10/1/2013 8:52:36 PM

October 1, 2013
The City of Toronto is currently conducting a planning study of Eglinton Avenue from Jane Street to just beyond Kennedy subway station, called the Eglinton Connects Planning Study. The planning study will present recommendations for the future of Eglinton Avenue at three open houses planned for next week. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Planning concepts and options for the future of Eglinton Avenue were developed through research and analysis conducted by the City Planning division and a team of consultants beginning in January 2012. These concepts and options were evaluated and advanced with the assistance of the public through a series of workshops.

The most recent workshops took place in May and June of this year. The resulting recommendations to be presented at the upcoming open houses include new streetscapes and new types and sizes of buildings, as well as demonstration plans for the six focus areas that were discussed in the earlier rounds of consultation.

Attendees can expect to view recommendations on each of the following three themes:
• Building Eglinton: Looking at opportunities for mid-rise and taller buildings along Eglinton Avenue, and promoting true mixed-use development and employment growth along the line (building design criteria, etc.)
• Travelling Eglinton: Achieving a mobility mix that accommodates all users - pedestrians, motorists, cyclists, transit users, deliveries and servicing, as well as parking - safely and comfortably (safe cycling, efficient movement of vehicles, vibrant pedestrian space, etc.)
• Greening Eglinton: Identifying opportunities for street greening, and getting more open space with new development, and strengthening connections to Toronto's ravines (street trees, new park space, etc.)

A key feature of the open houses will be a 40-metre map of the Eglinton corridor.

The open houses will run between 6:30 and 9 p.m. A comprehensive presentation of the recommendations will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. at each open house. The schedule follows.

West open house: Monday, October 7
George Harvey Collegiate Institute, 1700 Keele St. (just south of Eglinton)

Central open house: Tuesday, October 8
Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, 730 Eglinton Ave. W. (Chaplin and Eglinton)

East open house: Wednesday, October 9
Jean Vanier Secondary School, 959 Midland Ave. (just north of Eglinton)

The objectives of the Eglinton Connects Planning Study are to intensify, beautify and improve mobility along Eglinton Avenue. These objectives will help to realize the full potential of opportunities presented by the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/eglinton.