Tenant Update
North Tower Residents Start Moving Home
We are pleased to report that more than 69 households have moved back to the North Tower with another 45 households expected before Christmas. Most of these residents live on floors 1 through 12. To book a move-in appointment (floors 1-12 only) or to get more information about when you can move home, visit the Wellesley Information Centre (495 Sherbourne Street) or call the Tenant Hotline at 416-981-5520.
Frequently Asked Questions about Coming Home
Do I have to sign-up for the Toronto Community Housing Compensation Plan before I'm allowed to move back home?
No. There is no obligation to sign up for the Toronto Community Housing Compensation Plan. This is your decision, based on independent legal advice provided through legal aid (at no cost to you), or through your legal counsel. All tenants are welcome to return home once their apartment is ready.
If I sign up for the class action lawsuit, can I still move home when my apartment is ready?
Yes. All tenants are welcome to return home once their apartment is ready.
When should I check out of my hotel, once my apartment is ready for my return?
Tenants staying at a hotel must check out of the hotel the day after your move in date. You are free to stay in your hotel one night after your move in date for your convenience. Once you check out, you will no longer receive tokens or vouchers from the City of Toronto.
How do I get a maintenance or repair issue addressed in my apartment?
To report a maintenance or repair issue call 416-981-5500. This includes any after hours emergency repairs such as water leaks, broken doors, heating etc. Remember to ask for an EasyTrac number. This will give you the information necessary for follow up calls on your request for maintenance or repairs.
Tenants Staying with Friends / Family:
Daily Allowance Cheques Ready for Pick up Wednesday, December 22
Tenants staying with friends or family while they wait to move back home receive a daily allowance of $10 per day. Cheques will be available for pick-up on Wednesday, December 22. This daily allowance covers the period November 16 to December 15, 2010.
Where to Get Deals on Furniture, Appliances and More
The Brick
Receive 15% off regular retail prices for furniture and mattresses, and free delivery on purchases made before March 31, 2011. Contact: Mark Lai, Account Manager at The Brick Warehouse at 905-850-5337 ext. 2358, 416-333-7366 or mlai@thebrick.com. View the catalogue at http://www.thebrick.com/.
Parliament Furniture
No HST and free delivery on all purchases. Contact: 465 Parliament Street (south of Carlton), 416-964-0884 or http://www.parliamentfurniture.com/.
Sears
Receive employee pricing off almost everything in the store: 10% off regular, sale and clearance items and an extra 20% off if you use your Sears card. Contact: Sears at Yonge and Dundas. You must present your Sears voucher to receive this deal - you will get your voucher when you meet with your claims adjuster.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Wellesley Information Centre
- December 24 - December 28: CLOSED
- Wednesday, December 29: 11 am to 6 pm
- Thursday, December 30: 11 am to 8 pm
- Friday, December 31: CLOSED
Tokens or food vouchers are available to tenants who have not returned home, please see City of Toronto staff. For information after hours, please call the tenant hotline at 416-981-5520.
New Location for Mail Pick Up
Residents of 200 Wellesley who have not returned home can get their mail at 50 Charles Street. Your NEW mail will be available for pick up after 2:00 pm. The Canada Post Corporate retail office is open from 9 am - 6 pm, Monday to Friday.
- If you have submitted a change of address, your mail is being redirected. You can change your address at any time.
- The retail staff cannot check and let you know by phone whether you have received mail
- Residents of 200 Wellesley will have to provide proper identification (yellow registration card, Toronto Community Housing letter or photo ID) to pick up their mail
24th Floor Construction
There are still a number of post-fire repairs to be done on the 24th and 25the floors of the North Tower. This work involves the use of a platform, a hoist and a bucket. The hoist and bucket will be used to remove debris from those floors. Beginning December 15th and until the end of this construction, mesh screens will be installed on the balconies of apartments with numbers ending in 24 and 26, on floors 1 through 26. You will still be able to use your balconies during construction. The protective screen is to keep construction debris from falling onto your balcony, and to ensure your safety throughout the project.
The construction on these floors is expected to last until the end of January 2011. There will be more noise than normal starting Friday December 17 through to December 24. Construction noise will be confined to work hours (8 am to 7 pm). We apologize for the inconvenience. We are working as quickly as we can to get the rest of your neighbours home.
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/.
In Brief:
- New Hours at the Donation Centre: The donation centre at 257 Jarvis St. is open on Tuesday December 21 from 10am - 6pm and Wednesday December 22 from 10 am to 4 pm. The donation centre 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.
- Annual Reviews: Toronto Community Housing has sent our Annual Review information to tenants of 200 Wellesley, this is part if the process of us taking over as the property managers of your building. You will not have to submit your paperwork until you return home to 200 Wellesley.
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.
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.