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: Boutique condos planned for Davenport (July 2020)
August 7th, 2020 · Comments Off on NEWS: Boutique condos planned for Davenport (July 2020)
Latest submission taller than earlier versions
By Tanya Ielyseieva
BBB Architects have come back to the community with a new plan for 350 Davenport Rd., near Dupont. Originally submitted in 2015 at 7 storeys (24.2 meters) this project has had multiple re-submissions. The most recent, made in April 2020, is for a mid-rise, mixed-use building with luxury boutique condos at 8 storeys (30 meters).
FOCUS: Davenport development goes to mediation (Spring 2018)
May 1st, 2018 · Comments Off on FOCUS: Davenport development goes to mediation (Spring 2018)
Councillor aiming for negotiated settlement
By Geremy Bordonaro
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has completed its pre-hearing process for 321 Davenport Rd., where Alterra Developments has applied to build an eight-storey glass building including 16 penthouse condominiums and a two-level parking garage on the site. The development would require a by-law amendment, as the application as it stands now exceeds restrictions on height and density for the area.
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.
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.
EDITORIAL (MAY 2017): Revoke U of T’s unchecked “licence to build”
May 26th, 2017 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL (MAY 2017): Revoke U of T’s unchecked “licence to build”
The University of Toronto is seeking broader powers to do as it pleases with respect to developing new buildings in certain designated large swaths of its campus. In effect, it wants to be an off-leash development dog, a request that has the community wary. The City of Toronto should be too.
EDITORIAL (APRIL 2017): Westbank’s positive precedent
April 10th, 2017 · 1 Comment
The Toronto and East York Community Council unanimously endorsed a planning staff recommendation to approve Westbank Projects Corp.’s application to redevelop the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets on April 4. It’s a significant milestone that comes after three years of community consultations and collaborative work between the Vancouver-based developer, planning staff, and community representatives.
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
FOCUS (JANUARY 2017): Local residents’ associations respond to OMB review
January 23rd, 2017 · Comments Off on FOCUS (JANUARY 2017): Local residents’ associations respond to OMB review
Recommendations for mandating community participation
PHOTO CREDIT BY BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS: Planned by the OMB: College Street is rife with developments denied by the city, only to have been approved on appeal by the provincial agency.
By Annemarie Brissenden
NEWS (NOVEMBER 2016): OMB opened
November 18th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS (NOVEMBER 2016): OMB opened
Residents glimpse settlement offer
By Brian Burchell
In an effort to bring transparency to the Ontario Municipal Board’s (OMB) mediation process, Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) took the unusual step of bringing a developer’s confidential settlement offer to the community for comment before that offer is voted on by Toronto City Council.
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.”
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.