| The Mall is an important space for people to gather and connect |
- The Jane Finch Mall intersection has always been considered to be important. There is desire for the intersection to be a major point for all kinds of activity where everyone can come together
- Taking up space on private property is different, more of an act of resistance (consider what this means in relation to POPS)
- Continue to maintain the gathering functions of the Mall today (e.g. people hanging around having coffee)
- Need more common/congregational areas (parkettes, cafes with different cultural backgrounds)
- Not a lot of physical organizing spaces that are not overpoliced, safe, and visible
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| Community spaces and services are important |
- Community-owned spaces will allow people to be prouder of the community and their involvement
- Cost of affording these spaces currently are a significant barrier
- Designate some area strictly for and about community
- Quality of services is critical, especially with increased demand from new developments
- Youth and students need a community space they can access, places where kids can drop in and come together, just to hang out, without organized activity
- Free spaces where everyone is welcome, not monitored, especially young Black males
- Want recreational spaces and all-weather environments
- Desire for outdoor programmed spaces, with resident-led events (mini golf, games nights, bingo)
- Wanted shared spaces where folks can host events, participate in programs etc.
- Space for community gardening
- Programs for seniors
- Need a food bank or donation centre
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| Ensure that change brings physical improvements and greening to the community |
- Want this to be a Downtown in the northern part of the City - a central hub, optimize and maximize development (with focus on retail, commercial, housing, community services)
- Want these uses to cater to the needs of the community
- Need vital development on all 4 corners
- More flowers and greening, seasonal planting
- Active and passive spaces
- Development should be comprehensive and cohesive
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| Jobs and economic opportunities are important for the community to grow and thrive |
- Support local start-ups through incubator space, pop-ups, small stalls, / food trucks, markets etc.
- Spaces specifically for residents to start their own businesses - find ways to get local people into space (e.g. people doing nails out of their homes, is there a space for them?)
- Local hiring is important, always an objective but doesn't always play out
- Want community benefits beyond construction (e.g. tech industry)
- Need training programs to help people build their businesses
- Climate change as an industry for training and business opportunities
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| Community members would like to see their history, heritage, culture, and diversity incorporated, reflected and honoured |
- Food as a tool to promote diversity and culture of the community
- Interested in a multicultural hub, immigration centre, community centre
- Create opportunities for local artists in the process and in the redevelopment
- Involve them in the décor/design of spaces, host art events or space for a gallery with rotating events showcasing local artist
- Want the culture to feel localized and capture the community's identity
- Can be many things - design, colour, imagery
- Not imported, there's true ownership of the culture
- Ensure whatever is done is welcoming
- Want existing residents to feel they have a right to be there
- Fences, lighting, planters, artwork all impact this feeling
- Concerned that culture will be lost if lower-income people are pushed out
- Should have agreement to set aside buildings for low income residents to maintain diversity and strong history
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| People were hopeful about the future of the Site but also had concerns (gentrification, affordability, safety, construction/traffic, Mall as an ally) |
- Need to make community fully aware that change is upon us
- Displacement - concerned that housing will cater to wealthier people (e.g. townhomes)
- Psychology of belonging which is impacted through unaffordability and displacement
- Accountability / Transparency related to mistrust
- Continue to have mistrust toward the development community
- Concerned that promises made today under one leadership group won't be maintained by another
- Concerns about this being a corporate-led initiative, with lack of accountability and transparency around what can and cannot be included in the plan
- Concerns that community ideas won't truly be heard / followed through with, want to know more about the services and amenities that will be planned
- Phasing - tearing down and building back up can shut people out, how can we go about this without interfering with access to the Mall?
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| People want to continue to have a voice and be engaged about the future of the Mall site |
- There is a belief that residents and community leaders can change the community together
- Need to overcome territorial vibes (can't do something in one location because it's being done somewhere else)
- Ensure people are kept in the loop the entire time (from planning to redevelopment and completion)
- Ensure that all sectors and demographics have a say in the process
- Future redevelopments should continue to engage with community partners to host events / programming
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