Affordable housing remains a critical issue in the city, with deteriorating living conditions adding to the plight of tenants. Residents at an Etobicoke complex are grappling with significant problems such as mould and inadequate accessibility. On Saturday, members of the ACORN organization, along with tenants, guided Mayor Olivia Chow and city councillor Vincent Crisanti through the Bergamot Avenue buildings, emphasizing the persistent, unresolved requests for repairs.
Mayor Chow expressed her concerns regarding the inspections of the buildings. “I’ve noticed that some of these buildings have been inspected a few times, and the score that is given to them is unreasonably high,” she stated. “It does not look like a 90 percent building for me.” This remark highlights the inconsistency between official ratings and the actual living conditions reported by residents.
Among the pressing issues noted by residents at 11 Bergamot are mouldy windows, while those at 9 Bergamot are struggling with a lack of entrance ramps, severely limiting accessibility. Councillor Crisanti echoed these sentiments, labeling the absence of ramps and accessibility features as “unacceptable.”
Greg, a resident of 21 Bergamot, shared his personal difficulties, revealing that flooding from the laundry area has caused damage to his floors. With no other option available, he resorted to removing the damaged flooring and painting his concrete floor black to cover up the untreated issues.
The residents have expressed frustration with the maintenance request process, claiming that despite their efforts to submit work orders, they are often instructed by building staff to use an app that is notoriously unreliable. This has created a culture of fear among some residents, who worry about potential retaliation from building owners if they voice their complaints.
Monique Gordon, the Etobicoke ACORN chair and a tenant at 11 Bergamot, recounted a troubling experience of her own. After attending a town hall meeting in March to address concerns about the building, she received an eviction notice, which she suspects was retaliation for her activism. “You can come after me, because when you poke me, I’ll poke you right back, because I have the documentation,” Gordon asserted, emphasizing her intent to stand firm against such intimidation.
In response to these issues, Mayor Chow announced that the city has hired more bylaw enforcement officers to follow up on similar complaints. However, residents are pushing for more stringent actions, including harsher penalties for building owners who consistently neglect their duties to maintain safe living conditions. “I think what we should do as the City of Toronto is if they don’t fix the building, the City of Toronto will fix it and put it on their property tax. That’s the best way to deal with it,” Chow suggested, advocating for a proactive solution to the ongoing problem.
CityNews attempted to reach out to Pindale Properties, the owner of the buildings in question, regarding the tenants' concerns and the unresolved issues but has yet to receive a response. This ongoing situation underscores the complexities and challenges faced by tenants in securing safe and affordable housing in the city.
