someMidTowner said:
Most private development is motivated by 'for-profit capitalism' as are most businesses. The developer's job is to maximize their return on investment in whichever ways they can, while it's the local councillor and other politicians' jobs to use that potential profit as leverage to make developers include things that benefit the public. This can be anything from parkland contribution, payment to the city towards affordable housing, and many other public benefits.
For this specific project, the City wants the following from the developer:
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- FYI here is one reporters take on the section 37 fund use in this case:

"Section 37 money.
(Section 37 money is a ‘fine’ paid by developers in exchange for crappy architecture or overbuilding on a site.) Here’s where the City thinks the money should go:

  • Affordable housing or the securing of purpose-built rental housing at mid-range or affordable rent level categories.
  • An on-site day care facility or funding for one.
  • A contribution towards the revitalization of Weston Library.
  • A contribution towards the replacement of the Falstaff Community Recreation Centre (not even close to Weston).
  • Improvements towards local parks."

taken from : https://www.westonweb.ca/city-to-1821-weston-developer-try-again/ - March 1 2020

Thanks for engaging in discussion. It is helpful for people who actually live here when developments make a meaningful contribution to the public good. It would be welcome to see improvements to Lions park and the Weston Public Library. They are both facilities that are used by many many people in the neighbourhood.

390
 
picard102 said:
It's not. Opposition to development is more often than not myopic busy bodies looking to maintain their fiefdoms.
Very rarely is opposition based on actual thought.

Community consultations should be abolished.
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Agree, the concerns raised can be silly or uninformed, but that doesn't mean developers can run rough shod over communities. Isn't that what Ford did to Toronto and there was much kvetching? Why should this be any different?
 
kali said:
Agree, the concerns raised can be silly or uninformed, but that doesn't mean developers can run rough shod over communities.
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That's what you have elected officials and government bureaucracies for, to filter out the nonsense.
 
Weston resident here. Really baffled at my local neighbours’ attitude towards development and infrastructure improvement.

There’s a Facebook group for Weston Neighbours. So many complaints about construction for water main and storm sewer upgrades. Then they complain about localized flooding. What do you think those improvements are for? Many of the pipes running under Toronto streets are 50-100 years old, if not older. Infrastructure improvements are short term pain for long term gain.

Then there’s the issue of development. People want to see the area improve, but only on their terms. Well - who is fronting the capital for these residential developments? Who is taking the risk?

I agree with the sentiment that City officials and developers should move along with less consultation with the public. A lot of short-sightedness and NIMBYism holding this area back. The most opinionated and vocal residents aren’t smart enough to realize that they’re the ones preventing improvements to Weston.

The last thing we need is to chase developers away from the area.
 
Can't dismiss outright the fears of gentrification and displacement. Those things are very real to peoples lives. Weston/Lawrence is a relatively affordable place to live in the city and a highly diverse community. New development can lead to increased rents as the community becomes more desirable (for whom I might add?).

Transit investment should mean added development but that needs to have some caveats attached. We've seen steady displacement marginalized folks from from the core and a fear is that more will happen from some of the last remaining walkable communities that are affordable and transit accessible.

Everyone wants a better community, but they want to still be able to afford to live in it once it's better.
 
mrxbombastic said:
Can't dismiss outright the fears of gentrification and displacement. Those things are very real to peoples lives. Weston/Lawrence is a relatively affordable place to live in the city and a highly diverse community. New development can lead to increased rents as the community becomes more desirable (for whom I might add?).

Transit investment should mean added development but that needs to have some caveats attached. We've seen steady displacement marginalized folks from from the core and a fear is that more will happen from some of the last remaining walkable communities that are affordable and transit accessible.

Everyone wants a better community, but they want to still be able to afford to live in it once it's better.
Click to expand...
How about we actually put those concerns into context? Affordable housing units aren’t being torn down here. These developments will add new housing supply and retail space. You want new businesses and new residents to grow the area, or you want Weston to continue its decline? We had a net population decrease between 2011 and 2016.

You ask who these improvements are for. Walk up and down Weston 1-2 km north and south of Lawrence. With easy access to Cruikshank, highways, GO, and UPX - tell me that Weston is living to its potential. Tell me that we can’t do better than this.

Some level of displacement will occur but it will be slow and gradual - and really it’s unavoidable. Letting a couple dozen NIMBYs dictate how a neighbourhood should be developed is not productive. Like others have said, we should be welcoming investment into the neighbourhood, not turning it away.
 
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New docs posted in November. Height increased to 38 storeys:

Development Applications

City Planning COA Application Information Center
app.toronto.ca

1608476607338.png


1608476624227.png
 
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The new renderings are updated in the database. The project information is also updated. The total building height increased from 124.65m to 146.00m. The total storey count increased from 38 storeys to 45 storeys. The total unit count increased from 446 units to 485 units. Finally, the total parking spaces decreased from 242 parking spaces to 236 parking spaces.

The renderings are taken from the architectural plan via Site Plan Approval:

PLN - Architectural Plans - APR 19 2022-311.jpg


PLN - Architectural Plans - APR 19 2022-313.jpg
 
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