Tenant Update
Good News! North Tower Tenants Begin Moving Home
Some apartments in the North Tower are ready for residents to return home, starting on December 14th. Most apartments ready to be occupied are located on floors 1 through 12. These apartments were cleaned, repaired and renovated if necessary. Residents who can move home will receive a phone call in the next few days. North Tower residents with apartments on floors 14 and higher will not return until the New Year. Most of these residents have been notified by phone.
North Tower residents with questions about when they can move home can visit the Wellesley Information Centre (495 Sherbourne Street) or call the Tenant Hotline at 416-981-5520.
Support Continues for Residents Still Not Able to Return Home
In addition to a clothing allowance, food vouchers, TTC tokens, a donation centre, donation cheques and the daily allowance, 200 Wellesley tenants are eligible to participate in a voluntary compensation plan to assist with losses and personal hardship. Tenants who participate in the compensation plan are expected to receive payment within five business days of claims being settled. Full details of the plan are available at http://www.torontohousing.ca/.
Thank You to Residents
It has been a long and difficult road for 200 Wellesley tenants. Thank you for your patience. Keeping you informed is very important. We'll continue to provide you with regular Tenant Updates. There's also the Tenant Hotline, our website and the Help Desk at the Wellesley Community Centre. We're working round the clock to get you home safely. It's our number one priority.
Winterfest Celebration for Kids at 200 Wellesley
Toronto Community Housing is hosting a Winterfest celebration on Saturday, December 18th from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street). Children up to the age of 13 are invited to attend. The program includes storytelling, a magician and a gift for each child. Register at the security desk at 200 Wellesley or the Wellesley Community Centre Information Desk.
In Brief:
- Construction Update - North Tower 24th Floor: Residents in the South Tower mayexperience morenoise and vibration than usual on occasion this weekas workers undertake some complex construction work.Construction noisewill be confined to work hours (8 am to 7 pm).
- New Items at the Donation Centre: The donation centre has received new items that include: TVs, clock radios, new jackets, pillows, sheet sets, hats, gloves and men's pyjamas. The donation centre at 257 Jarvis St. is open on Wednesday from 10 am to 8 pm, Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and will only serve North Tower and Floor 24 South tenants who have not been able to return home or access their belongings. There is no bus service to the donation centre, if you need transportation from the Wellesley Community Centre, please see City of Toronto staff.
- Donation Cheques: Cheques can be picked up at the Wellesley Information Centre (495 Sherbourne Street) from Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm and on Thursdays until 8 pm.
- North Tower Meetings: Meetings were held with most North Tower tenants to learn about retrieving their belongings and Toronto Community Housing's compensation plan for tenants affected by the fire. We will follow up directly with tenants who were unable to attend a meeting. South Tower tenants will receive information about South Tower meetings soon.
Wellesley Information Centre Hours:
The Toronto Community Housing information centre at the Wellesley Community Centre is open:
- Monday to Wednesday: 11 am to 6 pm
- Thursday: 11 am to 8 pm
- Friday: 11 am to 6 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Tokens or food vouchers are available to tenants who have not returned home, please see City of Toronto staff:
- Monday to Wednesday: 10 am to 6 pm
- Thursday: 10 am to 8 pm
- Friday: 10 am to 6 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
For information after hours, please call the tenant hotline at 416-981-5520.
December Rent
Tenants who have not been home or connected to their belongings do not have to pay rent for December.
Tenants who have returned home are required to pay rent on December 1st. Rent is payable to Toronto Community Housing. Please put your cheque or money order in the lock box in the lobby of 200 Wellesley.
Item Retrieval
The North tower and 24th floor of the South tower are still closed to tenants. We have started working with some tenants to retrieve items stored on levels B1 and B2. All tenants will have the opportunity to recover undamaged belongings.
Security at 200 Wellesley
Toronto Community Housing's Community Safety Unit continues to provide 24-hour security response to the community. A Toronto Community Housing Special Constable is on duty daily from 4 pm to 2 am daily. If you have security concerns, please call Community Safety Dispatch at 416-921-2323. In an emergency, call 911.
Canada Post
Mail pick up for tenants who have not returned to the building is available at the Wellesley Community Centre, Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 1 pm. A change of address form can be completed at the community centre, free of charge. Changing your address back is also free and takes effect the day after you submit your form.
Utilities
If you are being billed for utilities and you haven't returned home yet, please contact your service provider directly. You can reach Bell at (416) 310-BELL (2355), Rogers at 1-888-ROGERS1 (764-3771) and Telus at 1-866-558-2273.
South Tower Maintenance
Daily Air Quality Tests
Air quality in the South Tower is being monitored daily by Safetech Environmental Ltd. Each day, visual inspections of the containment and engineering controls are done to ensure that the construction in the North Tower does not affect the air in the South Tower. Safetech's work includes sampling for mould spores every day. Daily test results from the sampling in the South Tower show that the air quality is safe.
Fire Alarm Testing
The fire alarm testing is now complete. Please continue to follow the Fire Watch procedures.
Pest Control
Post-fire pest control work in the South Tower is complete, regular pest control work continues. If you have questions about the work that was completed or need assistance with pest control please call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500.
Air Filters
Due to construction in the North tower, we will be operating HEPA-filtered air scrubbers in hallways of the South tower to ensure that the air quality stays at safe levels. Please do not unplug these machines. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Doors and locks
New doors have been installed where necessary. Please do not install your own door locks. Doing so violates your lease and compromises the fire rating on the door.
Repairs and Maintenance
Your new maintenance team is on site can be found working in the building from 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. If you need to request a repair, or have concerns regarding maintenance or pests please call the 24-hour Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500.
Parking
Levels B1 and B2 are being used to store items during the ongoing repairs in the North tower. There is no access to the parking levels except for a few designated disabled spots, those who need parking can access the B2 level of 325 Bleecker Street. Please ensure that you have a Toronto Community Housing barcode before parking at 325 Bleecker. If you need a barcode, please go to 155 Sherbourne Street to get one (subject to availability), and take your proof of ownership with you.
Changes to the Visitor policy
All visitors are welcome and must sign in and out with security due to the Fire Watch. Security will call residents when visitors arrive after 9 pm, before allowing them to enter the building. If you have visitors, you are responsible for them; for everyone's safety visitors are not allowed to roam around the building while the Fire Watch is in place.
Elevators
When you need an elevator, please ask the security guard on your floor, he/she will radio a request and the first available elevator will come to your floor. Tenants receive priority over construction and maintenance workers. We know there may be delays during peak hours, and we thank you for your patience.