It's not a project yet!
Just wanted to point out that there is no "project" yet for this site. The land is for sale, and after April 18th will be available for any buyer (not just educational/gov't).
The drawing shown by our city councillor at the public meeting was used to advertise the parcel of land to would-be buyers, so it is meant to show what might be possible on the site in terms of development blocks, roads, building heights, etc. It is not an urban design or architectural document, but more of a sales and marketing tool.
The building heights noted on this document are what is being discussed. The 30-storey tower at the corner would be directly south of the existing New Horizons seniors home, which I believe is approx. 15-stories. They also show a 23-storey tower fronting onto Bloor directly further west of Dufferin. The 30-storey tower makes some sense since the seniors home is already right there. The other tower would be very out of place IMO in the midst of 2-storey retail and single family homes directly north of Bloor Street. On the other hand, it is adjacent to a subway station, so no one should expect status quo.
The city councillor indicated that the city would consider 12- to 14-stories as a reasonable height given the site conditions. I know many in the 'hood would freak out at these heights too, but I think it's appropriate given where the land is located, transit access, densification, etc.
Also, given the "hot" nature of the 'hood these days, I would be surprised if whoever might buy the property to develop wouldn't take full advantage of it. I think it's premature to assume someone is going to frack the whole thing up, though I do think it's wise to be vigilant during the process. For example, the councillor mentioned that MOCCA (contemporary art museum) is looking for a new home. Wouldn't a smart developer see that as a great asset for sales and marketing of any condos, especially in an artsy 'hood? I agree with other commenters that a mixed-use project would make sense, including retail, institutional, and residential, especially since it would tie into the existing diverse land uses and make the most of the great location.
There is also a Facebook community group if anyone wants to check it out (Building a Better Bloordale).