Regent Park Secures Commitment for Community Benefits Agreement for Phase 4/5
The Coalition was formed by the Regent Park Neighborhood Association (RPNA) comprised of TCHC and Condo residents, with support from local community organizations and the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN). The Coalition is working with community members, community groups and organizations to leverage equitable local economic development opportunities and community benefits from Regent Park’s last phases of revitalization.
Purpose
The Coalition’s purpose is to improve the revitalization Request for Proposal (RFP) process by demanding a seat at the table with TCHC to ensure community benefits requirements with hard targets and increased transparency for Phases 4 & 5 of revitalization in Regent Park. Through these efforts, the Coalition wants TCHC and the developer partner to set up key infrastructure that will continue to support the community for years to come and the means to hold them accountable through a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement.
Members include:
Pavithra Sulanthar, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Marlene DeGenova, Co-Chair Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Barb Brook, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Walied Khogali, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Ismail Afrah, Co-Chair Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Ibrahim Afrah, Resident leader
Miguel avila-velarde, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Gail Lynch, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Deany Peters, Regent Park Community Health Centre
Larry Chang, Resident Leader
Zaheed Alli, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Jonella Evangelista, Yonge Street Mission
Calboy Seseman, Resident leader
Brian Eng, Resident leader
Brian Gonsalves, Student
Stephanie Beattie, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association
Sureya Ibrahim, Toronto Centre for Learning & Development
Sunday Harrison, GreenThumbsTO
John Alves, Resident Leader
Denise Soueidan-O'Leary, Centre for Social Innovation
Regent Park Tenants Association
Kumsa Baker, Toronto Community Benefits Network
Gagan Nijjar, Toronto Community Benefits Network
Aqib Ahmed (student), Toronto Community Benefits Network
August 2020:
Toronto Community Housing - Regent Park Community Benefits Townhall
March 2020:
The Community Benefits Framework Agreement:
- Highlights key principles and values for the revitalization process
- Secures TCHC commitments to the use of the Community Priorities report themes in negotiations with selected developer partner
- Outlines roles and responsibilities of TCHC, City of Toronto and Coalition throughout Phase 4 + 5 revitalization
- Identifies how the selected developer will engage the community to co-develop a Community Benefits Plan that will be formalized into a legally binding agreement