Reconnecting Lawrence Heights to community

Reconnecting Lawrence Heights to community. Toronto Community Housing Corporation project manager Lorne Cappe leads a walking tour of the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood following a media conference Wednesday, June 4 announcing revitalization plans for the area. Mirror photo/WILLIAM MEIJER

Lawrence Heights is being revitalized.

The North York community, made up of 1,208 Toronto Community Housing rental units and 3,500 residents, will be overhauled due to poor housing repair, safety concerns and isolation from surrounding neighbourhoods.

David Mitchell, chair of Toronto Community Housing, told reporters at the official launch of the revitalization project Wednesday, June 4 the consulting team - made up of experts and leaders in the fields of architecture, planning, urban design, landscape architecture, development and business planning, engineering and community engagement - will work with residents to come up with a new Lawrence Heights design.

Ward 15 Councillor Howard Moscoe (Eglinton-Lawrence), who represents the area, said the goal is to re-create and re-build the community.

"The aim is to reconnect Lawrence Heights with the rest of the community," he told reporters at the press conference at a TCH-owned property on Old Meadow Lane.

Lawrence Heights is located north of Lawrence Avenue West and south of Ranee Avenue on both the east and west sides of Allen Road.

Moscoe noted Allen Road divides the community and something needs to be done to address that issue, such as building over the major artery.

"We are building from the inside out and we are doing it with the community," he said. "This is the biggest project the city has ever undertaken. We've been waiting 30 years for this."

The goal of the revitalization plan is to create a livable and sustainable community with a mix of housing, retail, community services and facilities, parks and employment opportunities, said Derek Ballantyne, CEO of Toronto Community Housing.

"We've been talking to tenants for about two years in terms of creating a new community," he said. "The City of Toronto is a key partner in making change happen. This community has had its share of challenges and any tenant can tell you things have gotten better but do need repair."

The planning process is expected to take eight to 10 months, with a draft plan aimed for December following community consultation, Ballantyne said, adding construction is slated to begin in the fall of 2010 pending city approval.

The cost of revitalizing Lawrence Heights won't be known until planning is finished, he said.

Ballantyne noted that residents will likely be temporarily housed elsewhere during construction and won't lose Toronto Community Housing spots.

Lawrence Heights was built in the 1950s by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants with low and moderate incomes, representing about six per cent of Toronto's population.