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Community & stakeholder feedback

HERE'S WHAT WE'VE HEARD

ROUND 3

R3

ROUND 3 SAW THE MOST ENGAGEMENT YET!

Between December 2020 and August 2021, hundreds of locals and stakeholders shared feedback on the emerging proposal for these lands. The response reassured that we’re on the right track. Participants welcomed the ten elements of our vision and re-emphasizing the importance of connectivity, green spaces, celebrating Indigenous history and culture, quality employment, community services and facilities, affordable housing, heritage, and sustainability.

 

Download the full Round 3 Feedback Report and read on for an overview of feedback. Summaries of individual engagement events are also available below.

WHAT WE HEARD ABOUT THE PROPOSED VISION

Overall, there was a lot of support for the ten elements of the proposed vision. Many participants said the renderings were inspiring and the ideas ambitious and exciting. They especially liked key elements and ideas related to parks and open spaces, connecting in and across the site, the community centre, sustainable and resilient urban development, creating a destination, and supporting the local economy.

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WHAT WE HEARD ABOUT PUBLIC SPACES

Participants were enthusiastic about adding 100 acres of new parks and open spaces, preserving celebrated Downsview Park, adding pedestrian and cycling paths, and making new connections with existing communities and local businesses and over rail. We heard that community services and facilities are critical—as is arts and culture—to build connected community spaces that are equitable, diverse, and inclusive.

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WHAT WE HEARD ABOUT VIBRANT NEIGHBOURHOODS

Overall, participants were supportive of increasing space for jobs, integrating city and nature, and repurposing existing building and heritage assets. Participants emphasized that Indigenous voices are important to the process, that local businesses and workforce development should be a priority, and urged continued leadership in sustainability and biodiversity. Although most feedback supported a diversity of housing and density that makes full use of transit, some participants were more cautious about height, density, and affordable housing. 

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WHAT WE HEARD ABOUT PHASING, INTERIM USES & PROCESS

In general, participants were supportive of the step-by-step approach to long-term development and interim uses that prioritize community collaboration. Participant suggestions included: building for local community and business needs first to foster early support; incorporating learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic in detailed planning; prioritizing those who contribute to local arts and cultures; and focusing on interim uses that provide opportunities to local communities, including equity-seeking groups.

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WHAT WE HEARD DURING DISTINCT DISCUSSIONS

Round 3 included discussions focused on: Indigenous perspectives; African, Caribbean, and Black communities; community services, facilities, and social infrastructure; process and accountability; youth perspectives; and an arts and culture framework. Themes that ran across these conversations included: the impact of development and investment on existing communities and Neighbourhood Improvement Areas; capturing voices seldom included in planning processes, such as Indigenous voices, African, Caribbean, and Black voices, and youth; and the opportunity to work with communities to do things differently.

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PARTICIPATION IN ROUND 3

Round 3 engaged broadly through virtual townhalls, an online survey, a mail-in feedback form, a website contact form, a project phone line, as well as through distinct discussions with Indigenous voices, African, Caribbean, and Black communities, and community-based and serving organizations. This round also engaged youth, grassroots groups working in surrounding Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, and arts and culture organizations.

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ENGAGEMENT SUMMARIES & NEXT STEPS

Round 3 engagement summaries and reports are available for download here. They have been reviewed and approved by the participants to make sure we got them right. 

 

The feedback received in this round and others has driven an application to the City of Toronto to amend the Official Plan for these lands. The submission marks the end of the three-round pre-application public engagement process and the continuation of a decades-long multi-phase collaboration with communities, broader stakeholders, and the City of Toronto to plan, design, and build connected, complete communities that help make Toronto more resilient, affordable, and prosperous.

CSF Feedback Summary 
2021/03/02

Feedback Summaries & Studies

Mail-in Feedback
2021/09/28

 

Event Summaries

2021/07/08   Virtual Townhall 1      

2021/07/13    Virtual Townhall 2     

2021/07/20   Arts & Culture Roundtables
2021/07/14    Indigenous Sharing Meeting 2

2021/07/21    African, Caribbean and Black Organizations Focus Group

2021/07/15    Business Focus Group

2021/07/16    Citywide Stakeholders Focus Group

2021/07/22    Residents and Tenants Focus Group

summaries

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