The problem is that it you can't just ban STRs at a Condo Board Meeting, you need an 80% majority of owners to ban them. This has to be done at a special owners meeting where they would vote to change the condos governing documents (declaration)

Boards and Management want to ban them but they can't. In a building like Ice where majority of the owners are STRs you wouldn't have the numbers to change the condo declaration.
I completely agree, when you have a majority of owners / majority of active owners in a building renting on an STR basis, they're not going to support a Board who doesn't support allowing STRs / not enforcing restrictions on them, and so it won't be resolved.

A similar issue arose in my previous building where probably 50-75% of owners were landlords to long-term renters, and so owner-occupants became very frustrated when the Board wouldn't address issues they felt were important, and catered primarily to supporting a healthy rental value for the vocal majority of owners. All interesting dilemmas for us to wrestle with.
 
I completely agree, when you have a majority of owners / majority of active owners in a building renting on an STR basis, they're not going to support a Board who doesn't support allowing STRs / not enforcing restrictions on them, and so it won't be resolved.

A similar issue arose in my previous building where probably 50-75% of owners were landlords to long-term renters, and so owner-occupants became very frustrated when the Board wouldn't address issues they felt were important, and catered primarily to supporting a healthy rental value for the vocal majority of owners. All interesting dilemmas for us to wrestle with.
But doesn't this all go out the window with the new Airbnb laws the city passed? Not sure a condo board rule can override the law.
 
There are ways around 80% rule. It's challenging but possible. It really depends on the exact wording of the declaration. We have done it. It took a lot of effort, litigation and education. But it is possible in most cases. I am not sure about the exact wording of the declaration at ICE. So, I cannot say for sure if it's possible.

As for the city-wide AirBnB ban, it's being challenged again. More importantly, it needs to be enforced. ICE is at least 25% AirBnB. I heard that their board is mostly run by AirBnB-sympathizers. If the board or the property management doesn't want to enforce it, nothing will happen. Even if the board and the management was trying to enforce it, it still takes months to exterminate AirBnB from the building. It took us 2 years...
 
But doesn't this all go out the window with the new Airbnb laws the city passed? Not sure a condo board rule can override the law.

No but what we have noticed at my condo is that companies like Guestable, Simply Comfort, Sarkar Suites and even owners are circumventing the bans put in place by my condo and the various emergency orders. They know STRs are illegal but they give guests keys off site or escort guests up directly (Sometimes via a back entrance) to avoid being seen by building staff.
 
The problem is that STR guests hold elevators open to cram in all their luggage while younger guests press all the buttons thinking it is a funny joke.

The fact is that many STR guests don't give two s***s about the buildings they stay in.

Older, more mature guests are fine but younger 20-something partying idiots destroy buildings.
100% agree with that! The bnb guests that stay in South core are typically young, but it's not necessarily the age, it's the type of people that stay here. They treat the place like a dorm or night club.

It will continue to be this way sadly. Until people choose to call ïce home, this will always be a hotel where the long-term residents are essentially the guests. It's a shame too because I love this building, but it's the transient nature of it that has made what it is today.

The only way something will ever happen is if some wide covering law states that only a max Percentage of a building can be used as STRs. That will never happen.
 
100% agree with that! The bnb guests that stay in South core are typically young, but it's not necessarily the age, it's the type of people that stay here. They treat the place like a dorm or night club.

It will continue to be this way sadly. Until people choose to call ïce home, this will always be a hotel where the long-term residents are essentially the guests. It's a shame too because I love this building, but it's the transient nature of it that has made what it is today.

The only way something will ever happen is if some wide covering law states that only a max Percentage of a building can be used as STRs. That will never happen.

I drive by those two buildings everyday in the mornings ... the amount of Uber cars & guests with suitcases lining up makes you think these are hotel buildings.

ps: I was looking to purchase a condo for living in those two buildings; but ended up settling across the street at 51 Lower Simcoe. Glad I passed on the ICE buildings.
 
I drive by those two buildings everyday in the mornings ... the amount of Uber cars & guests with suitcases lining up makes you think these are hotel buildings.

ps: I was looking to purchase a condo for living in those two buildings; but ended up settling across the street at 51 Lower Simcoe. Glad I passed on the ICE buildings.

That's what most are doing now sadly. It's so visible the problems here, and it rightfully turns people off. Being a 5 year resident, I can say this place is an amazing place to live. Proximity to the waterfront, transit and the highway is really great. My unit is amazing, and the balconies on the building are very generous in space. I love this place for all of those reasons. It's just a shame once you step out of your suite, it's ICE Hotel, not ICE Condos.
 
That's what most are doing now sadly. It's so visible the problems here, and it rightfully turns people off. Being a 5 year resident, I can say this place is an amazing place to live. Proximity to the waterfront, transit and the highway is really great. My unit is amazing, and the balconies on the building are very generous in space. I love this place for all of those reasons. Its just a shame once you step out of your suite, its ICE Hotel, not ICE Condos.
Agree with you completely about the neighbourhood.
The communal amenities you mentioned are harder to find elsewhere. It is a happening place for sure.
 
Looks like CF has been slowly fixing the deficiencies in the ICE courtyard - They planted new trees / added shrubs to planters. Also got rid of the people parking in there. Looks decent now - finally! Hoping they pay attention to the inside area of the PATH inside ICE - and eagerly awaiting what retail tenants will be moving into those spaces at ground level.
 
Kind of shocking about the wear and tear at this place. It seems to be popular, but hopefully people follow the rules.
Sadly it's the vast amount of Airbnb / STRs that visit the building - They often do not care about the place and use it as a hangout. Building security is only responsible for the tower components, CF is responsible for the ground level - it's CF that needs to ramp up security in the ground and courtyard and enforce compliance.
 
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