Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto will sign an agreement with Metrolinx to acquire a portion of 2050 Finch Avenue West for the proposed Jane Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts.
The site, which is approximately two acres, will be sold to the city for a “nominal consideration” of $2. Typical closing costs, including land transfer costs, are $200,000 and will be funded from the 2021-2030 council approved capital budget. The anticipated closing date for the transaction is Q4 2021.
“The Jane Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts will be a huge, positive addition for the northwest part of our city and for the residents who live in the area,” said Mayor John Tory.
“Thank you as well to Councillor Anthony Perruzza and the Jane-Finch community for their strong advocacy for this hub that will be a key part of the neighbourhood’s future along with the Finch West LRT. I’m confident that the programs and services that will be offered at this community centre will have a lasting impact.”
The Jane Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts Organizing Committee identified the site and property acquisition builds on the feasibility study completed in 2019 by the Jane Finch Community and Family Centre and the Community Action Planning Group.
The proposed site is located on the boundary of Black Creek and Glenfield-Jane Heights neighbourhoods. According to 2016 Census data, about one in three residents in these two neighbourhoods are low income, close to 80 per cent are racialized, almost 60 per cent are newcomers and over 80 per cent are families with children.
“This is great news for the Jane-Finch neighbourhood. This has been a long time coming for this community and we have some ways to go. Together as a community we are going to build a magnificent community hub and centre of the arts in the dynamic and vibrant Jane-Finch neighbourhood,” said councillor Anthony Perruzza.
The aim of the Jane-Finch Initiative is to develop an integrated plan for the Jane-Finch neighbourhood that advances social equity and economic inclusion for current and future residents, encourages the appropriate kinds of growth and development in the area, and guides investment in community improvements.
