That the Economic and Development Services Committee recommend to City Council:
Whereas, the property owners of 450-452 Simcoe Street South submitted a Simcoe Street South Renaissance Community Improvement Plan (“S.S.S.C.I.P.) application to the City of Oshawa on August 31, 2022 with proposed work for the Façade and Accessibility Improvement Grant with respect to the property located at 450-452 Simcoe Street South (the “Subject Property”); and,
Whereas, the grant application was to assist in financing improvements to the Subject Property, including siding to be replaced by stucco (“Proposed Work”); and,
Whereas, the Community Improvement Plan (“C.I.P.”) Application Review Team approved a Façade and Accessibility Improvement Grant (the “Grant”) under the S.S.S.C.I.P. in the amount of $5,424 (the “Grant Amount”) and extended a formal Committal Letter to the property owners on October 12, 2022; and,
Whereas, the property owners signed and entered into an agreement with the City on December 1, 2022, which included a deadline for completion of the Proposed Work funded by the grant for October 12, 2023, among other Conditions of Approval outlined in Appendix 1 of the Committal Letter; and,
Whereas, following multiple unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the property owners, a letter of final notice was sent digitally via email and physically via mail on November 14, 2024, outlining that all remaining requirements, including the completion of the Proposed Work and all business and fire inspections, must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025, or the City would cancel the Grant it its entirety, including a report to the Economic and Development Services Committee recommending the grant be cancelled; and,
Whereas, Clause 11 of Appendix 1 – Conditions of Approval within the C.I.P. Committal Letter stipulates that “The Property Owner agrees that if the Proposed Work is not fully completed by the Completion Date, which determination shall be in the City’s sole and absolute discretion, the City reserves the right to cancel or reduce the Grant in its entirety, at no objection from the Property Owner”; and,
Whereas, the property owner has not yet completed the required work or submitted the necessary documentation to the City as of the final deadline;
Therefore be it resolved that based on Item ED-25-60 concerning the cancellation of the Simcoe Street South Renaissance Community Improvement Plan Grant at 450-452 Simcoe Street South:
- That the Façade and Accessibility Improvement Grant under the Simcoe Street South Renaissance Community Improvement Plan in the amount of $5,424 for the property located at 450-452 Simcoe Street South be cancelled due to failure to meet the Conditions of Approval outlined in the grant agreement; and,
- That the Director, Business and Economic Development Services, be delegated authority to execute cancellation of the grant and associated actions, resulting in the Grant Amount being released to the Community Improvement Plan Program Budget uncommitted balance.