trustee and I am looking forward to exploring this concept as well as the multiple expressions of interest from community groups with our elected representatives, local residents, and community stakeholders – while working towards a common vision for a community hub at Bloor and Dufferin.

If you have any comments or questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

To find out more about the history of this site and my efforts to save and preserve it for community use, please click here.

If you are interested in reading the report and its recommendations, please click here. 

I have been actively working to seize the opportunity to create a "community hub" and retain lands for public use on the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) property at Bloor and Dufferin since this land was originally put up for sale by the TDSB in late 2013. I worked to help develop a proposal to purchase a portion of the 7.3 acre site but we were rejected by the Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC) acting on behalf of the TDSB. I then worked with the Toronto Catholic District School Board to develop a solution for the site but never received a response back from the Minister of Education (read background).

In April 2015, the TDSB decided to defer the sale of the land and that it was now interested in receiving a proposal and feasibility plan from the TLC to create a community hub on the site. Following this, I redoubled my efforts to work with our partners and at the June 12, 2015 Toronto City Council Meeting, my motion on this was unanimously passed. City staff and resources will now be mobilized to work with the TDSB, the TLC, and other partners on this important community project. I look forward to seeing what could hopefully take shape in the months ahead.

UPDATE: In April 2015, the TDSB decided to defer the sale of the land and that it was now interested in receiving a proposal and feasibility plan from the TLC to create a community hub on the site. Following this, I redoubled my efforts to work with our partners and at the June 12, 2015 Toronto City Council Meeting, my motion on this was unanimously passed. City staff and resources will now be mobilized to work with the TDSB, the TLC, and other partners on this important community project. I look forward to seeing what could hopefully take shape in the months ahead.

Ward 18 residents, and especially those near the intersection of Bloor and Dufferin Streets, may be aware that the TDSB had planned to sell 7.3 acres of land including Kent School and Bloor Collegiate Institute. 

The Bloor-Dufferin School Lands were declared surplus on December 19^th, 2013 and the closing date for Expressions of Interest from public agencies wasApril 18^th, 2014. However, the TDSB had been looking at the possibility of big changes to this site since 2004. This process became much more intensive early in my first term as Councillor, after the TDSB wrapped up its Accommodation Review Committee (ARC), which was an effort to ensure that student needs could be met before looking at disposal of the property.

The next stage was the TDSB's Local School Community Design Team, which began early in 2012. The design team recommended that the TDSB move students into Brockton School, settled on a set of design principles and sketched out a site plan. There was a year delay between the time the Local School Community Design Team finished its plan and the time the TDSB was able to declare these properties surplus. This left many residents wondering what was going to happen to the Bloor-Dufferin School Lands.

At the TDSB's meeting in November 2013, the public was informed that The Bloor-Dufferin School Lands were to be declared surplus and put up for sale. After the formal declaration of surplus, the Toronto Lands Company (an arms-length corporation acting on behalf of the Toronto District School Board) issued a circulation notice. Upon receiving notice of this proposal, I immediately coordinated City divisions to determine available resources toward purchasing the site. These efforts resulted in a letter from the City's Real Estate Services Division on March 4th, where formal interest was expressed on behalf of our Parks, Forestry & Recreation and Economic Development & Culture Divisions.

The Toronto Lands Corporation's response letter stated that the School Board and the Toronto Lands Corporation were unwilling to entertain any bid for less than the entire 7.3 acre site. It was impossible for the City of Toronto to obtain necessary funding approval to submit an offer for the entire property by the deadline; however, I believed there was tremendous shared interest in bringing all partners together to make the most of this irreplaceable community opportunity; in particular, to discuss the size and orientation of park lands, the possibility of cultural and social service agencies finding space within existing or modified buildings and the density of development which is permitted on site were of critical importance for our community. For this reason, I contacted TDSB Trustee Maria Rodrigues and worked with her to arrange a meeting with Toronto Lands Corporation CEO Daryl Sage.

Discussion between the City of Toronto and TDSB/Toronto Lands Corporation took a big step forward on April 4^th when we met at City Hall to discuss how we might work together to ensure public benefit in case the site ended up being offered for sale on the open market. I clearly expressed that whatever is eventually built at the corner of Bloor and Dufferin will significantly impact the daily lives of area residents and TDSB students for generations to come. Therefore, we had a unique opportunity in guiding development outcomes early in this bidding process. This landmark site holds potential to become a shining example of city-building partnership between the City, the School Board and local organizations. For these reasons, I continued dialogue with these agencies, with Education Minister Liz Sandals and with our community.

In April 2014, it was possible that another school board would buy the site and it would never go to the open market. It was also possible that no public agency would have been able to offer the fair market value for the entire 7.3 acre site and it could have been offered to private developers. In any case, I was committed to ensuring that the next stages of the process were community oriented, consultative and coordinated. I could not allow this important opportunity to be missed by our community or our city.

In an effort to ensure the site would remain in public hands, I worked with the Toronto Catholic District School Board to put together a joint bid on the site. The decision on whether to accept the bid was in the hands of the Ministry of Education for many months and in February 2015 I wrote a letter to Education Minister Liz Sandals asking for a meeting and a decision on this matter. 

In April 2015, the TDSB decided to defer the sale of the land and that it was now interested in receiving a proposal and feasibility plan from the TLC to create a community hub on the site. Following this, I redoubled my efforts to work with our partners and at the June 12, 2015 Toronto City Council Meeting, my motion on this was unanimously passed. City staff and resources will now be mobilized to work with the TDSB, the TLC, and other partners on this important community project. I look forward to seeing what could hopefully take shape in the months ahead.

The "Building a Better Bloordale" residents' group hosted a COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING on Monday April 7, 2014 at 7 p.m. in Bloor Collegiate Institute (1141 Bloor St. W) in the cafeteria to discuss the issue. Click on this background slide to download a copy of the presentation I gave at this meeting: