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50-storey condo tower proposed for parking lot (toronto star)
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/569812
why would the community be appalled?
50-storey condo tower proposed for parking lot
January 13, 2009
Paul Moloney
CITY HALL BUREAU
Toronto is considering redeveloping a small triangular parking lot, squeezed between the Gardiner Expressway and a major off-ramp, into something more lucrative – perhaps a 50-storey condo tower.
The review of the city-owned, quarter-hectare lot at York and Harbour Sts. is just the sort of thing the new Build Toronto agency was created to do after an advisory panel said the city could reap $150 million a year through better stewardship of its real estate.
"I believe every surface parking lot is an underuse and a poor use of land in downtown Toronto," Councillor Kyle Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale), interim chair of Build Toronto, said yesterday.
With the poor economy, Rae said builders are getting rezonings in place so they're ready to go for "the next wave" of construction.
Build Toronto, a city corporation that replaces the Toronto Economic Development Corporation, is to be headed by Mayor David Miller. It will oversee Toronto's real estate holdings, valued at $18 billion, with an eye to development of underused assets. The Harbourfront-area site currently hosts a 40-car parking lot and a police vehicle impound lot.
A staff report for today's meeting of the Toronto and East York community council rated a condo tower as the preferred option. Others include a three-storey parking structure, or a 30-storey office tower.
"Condo developers find every square inch tempting on the waterfront because everybody wants to live here," said Ulla Colgrass, chair of the York Quay Neighbourhood Association.
The group hasn't developed a formal position on the idea, but local Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) thinks it's a "pretty wild proposal" that probably won't fly with residents.
"I can tell you my neighbourhood would be appalled at the notion of a 50-storey condominium down there on that small a site."
Proceeds from development could be put to good use paying down the city's debt, suggested Councillor Doug Holyday (Ward 3, Etobicoke Centre).
A condominium project "is certainly in keeping with the zoning in place on other sites in that area," Holyday said.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/569812
why would the community be appalled?