09-27-2023, 09:34 PM
(09-27-2023, 09:00 PM)nms Wrote: Since I couldn't read the article, how did Vive explain the sudden addition of 10 floors this late the approval process? Unless this is 10 extra floors of affordable housing, or a community centre or some other useful public space, what is the public benefit to the developer reaping that much more profit? I could understand the frustration from the neighbourhood if all of the community information prior to this had suggested that it was only to going to be 17 floors.
PS Ironically, as I am writing this post, an "Ontario is building 1.5 million new homes" ad is on the bottom of the WRC forum. The photo in the ad shows a suburban tract eating at a rural boundary.
It was not Vive that all of a sudden asked for an additional 10 floors, city council actually approached Vive and asked for the extra density. At the Planning and Strategic Initiatives meeting last week councillor Davey asked Vive if they would look at increasing the density in turn for some form of community benefit (legally Vive has no obligation to do so because of changes to the planning act), this motion was seconded by councillor Singh or Schnider (I don't remember off the top of my head). All 3 of them were referring to the massive housing crisis and the need for more units as well as the fact that there is really only 1 time to make the ask, Schnider in particular said something along the lines of he doesn't want to regret not asking for more density 10 years down to the road. Since the planning act has been changed because of the Ford government the city can no longer require developers to include community benefits as part of an application so the 32 units that Vive is making affordable are purely good faith on Litts part. Yes the additional units are going to result in more profit for him (council did recognize this) but the city is also gaining 32 affordable units within the new building, while gaining additional supply overall.
Another interesting thing is that legally the city has no obligation to require another Neighbourhood Information Meeting regarding the changes, the planning director was at the council meeting and explained this to council, Chapman in particular was really upset about this.