By Tyrone MacLean-Wilson
Tyrone is a staff with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

Toronto Community Housing (TCHC), the lead developer of Regent Park, and Tridel, development partner for phases 4 & 5 of Regent Park, hosted a virtual meeting with the Reset Team/Consultant Team to discuss the key principles of the rezoning proposal. The meeting included new updates to the proposal and details of the plans that are moving forward in the new year (2023).

Tridel’s commitment includes a social and economic development program valued at $26.8 million that will benefit the tenants and residents of Regent Park. The community plays a direct role in providing input to the the community on their priorities for the new developments of Regent Park. Phases 4 and 5 of the revitalization of Regent Park are the final phases of Regent's revitalization plan and cover Regent Park's full geographical width from Parliament Street to River Street and along Regent Park's northern street of Gerard.

The meeting also included recently newly-elected Ward 13 city councillor Chris Morris, who reflected on community input, particularly resident requests for more prayer spaces, the need for youth training and employment programs and the need for larger units with 4 and 5 bedrooms. Overall, the requests were for more rental and mixed units.

The rezoning proposal included requests to build higher to maximize the space of the proposed phases 4 and 5 developments which include the building of a new public library.

The current process of the revitalization phases 4 and 5 are currently in the “applications re-submission” stages which will be followed by review from city staff. The re-zoning timeline can be reviewed at the online resource: https://rp4and5.ca