Regent Park TV Weekly News - (EP-57) City of Toronto approves final phases of Regent Park revitalization

By Fred Alvarado
Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

Welcome to RPTV Weekly News Show Episode 57 (July 25th to August 1st). In this weekly news show hosted by RPTV reporters Fred Alvarado, Gabriel Meissner, Kedar Ahme, Jabin Haque, and Victoria Nanetti, we present news that impacts on Toronto's Regent Park and the surrounding areas.

Episode 57 features segments on:

• City of Toronto approves final phases of Regent Park revitalization at the July 19th City Council Meeting (02:08 min);
• City Councillor for Ward-13 Chris Moise speaks to Regent park community about relevant issues facing area residents (03:38 min);
• SPD Community Building Working Group discusses Cultural and Equity Awareness Initiative proposal at the July 18th meeting (08:10 min);
• RPFF (Regent Park Film Festival) presents 10th annual Under the Stars (09:29 min);
• Regent Park community unveils Ratna Lane in loving memory of Ismathara Ratna (14:20 min);
• Moss Park and Regent Park communities celebrate parade and party for the Earth (17:04 min);
• Residents of Toronto's Church and Wellesley neighborhood protest against violence in their community (21:42 min);
• Community organizations serving refugees and housing advocates rally for “Shelter and Housing Now” in front of Minister Chrystia Freeland’s Office (23:53 min);
• City of Toronto says it has found temporary space for 212 refugee claimants and asylum seekers (28:27 min);
• Suspect identified in fatal daytime shooting near Shuter and Sherbourne Streets (31:01 min);
• Regent Park musician, poet Mustafa mourns brother's death after fatal shooting (32:08 min);
• Woman arrested, second suspect outstanding after vehicle theft in Regent Park (33:47 min);
• Final suspect arrested in March stabbing that left one-man dead in Moss Park (35:02 min);
• Events and Jobs in Regent Park community (35:34 min).

This week’s lead story:

City of Toronto approved the Rezoning application for phases 4 & 5 of the revitalization at the July 19th, City Council meeting. The approval sets the stage for Toronto Community Housing TCHC and its developer partner Tridel Builders Inc., to begin the final phases of Regent Park’s redevelopment, replace aging housing and address affordable housing demands by building a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use neighbourhood, TCHC said in a release.

Plan highlights include:

• 637 new affordable housing units
• 633 RGI (rent-geared-to-income) replacement units, completing TCHC’s commitment to replace all 2,083 RGI units at Regent Park
• 1,976 additional market units  
• 10,461 m² of commercial and non-residential space   
• 3,714 m² of community space  
• A new civic square anchored by 2,200 m² Toronto Public Library  

As part of the approval, 527 social housing units at 325 Gerrard Street East will be demolished this fall.

City Council has also authorized phased preliminary approval for the demolition of 189 social housing units at 274 Sackville, 355 Gerrard Street East, and 325 Gerrard Street East, and for the demolition of 338 units at 38 addresses on Sackville Street, Gerrard Street East, River Street, and Sumach Street.

The Phase 4 and 5 lands are bordered by Gerrard Street and Oak Street to the north and south, and River Street and Dreamers Way to the east and west. They are the last 16 acres on the 69-acre Regent Park site to be redeveloped.