These meeting notes are part of Documenters Canada, which is partly funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Learn more about our program here. The Green Line maintains full editorial independence to ensure journalistic integrity.
Residents at a Flemingdon Park public information meeting accepted the need for a new fire hall, but many say the site was chosen without meaningful consultation.
On June 22, CreateTO, the City of Toronto’s agency that deals with real estate, held a second meeting with Toronto Fire Services and Parks and Recreation staff to answer questions from community members. Thirty to 35 people were in attendance.
The proposed fire hall would be built at 165 Grenoble Dr., a City-owned site between Angela Hames Arena and St. John XXIII Catholic School.
Some Flemingdon Park residents had mixed opinions about the development, as it would remove two of the neighbourhood’s four existing tennis courts, which was announced at the initial June 16 community consultation.
Documenter Dorsa Farzi noticed six key issues in the planning, development and implementation of the new fire hall when talking with community members: traffic congestion, a lack of community consultation, the loss of recreational spaces, school safety, noise and response times to fire emergencies.
Loss of recreational spaces
CreateTO staff are looking into building new tennis courts in a different part of the neighbourhood, but haven’t identified the final location yet. In response, one community member asked why the fire hall can’t be built where the new courts are being considered.
The staff member replied that it would be easier to relocate the courts because they could be installed where a fire hall doesn’t fit.
“[The] City shouldn’t do things because it’s easier,” said the same community member, who added that the City should prioritize “the ease of the community — the people that live there.”
Traffic congestion
Sue Marges and her daughter Kayla raised concerns over school drop-offs and general traffic congestion. They said it’s already difficult to navigate parking and traffic in Flemingdon Park on a daily basis.
“How are you supposed to get a fire truck out when you can’t even get a car [out]?” said Kayla Marges. “And a car is a quarter of the size.”
Fire Services staff said they would deal with local congestion the same way they handle it across the city — they’d “try our best.”
Resident Besar Kapllani worried about noise, as well as emergency services getting stuck on the road, but said he felt reassured when staff mentioned a traffic-signal preemption system, which overrides street lights and signs to increase traffic flow. This system is controlled by a button inside the fire hall to ensure lights are green when the truck heads out onto the road.
Noise concerns
Kapllani was also worried about how a nearby fire hall could affect residents while they’re sleeping. Fire Services staff responded that sirens aren’t typically needed at night.
Most residents agreed that Flemingdon Park needs a fire hall, but some said they feel the decision was made without them.
Sue Marges said she only learned the courts would be removed when she received a notice by mail two weeks prior. Sue added that she wasn’t consulted, so it feels like the City doesn’t care about what residents say because the fire hall’s location was already finalized.
Community support and shortening response times
Compared to the June 16 community consultation, the general atmosphere was calmer and many residents said they felt their questions were answered.
“This was much better,” said one resident who also attended the June 16 meeting. The resident added that the presence of Fire Services staff made a positive difference.
Resident Muneeb Ahmed said he arrived at the June 22 meeting expecting pushback from City staff, but found them to be understanding. He noted that he came in angry and left happy.
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop said Ward 16 (Don Valley East), where the fire hall would be located, has a substandard response time and that there’s no real debate about the ward’s need for a new fire hall. Another Fire Services representative said the area couldn’t meet the six-minute average response time that’s achievable elsewhere in the city.
City staff are currently looking into the possibility of relocating the two tennis courts, as well as parking needs for the community, as the development would also require part of the parking lot.
The fire hall is expected to be completed by 2029, which Fire Services staff said is a quick turnaround. There is another town hall scheduled for July 19.
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