Build a Better Bloor Dufferin (BBBD) is a group of residents, local business owners, artists, service organizations, and members of the local school communities dedicated to the sustainable development of the Bloor Dufferin neighbourhood as it changes with the proposed new development at the southwest corner of Bloor and Dufferin.

We have come together over our shared concern and enthusiasm for a potential proposed development in 2014.  As people who live and work in and around the 7.3 acres of public land sold by the TDSB, we understand that this new development, and the creation of a new Community Hub and Daycare is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something that truly benefits and enriches our community and the city at large.  These are public lands, lands that the neighbourhood has already paid for; as such, we are committed to the best possible use of this last piece of public land at Bloor and Dufferin.  We are excited at this opportunity to build something new and believe we have valuable input to offer the city planning department.

Having organized and consulted extensively with our neighbours and the broader community, our aim is to participate in a constructive relationship with MPs, MPPs, City Councillors, city planners, and the developers to ensure that Bloor Dufferin witnesses the building of housing and community space that reflects the neighbourhood’s diverse and unique needs.  We wish to see a livable housing development and a vibrant Community Hub constructed at Bloor and Dufferin that we can all be proud of for generations to come.

Here is Building a Better Bloor Dufferin’s proposal for the school lands

BBBD has developed a holistic vision for this site that reflects the needs of the local community. Our demands for this site include, at a minimum:

Land for a 200-unit non-profit building of deeply affordable and supported housing, alongwith the integration of 10% affordable units into the proposed condominium buildings;

Additional finished space and funds for a Hub of 70 000 square feet as envisioned by amulti-stakeholder Community Hub Visioning Group who consulted extensively with diverselocal residents over a 10 month period;

A minimum of .5 acres of additional land to the current proposal for park space tocompensate for the loss of well used public tennis courts and basketball courts on the site;

Additional funds of at least $10 million for the rebuild of Bloor Collegiate to ensure the school will adequately serve its student population and remain a resource in the community. We support the concerns of the local school community that the enrolment projections for this site are low and that the current provincial funding formula would not provide sufficient funds to build a school of adequate size for this fast-growing population.

How to Get Involved:

Get on our mailing list by signing up here.

Join our Facebook group.

Follow us on Twitter.

Send us an email.

Come to the official town halls, community meetings and ask questions–make your voice heard.

Talk to the Stakeholders: the developers, politicians, Visioning Group et al.

Check our FAQS to stay up-to-date on the development process and its impact on the neighbourhood.

We are also always looking for volunteers to help maintain the website—please be sure to mention your interest in doing so when contacting us.