Lawrence-Allen Revitalization PlanTransforming Urban Landscapes: Community Perspoectives

York University – March 1, 2011

Today

• The Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Study

• Community Engagement in Lawrence-Allen

• Revitalization Plan and City Building

Lawrence-Allen Study Area

Lawrence-Allen in Toronto

Social Housing Revitalization in Toronto

• Physical replacement of social housing

• Re-design and intensify neighbourhoods

• Mixed income and mixed use

• Leverage real estate assets to fund construction of

replacement social housing

• Public investment in parks, community facilities, and

transportation, and infrastructure

• New opportunities for all residents (employment, retail, access

to services)

Context

Local Planning Objectives

• Streets and blocks

• Opportunities for new housing,

retail, and other land uses

• Parks

• Community facilities

• Schools

• Infrastructure

• Transportation and Transit

• Connections between

neighbourhoods

• Re-imagining of the Allen

Road Corridor

• Sustainability and Energy

Efficiency

Comprehensive Planning Framework

Social housing revitalization creates other planning opportunities

Planning Process

Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Plan

Planning Process

Community Engagement

• 27 City-sponsored consultation events

• Variety of formats: Meetings, Open Houses, Workshops, Tours

• Total attendance of more than 2500

• 12,000 invitations for community-wide meetings

• 800 individuals on mailing list

• Community engagement by TCHC and TDSB

Planning Process

Community Engagement Process

Community Meetings

2008:

July 3rd: Project Overview and Principles

July 16th: Visioning Workshop

October 16th: Community Forum/ Open House

2009:

March 2nd Community Forum/Open House

June 10th and 11th – Option Plans

June – 2 Community Workshops

2010:

February 25th – Emerging Preferred Plan

March 2010 – 5 Community Workshops

• Other Activities

– Tours – Energy/ Mixed

Community

– Partner Events with TCHC

– TDSB – Area Review Committee Process

– Web Site, Phone, Mail and eMail

• Stakeholder Involvement:

– RioCan

– Yorkdale

– Lawrence Heights Inter-agency

– Villa Colombo

– Baycrest

Challenges of Community Engagement

Scope and Scale

Study Area• 340 hectares

• 5 neighbourhoods

• 17,000 residents

• 12,000 households

Scope of

Issues• Growth and Intensification

• Social housing replacement

• Housing opportunities

• Streets and Blocks

• Non-residential uses

• Mixed community

• Transportation

• Automobile traffic

• Transit access

• Allen Road

• Connections between neighbourhoods

• Sustainability and

Energy efficiency

• Mixed community

• Parks

• Trees

• Community facilities

and social infrastructure

• Schools

• Servicing

infrastructure

Challenges of Community Engagement

Diversity

• Cultural

• Economic

• Neighbourhood

• Age Structure

• Religious

Challenges of Community Engagement

Community Capacity

• Planning and

Development

• Municipal Government and

Decision-Making

• Community Advocacy

and Organizing

• Civic Participation

Focus Area Today and 20 Year Vision

Lawrence-Allen Today Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Plan

Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Plan

Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Plan

Buildings and Development

Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Plan

Community Engagement – Spring 2011• Building and Neighbourhood Design – March 3, 2011

• Transportation – April 2011

• Parks, Public Realm, and Community Facilities – May 2011

City Council – Fall 2011• Secondary Plan• Community Services and Facilities Strategy• Urban Design Guidelines• Transportation Master Plan

• Infrastructure Master Plan• Parks and Public Realm Master Plan• Community Energy Plan• Social Development Plan• Financial Strategy