Stouffville residents give thumbs down to proposed 18-storey condo at Ninth Line and Main Street

Yorkreigon.com
March 6, 2023

When Don Hepburn went to get his mail on a brisk February day, he was surprised to find a sign touting an 18-storey condo tower at the old Giles Chevrolet location on the northwest corner of Nine Line and Main Street.

“I was concerned about the height adjacent to all the communities. I wrote up a letter to express my concern that it was out of place for our neighbourhood,” he said.

Hepburn moved to Rupert Street in 2010. The residential area around the proposed 200-unit tower is mostly composed of single-storey bungalows. Hepburn has noticed increased traffic in recent years on Rupert as drivers avoid the bottleneck on Main Street around Ninth Line, where Main Street goes from two lanes to one.

“Here we are building a high-density building probably next to the busiest intersection in Stouffville,” he said. “Main Street in rush hour is already so backed up. Where are those cars going to go?”

Hepburn is not alone in his concerns. Stephen and Catherine Sword have lived on Fairview Avenue for 26 years. The proposed 18 storey-building would literally be looking into their backyard. The couple knew there was a good chance the Giles property was going to be developed, but they didn’t think it would be this extreme.

“This corner should be medium density not high,” Stephen said. “It’s already a terrible intersection. People are using Rupert Street as a bypass.”

It’s not just local residents that aren’t enamoured with proposal. At a February council meeting, Stouffville council wildly panned Hyson Properties' proposal, which would see 200 residential units and 18 storeys at the corner.

They are asking the town for an Official Plan Amendment eight storeys taller than is currently allowed on the site. The amendment is also asking for the maximum number of residential units to increase from 120 units per hectare to 494 units per hectare.

“If I have any say in this, which I think I do, we will not be seeing 18 storeys,” Ward 4 Coun. Rick Upton said. “This would look terrible and cause traffic jams second to none.” As the local councillor, Upton said residents have been reaching out to him with many concerns.

Mayor Iain Lovatt said a building at that height is more reasonable around Hwy. 48, where the town is aiming for higher-density development.

“This is a stunning tower and design and probably suited to the west side of the town and not at the entry point to downtown,” he said.

Lovatt added he would like to see something more heritage-inspired at that corner and asked residents to be loud in their opposition.

“Members of the public you need to get involved. Facebook doesn’t count. We have only received one email with comments from the community,” he said. “Please I implore you to get involved. Have your comments put on the record.”

Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban said this is a very important corner for the town. “18 storeys is just way and above what residents are willing to accept,” she said.

It’s not just immediate neighbours to the site that are concerned either. Carol Kidd has lived in Stouffville for decades and finds the proposal incongruous with the town. “I just think having a highrise at that location is inappropriate for the geography of the town,” she said.

For the local residents’ part they are trying to mobilize. Hepburn said neighbours have started connecting. “We decided the best thing we could do at this stage is get a dialogue going with the community,” he said. “We have sent out a letter to our neighbours. Let’s get a dialogue going.”

The area around the Giles location is already seeing condos put in at the old Lion and Canadian Tire grounds. Those facilities are only eight and 10 storeys respectively.

A public meeting for the Hyson Properties proposal is planned to come in the late summer or early fall according to the town.