| BEST WISHES THIS SEASON On behalf of the MRA, we hope this holiday season finds you in good health and enjoying the company of your loved ones. A special thank you to everyone who engaged with us this year – through memberships, events, donations, volunteering – we appreciate you! COMMUNITY UPDATES MRA Concerns with 2405-2411 Lakeshore. The Mimico Residents Association obtained participant status in the proceedings and has expressed serious concerns regarding the Ontario Land Tribunal settlement on this project. Our remarks focused on the negative precedent-setting implications of this development as the first of several proposals earmarked for the “heart of Mimico” in the Mimico by the Lake Secondary Plan. Our main concerns are summarized here: * A building height of 34 storeys adjacent to Amos Waites Park and playground is completely at odds with the secondary plan * The provision of additional public space and affordable housing is wholly inadequate given the substantial increase in density * The city’s failure to defend and maintain the integrity of the Mimico by the Lake secondary plan raises serious concerns regarding future developments in the community. Our full response can be found here. Please take the time to share your feedback and concerns with the city.  EHON Retail Uses in Neighbourhoods Report Deferred By City Council The MRA took part in a virtual town hall consultation on December 12th with dozens of community groups on proposed official plan and zoning changes to permit local services and retail businesses within neighbourhoods as part of the next phase of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) program. This is in addition to prior proposals related to townhouses and apartments. These proposals can be viewed here and here. The elements of the proposal are receiving significant pushback related to vague proposals concerning in-home businesses and smaller businesses on local streets. At City Council on December 18th, the report was deferred into the New Year with expectations of future consultation with neighbourhood groups. The MRA is monitoring developments closely and will seek a meeting with Councillor Morley in January. EHON is part of this City of Toronto initiative designed to help address “missing middle” housing forms in Toronto, ranging from duplexes to low-rise walk-up apartments. This program is one solution among a range of City initiatives to increase access to more housing choices and create a more equitable, affordable and sustainable city.  More information and details about opportunities for input can be found on the individual Priority Project study pages. Mimico shares the concerns and challenges stemming from development outpacing community supports and services, a lack of affordable housing for both renters and first-time home buyers, and transportation issues. We welcome your feedback regarding these proposals. New Events from Green Mimico This year, the MRA helped launch Green Mimico, which is a group focused on taking action to support increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, transportation options, community infrastructure, as well as the protection of natural systems. If you are looking for ways to participate in community-based approaches to address climate change, including community resilience, improving preparedness, prevention and mitigating risk, we encourage you to join! MRA BOARD OPENINGS Are you a Mimico resident looking to engage with your community and contribute to the betterment of Mimico? We are looking for engaged, committed, and enthusiastic volunteers to join the Mimico Residents Association Board of Directors in the following roles: * Social Media Coordinator – Managing our Facebook and Instagram accounts, including generating content, coordinating posts, responding to comments/messages, and owning the MRA’s overall social media strategy. * Communications Manager – Managing the MRA inbox, including responding to or delegating messages received from residents, the City, elected officials, and community partners. * Developments Lead – Reviewing and assessing developments impacting the Mimico community, collating community feedback, and representing the MRA in consultations with developers and City officials (some expertise/experience in real estate development processes needed). * Events Manager – Leading the planning and execution of events (in person or hybrid), including town halls, community meetings, park clean-up days, social events, and more. Applicants must live in Mimico and be able to commit approximately 7–8 hours per month to the Board for a 2-year term. If you are interested, please email us at info@mimicoresidents.ca, indicating which role you are interested in and sharing a short summary of your relevant interest, experience, and/or expertise. |