332 Charles Street East | 17 fl | Proposed

[tomh009]

I think we really need to see some new park space in this area of town to help support the new towers that are on deck around the Market and Borden stations. It's frustrating that we haven't seen ANY progress on improving park area in the downtown core. Currently around these stations, there's the Schneider Creek/Stirling Greenway, which is just trails along the concrete creek channel, Sandhills Park at Cedar/Courtland, and the First Mennonite Cemetery (which is very limited in how it can be used, ie: cannot repurpose a section to be kid-friendly with a playground). The Cameron Heights field counts as a park too, but it's limited in its scope as well - a running track and an open field, that I believe has a playground shoved in the back corner that's only accessible off Stirling near Courtland.

It would be nice to see, say, the MCC Thrift (50 Kent) donate the back corner of their parking lot near the Schneider Creek bridge to be developed as a park space that is already surrounded by mature trees. Or the city could trim off the end of Palmer St that crosses the Iron Horse Trail and use that space; right now it's only providing rear access to a unit that has frontage on Kent. Just curve Hurst right around to Palmer, and we could regain a depth of 40-45m for parkland. Or both together!

The "back parking lot" (which, I believe, is mainly used by Cameron Heights students) is actually city property, the same as the trails, the creeks and the surrounding green space. Assuming that student parking is no longer required or can be had elsewhere, that parking lot could certainly be turned into a small park.

[taylortbb]

Zubi pissed me off for basically just using her win as a springboard for her career. I don't think she even lasted a year before saying thanks guys but I can make more money elsewhere.

Champagne socialists...many such cases.

I think you're confusing people, Zubi lost to Mike Morrice and was never elected. Not that she's a great person (I think her run for regional council made that clear), but she's never been elected to any office AFAIK.

[nms]

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.

[tomh009]

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.

The council actually asked Vive for a proposal with higher density and more affordable units.

Vive came to council Monday night with the new proposal after Coun. Scott Davey asked at a committee meeting a week ago whether it would consider additional density in return for community benefits such as affordable housing.

Of the 279 apartments, 32 will now be deemed affordable for at least 21 years.

[ZEBuilder]

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.

[ac3r]

Anything that makes ol' Debbie cope and seethe is good news.

[ac3r]

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.

Just to expand on this:

A 27 storey tower with a 5 storey podium with 285 dwelling units and 171 parking spaces. In accordance with Council's decision on the OPA/ZBA the Owner is required to provide 40% energy savings over building code (heating of the building primarily through air source heat pumps) 32 units will be affordable for a 20 year period (affordable is defined as per CMHC) and two adaptable units and 2 accessible universal design units in addition to the minimum requirements under the Ontario Building Code.

[ZEBuilder]

Earlier this month Vive was issued the demolition permit for the building on site. As I passed by today they were demolishing the building, unfortunately I don't have a picture. There are also no other permits in the system so this site will be sitting vacant for some time.