Toronto City Hall
12th fl. E.,
100 Queen St. W.
Toronto ONM5H 2N2
Re: 1134-1140 Yonge Street – Proposed Development Re-Submission
ABC Residents Association (“ABCRAˮ) is an incorporated volunteer body that has been in existence since 1957. ABCRA represents the interests of residents who live in the area between Yonge Street, Avenue Road and Bloor Street to the CPR tracks.
At the ABCRA & Community Planning meeting on February 26, 2024, and again at our meeting on April 02, 2024, it was revealed that the developer for 1134-1140 Yonge Street has approached community planning with a request for an additional 3 floors, and is planning to submit a proposal through the Committee of Adjustment.
A 3-floor addition constitutes a 33% height increase and we believe should not be considered minor. We believe that the developer is manipulating the planning system to get around the LPAT settlement and increase the height of the project in a way that protects them from further appeal.
We find it deeply troubling that after over 2 years of extensive mediation, during which a carefully crafted settlement was reached regarding the height and built form of the development, the developer now seeks to undermine this agreement. Any argument that more height is to support solving the housing crisis should be ignored. Selling more$2700/foot condos compounds the housing crisis, not mitigates it.
The tactics employed by the developer are utterly reprehensible. This includes the deliberate delay of essential community projects such as the demolition of the house at 211 Avenue Rd and the expansion at Ramsden Park, all in an attempt to coerce additional height concessions. Any attempt to alter the agreed-upon terms will be met with fierce opposition from our community.
While we understand that City Planning cannot stop someone from submitting a Committee of Adjustment proposal, in our view, it is utterly unacceptable that City Planning would even entertain any kind of negotiations or consultations with the developer that deviate from the settlement, let alone consider adding height to the project. ABCRA is not just a neighbour – we were parties to the mediation and strongly object to any kind of negotiation on this site that doesn’t include us.
We feel it is important that there is firm direction from City Planning that they will not support any deviation from the mediated settlement. We thank you for your support on this matter.
Sincerely,
The ABC Residents Association,
John Caliendo & Ian Carmichael Co-Chairs
