Community Council nixes plan for 80-storey tower at Toronto city core

InsideToronto.com
Oct. 14, 2016
By David Nickle

Toronto’s Community Council has given the thumbs-down to a proposed 80 storey mixed-use condominium tower at the corner of Elm and Yonge streets - touching off what could be an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) battle over what would be one of the tallest buildings on the Toronto skyline.

Toronto planners had already recommended refusal of the plan by the Goldberg Group to build the tower at 8 Elm Street, and when the report came to the October 13 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council, neighbours voiced their support of that refusal.

But Goldberg Group spokesperson Janice Robinson made it clear that to avoid having the matter adjudicated at the OMB, the community council would be best to defer the matter to allow the developer to come forward with a different plan.

“We understand the report recommends to end the project, to refuse the application today,” said Robinson. “What that would lead to would be an appeal to the board. I would ask that you defer so there’s an opportunity to come forward with something different. If a significant change is brought forward then the application can continue to be processed.”

That didn’t sit well with councillors on the community council.

“That’s not how it works,” said Parkdale-High Park Councillor Gord Perks. “There’s a process and during that process you have an opportunity to meaningfully address what’s in our plans. If you miss that opportunity and your fallback is going to the OMB? Bring it.”

Staff had recommended against the building because of numerous ways in which it didn’t fit with the planning vision for the downtown core.

The tower as designed would be too close to the road, and its height would mean excessive shadowing of the downtown neighbourhood. It also lacks outdoor amenity space and an appropriate number of family-sized units.

As well, the design doesn’t protect on-site and neighbouring heritage buildings.

Michael Vaughan came representing the nearest of those: the Arts and Letters Club, located immediately to the west of the proposed development.

“It’s right next door to the proposed development, it’s a national historic site in Canada and for a century it’s been a gathering place for artists, writers and musicians,” he said. “It hosts daily cultural events. It depends on a relatively quiet environment, with little vibration. It depends on comfortable access from Elm Street.”

Vaughan noted that the activity from the 469 units in the proposed development would “overwhelm the street.”

“The street is a narrow 19th-century street and it’s got small scale heritage buildings,” he said. “It’s a destination. (With this development) we could not continue carrying on our programs. Elm Street would no longer provide a safe and comfortable pedestrian environment.”