After years of opposition, many Annex residents relished the defeat of a proposed development on 64 Prince Arthur Ave. The proposal was brought to the City of Toronto twice – the first time as a 29-storey condominium building with luxury rentals, the second time as a 19-storey building. In both instances, the design was one of twisting steel and glass that would have stood in stark contrast to the low-rise brick and vine neighbourhood. At the end of January, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) wholly dismissed the developers’ appeal.
CHATTER: “One-legged stool” build plan quashed on Prince Arthur (Mar. 2021)
March 26th, 2021 · Comments Off on CHATTER: “One-legged stool” build plan quashed on Prince Arthur (Mar. 2021)
NEWS: Dupont decision sets precedent (March 2018)
March 22nd, 2018 · Comments Off on NEWS: Dupont decision sets precedent (March 2018)
Ontario Municipal Board rules in favour of community
The rail Dupont rail corridor from the back of 328 Dupont St. The Ontario Municipal Board ruling on a proposed development for the site confirmed the city’s guidelines that new buildings must be built at least 20 metres from a rail line. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
CHATTER: Advocacy group launches rail safety toolkit (March 2018)
March 22nd, 2018 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Advocacy group launches rail safety toolkit (March 2018)
Safe Rail Communities, a local advocacy group, has drafted its Rail Emergency Preparedness Toolkit as part of its Rail Safety Improvement Program. Funded by Transport Canada, the toolkit provides residents living near rail tracks with emergency contacts in case of a train derailment.
NEWS: Cressy to stand for re-election (Jan. 2018)
January 29th, 2018 · Comments Off on NEWS: Cressy to stand for re-election (Jan. 2018)
Ward boundaries redrawn
By Geremy Bordonaro
Joe Cressy has confirmed that he will be standing for re-election at the next municipal election. He’s just not sure which ward he’ll be running in, now that the Ontario Municipal Board has approved Toronto City Council’s decision to increase the number of wards from 44 to 47.
NEWS: Height-ened fears (Dec. 2017)
December 15th, 2017 · 2 Comments
Residents still concerned about BSUC proposal
COURTESY KPMB ARCHITECTS An artist’s rendering of the proposed redevelopment of Bloor Street United Church. The heritage aspects of the church will be restored, and a 38-storey mixed-use tower added to the church grounds.
By Geremy Bordonaro
CHATTER (JUNE 2017): The latest from the OMB
June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on CHATTER (JUNE 2017): The latest from the OMB
A mediated settlement has been reached regarding the future of 316 Bloor St. W. Representatives from the City of Toronto, the Annex and Harbord Village residents’ associations, and State Building Group (which owns the building) met for two days to address concerns about the developer’s original proposal to raise a 42-storey building on the site.
NEWS (FEBRUARY 2017): New chapter for student residence?
March 5th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (FEBRUARY 2017): New chapter for student residence?
Site recommended for heritage list—impact on development unclear
PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: Heritage Preservation Services has recommended that 698 Spadina Ave., home to Ten Editions Bookstore, be protected.
By Annemarie Brissenden
FORUM (DECEMBER 2016): How our politicians celebrate the holidays
December 20th, 2016 · Comments Off on FORUM (DECEMBER 2016): How our politicians celebrate the holidays
Favourites include carol singing, winter solstice
We asked our local representatives how they spend the holidays. Councillors Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) and Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), Toronto District School Board Trustee Ausma Malik (Ward 10, Trinity-Spadina), and our MPP Han Dong (Trinity-Spadina) shared their favourite traditions, their proudest achievement of the year, and what they are looking forward to working on in 2017. Also, the book they’re looking forward to reading in 2017! Answers compiled by Noelle Defour.
NEWS (AUGUST 2016): Tall tower before OMB, as city battles back with block study
August 26th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS (AUGUST 2016): Tall tower before OMB, as city battles back with block study
PHOTO BY BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS FILE PHOTO: City of Toronto senior planner Barry Brooks said that one aim of the Bloor Corridor/Annex Block Study is to “protect the significant view of the historical building (above) at 1 Spadina Cres. We are trying not to distract from the spire of that building.”
NEWS: Central Tech field renewal back on track
May 13th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS: Central Tech field renewal back on track
By Brian Burchell
Intensive construction work has resumed on the athletic field at Central Technical School and it appears that the new artificial turf, track, and seasonal dome will be completed on schedule.
GREENINGS (April 2016): Provide help or stand aside
April 7th, 2016 · Comments Off on GREENINGS (April 2016): Provide help or stand aside
Relentless OMB stifles creative green projects
“I’ve come to the conclusion that the overriding factor in municipalities getting nice things is sheer willpower.”
By Terri Chu
Every time someone mentions a great municipal infrastructure project on the other side of the pond (usually in a really progressive nation like Germany or Sweden), I mutter some lame excuse as to the reason why Canadians can’t have equally nice things.
DEVELOPINGS: Annual review reflects tension between community activism and OMB
March 9th, 2016 · Comments Off on DEVELOPINGS: Annual review reflects tension between community activism and OMB
Our third survey of development projects in our coverage area highlights projects that interest us, trends that appall us, and elements that enthrall us. We favour innovative projects that connect with a neighbourhood’s built form, reflect community consultation, and meet the objectives of the City of Toronto’s Official Plan. We take a dim view of developers that do an end run around the process and appeal directly to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), which demonstrates little respect for the city’s urban planning guidelines. And, we — once again — make an argument for razing the OMB. Please click on the image below to enlarge.
EDITORIAL: Ship to wreck
February 2nd, 2016 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Ship to wreck
Razor Management Inc., which operates the existing athletic facility at Monarch Park Collegiate Institute and is installing a similar field at Central Technical School, announced this month that it had received an unexpected retroactive municipal tax bill of $505,000 relating to the Monarch Park facility. It has also been informed that it will face similar levies at Central Tech once that field is up and running.
Tags: General