Neighbours,

We’re blown away! Thanks to the more than 135 of you who came out on Sunday to the Pizza Party for the Path event to keep the pressure on our elected representatives to build the Lappin-Antler path. We had so much fun!

There were speeches, pizza eating, and a lot of laughs. If you couldn’t make it, here’s a quick recap of what you missed — and a request for your help.

The status of the path: 

• City staff and elected officials met this summer, following our petition, to discuss ways to create the path and came up with two options.
• The first option is bad: To wait until the property on the east side of the tracks is redeveloped and include the path as part of the community benefits associated with the development. There is no plan underway to redevelop this site, so it could take 5, 10 or even 15 years to get this path.
• The second option is better: For the City to secure an easement or expropriate a small piece of the parking lot on the east side of the tracks for the path. The parking lot is owned by private developer Jushro Developments / Bilnia Investments — which owns all the buildings from Tower Storage to the parking lot at Ward and Lappin. 

What needs to happen next? 

The City needs to bring a concrete proposal to Jushro Developments for the path and needs to meet with officials at Metrolinx, the Province and the Federal government to discuss how to pay for the path.
The good news is that all three elected officials for our area have committed to work to make the path happen. MP Julie Dzerowicz attended the pizza party and committed to meet with City staff to discuss the path and to try to identify federal funds that could be used to help fund the path. Lourdes David, constituency assistant for MPP Marit Stiles also attended the pizza party said MPP Stiles will also meet to discuss the path in the coming weeks. 

We need your help: 

As residents, it’s our job to keep the pressure on to ensure these meetings happen. 
Please send a quick email to Cllr. Alejandra Bravo, letting her know you care about the path (Councillor_Bravo@toronto.ca) or call her at 416-392-7012.

Finally, thank you so much to our beautiful neighbours who came out to make the event a success. It was so nice to meet so many of you and talk about our shared love for this neighbourhood. Thanks again also, to Café Neon, Pizza Defina and Hale for donating pizza and cookies on Sunday. We have such great local businesses in this neighbourhood!

Onwards,
Connect Lappin Team