Photo: Brian Burchell, Gleaner News

Owner/Developer: Tribute Communities, Knightstone Capital Management

Status: Underway

For many community members, College Street is an example of what not to do when it comes to development. Height is the predominant feature of two major projects that are now underway: Tribute Communities’ College Condominium at 297 College St. and Knightstone Capital’s private student residence at 245-253 College St. At 15 storeys, the Tribute development at the edge of Kensington will also bring a 20,000-square-foot Loblaws to the neighbourhood. It’s set to open mid next year. Meanwhile, the OMB approved Knightstone’s application to build a 25-storey, 829-bed private residence in June, reversing the City’s January 2014 decision to deny the developer’s proposed plan. It not only sets a new height threshold for potential projects on College Street, it’s also what has community groups stepping up their opposition to similar developments elsewhere. But as long as the OMB continues to hold sway over Toronto’s built future, questions over height and preservation of heritage are largely out of the City’s hands.