By Dimitrije Martinovic
Dimitrije is a staff member at FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

220 Oak Street is a Toronto Community Housing (TCH) high rise apartment building located on the edge of Regent Park. It stands at 27 stories and was completed in 1972. The residents are comprised mostly low income families, single dwellers, seniors, young adults, unemployed people, students, and people with Physical and Mental health issues. The location has been identified as “one of TCH's most trouble addresses” (Betsy Powell, Toronto Star, Jan. 15, 2019).

Like many renewal and revitalization initiatives, the 220 Oak Street Renewal is  the result of a longer consultational process that involved tenant groups, TCH staff, and City of Toronto representatives. This process which kicked off 2019 formed what became “A Master Plan,” designed to address the following key areas: Installation of New Windows, Added Insulation, improving the Look and Feel of your Balcony, Enhanced Safety, Security and Keeping Pigeons Away, Improved Air Quality, Control Your Own Heat, and Upgrades to Plumbing and Hot Water.

A fall 2021 meeting was scheduled to discuss the final design details, but the coronavirus pandemic disrupted that event, and it was not until September 2022, that this next stage was resumed.

On a quiet September evening Adam Pelissero, Toronto Community Housing (TCH) Project Manager, and Sophie Tremblay of LGA Architectural Partners greeted residents with a sidewalk presentation of what some of the ideas and options that were being considered, and asked for input from those who had gathered to see what would be happening to the building.

Sophie Tremblay invited people to review the large format architectural renderings that depicted the before and after images of the common areas that will be renovated, and she went into further detail in her presentation on just what these changes might involve. Residents were genuinely curious and interested in the proposed plans.

The changes centred on the common areas like the building entrance and community all purpose room which is being reclaimed from what was once the building swimming pool. Most welcomed the changes, and as 220 Oak Street resident, Wendy said: “I really like the new park area here, I love the doggie park in the back, and I love all the new colours, and I just can't wait to see that new sample apartment, to see what it's going to look like inside with all the new changes, that's going to be really fun.”

Wrapping up the presentation Adam Pelissero stared that for TCH the main goal is to have the approval from the residents as what will go into the final decisions regarding all the changes.