Capital projects: completed – Woodsworth Housing Co-operative

Podium Deck Dec 18, 2025

December 18, 2025

Well, the project is winding down. Tomorrow will probably be the last day until the handrails arrive. These are expected between Christmas and New years. You will not be given notice of their arrival as the office is closed for a period of time and people are busy with holidays. You will just see workers coming to do the installation.

The fencing will remain up until the railings are installed.

We are sorry for the delay, but cannot control manufacturing in this case. The delay could be partly contributed to our late decision regarding the type of railing.

The stone splash pads in the Albert Franck garden will be reset when the soil removal people come to take down the level of soil in that garden.

The stones have been levelled. They are slightly raised in a few places but are expected to settle with use. If not, we will have that corrected in the future.

You are probably wondering about the pipes sticking out from the wall of the “tot lot” … they are the drainage pipes for the tot lot and are extended out to keep the water away from the wall of the lot. They were there before but shorter so we probably did not notice them. If they become problematic we can always have them cut down a bit. Maybe the tot lot sub committee can incorporate them into the overall design of the lot ( lol ). Reminds me of a space ship about to take off.

Anyway… that’s all folks.

Have a great holiday season
Mary
On behalf of the Board

Update on the podium deck Nov 15, 2025

From the Board of Directors, November 15, 2025

As you can see the project is in the finishing stages. They still expect to complete the work by the end of November. There will be two things happening next week.

Monday and Tuesday the workers will be here laying all the remaining interlocking bricks and fixing the ones that they damaged during construction.

While they are laying the interlocking in the breezeway, there will be some minor disruptions at the front door. We have been assured that the workers will help members navigate through this.

They will also be starting the walls to the ramp for the tot lot.

Thanks as always for your patience during this project.

Plans for the ‘Tot Lot’

The Board of Directors has had some queries regarding plans for rebuilding of the ‘Tot Lot’, as part of the larger Podium Deck project. We’d like to clarify the situation, and ask the membership for input.

Yes, the Tot Lot will be rebuilt, better than ever. It will be surrounded by a fence of black-iron construction – 1/2-inch rails spaced 4 inches apart, similar to the rails on the sunroom balconies in the midrise. The area will be made accessible, with a proper ramp and fob-activated gate.

However, a question remains regarding the fence. There are two main options as far as height:

1. A low fence. We are informed that by code, the two-foot drop around the Tot Lot requires a fence at least 42 inches high. This would maintain the look of the space, but has a drawback of not providing any real security for the area, which has become a convenient stop for outsiders wandering through our neighborhood.

2. A taller fence, about 6 feet high. This would allow the Tot Lot to be secured against trespassers. It would also improve security for the adjoining patio areas belonging to Wilton Street units. However, it would alter the appearance of the area, and possibly look less inviting to our members.

For the Board, security has been an over-riding concern. Issues have lately included people sleeping in the Tot Lot space, keeping people in the units above awake with foul language, shooting up and leaving needles around, and using the alley as a washroom. Our recent police safety audit recommended creating strong demarcation of our property, with signs and physical barriers, such as fences.

Even so, there are clearly positives and negatives to both the shorter and taller fence options. Given that this fence will become a prominent feature of our Woodsworth environment, we want members to have every opportunity to voice opinions, or suggestions.

We’ll have to make a final decision soon, so please email any comments to our main Board address (Board@WooodsworthCoop.ca) within the next few days.

Woodsworth Board of Directors

SEE: https://www.woodsworthcoop.ca/index.php/tot-lot-fence-decision/

Update on podium deck project, Oct 4 and Oct 18, 2025

October 18, 2025

We were able to secure the patio tiles sooner than we expected. Therefore work will continue on the patios over the next week.

This coming Monday, August will be laying the under layer of stones for the patios on the west side of the building. The east side is already done. Tiling should start Tuesday and continue to the end of the week.

If you have plants on the penthouse rooftop that need to be returned to your patios, please try to get your unit number on them this week. Painters tape or masking tape may work. Once the patio stones are laid we will be putting the plants back in their respective homes.

If you have patio furniture stored on the property we will be figuring out how to have the owners identify what needs to go in their yards. This will have to happen fairly quickly as they will be putting the dividing fencing in right after things are in place.

THE OFFICE SHOULD BE SENDING OUT A MEMO TO THOSE MEMBERS WITH PATIO UNITS ON WILTON WITH THIS INFORMATION.

Once again – thanks for your patience and cooperation.

The Board

October 4, 2025

The podium deck work is going smoothly. A couple of other issues have come up through doing this work that we are taking the opportunity to fix…. Repairs to the wall going down the back entrance to the underground, the cement and grate work by the landscape room and the very major leak in the maintenance room in the basement.

For the next two weeks, August will be focusing on the following:

Grinding, prep work and waterproofing in the breezeway area. Simultaneously work will progress on the patio stones once the patio stones arrive. Fencing on the perimeter of the patios will also commence. Having said that, please note that there will be more dust and smell.

For those of you on Wilton with the patios it would help things go smoothly if you could put your name and unit numbers on your plants on the rooftop over the next two weeks. That will make work go easier for Nas and Oreste as they reposition the plants back to their original homes.

Any questions please contact the office and speak to Daniel or Sal.

Thanks for your patience.

Mary, Board liaison

Podium deck construction: Re: Temporary Closure of Main Entrance Stairs & Access Route Changes

September 22, 2025

Re: Temporary Closure of Main Entrance Stairs & Access Route Changes

There have been changes in the schedule due to poor weather.

Please be advised that starting Wednesday, September 24, 2025, demolition work will resume on the main entrance stairs as part of the ongoing construction project.

This phase of the work is expected to continue through to December 2025.

As a result, the main entrance stairs will be closed and out of service until the project is completed.

Building Access During This Period:

• Members may still access the building via the main entrance, but only through the breezeway from the South side.

• The building stairwell exit will have limited access. A temporary set of stairs (a few steps) will be installed by the contractor to connect the stairwell to the main entrance landing.

• Please note: There will be no access to Wilton Street through the stairwell during this time.
All foot traffic should be directed to the south side breezeway entrance (off Albert Franck Place). In addition, the side stairwells will still be accessible.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation as we work to improve the facility.

Should you have any questions or require assistance, please feel free to contact the Co-op office.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Woodsworth Management