June 18, 2024 Update
Etobicoke Parkland To Be Leased For Development
CREATE TO and the City of Toronto To Lease 3 Acres of Buttonwood Public Park For Development
A report is to be considered by the Executive Committee on June 18th which would provide a long-term land lease for 3 acres of Buttonwood Public Park to the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation (SCCC), a non-profit organization that intends to design, build, finance and operate a new not-for-profit community centre.
The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation Centre will be used for programming specific to the Somali Community along with other appropriate City and community uses, including recreation and the City report is seeking to establish, as a condition of the land lease, a shared use agreement to provide a minimum of 50% of available time in the facility to be open, affordable and accessible to the general public.
Having a Culture and Recreation Centre in Ward 2 accessible for everyone is welcome
BUT should not be built on valuable parkland which should be protected.
Let's find a suitable location AND protect parkland!
This process for this project was made public the week of June 10th BUT was started in 2022 by CREATE TO and the City of Toronto and deemed "confidential" with no information shared by Toronto City Councillors or the Mayor and with no community notification or consultation.
In April 2024, City of Toronto Council denied the motion to share information on the development of Buttonwood parkland (Royal York and Eglinton) with Ward 2 community.
City of Toronto Council also voted NO to the motion to seek community consultation.
A copy of the motions and vote record may be found here: https://bit.ly/3VFunis
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WHY did City of Toronto keep the application process starting in 2022 confidential?
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WHY was the community not informed and provided with a public consultation?
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WHY is the City of Toronto not following the Parkland Strategy Report to protect parkland?
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There are many options available - WHY IS PARKLAND BEING SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT?
Why MUST the development site be on parkland???
There are other options - Why are they not being considered???
UPDATE on Executive Committee Consideration June 18, 2024
Motions
1 - Motion to Defer Item moved by Councillor Gord Perks (Carried)
That consideration of the item be deferred until the July 16, 2024 meeting of the Executive Committee to allow for further consultation and consideration regarding the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation with the local community, Somali community and City staff.