Dyanoosh Youssefi

On August 12, the North York Community Council dealt with a number of larger development proposals that impact Ward 16. Here are a few highlights:

• Bank of Montreal Building at 2444 Yonge Street
• 2088 Avenue Road application for a 5-storey mixed-use development
• 228 Wilson Avenue proposal for a 17-storey condominium apartment
• Postal Station K- 2384-2388 Yonge Street and 31 Montgomery Avenue proposal (now referred to as “Montgomery Square.)
• 90 Eglinton Avenue West, at Henning, zoning by-law amendment application
• 200 Ridley Blvd. zoning by-law amendment

 Here is the link to the agenda: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/decisionBodyProfile.do?function=doPrepare&decisionBodyId=265#Meeting-2014.NY34

 Over the next few days, I will provide summaries of the proposals and the decisions of NYCC here.

Bank of Montreal Building at 2444 Yonge Street:

Another historical building at potential risk….

The proposed application is for a 5-storey commercial development with retail space on the first three floors and a restaurant with an outdoor patio on the fourth and fifth floors. Part of the existing Bank of Montreal building would be retained.

I would prefer to see such buildings of historical significance used differently.  I’d like to see the entire, not just a portion of it, retained, and for at least some, if not all of it, to be put to public use.  The possibilities are endless: the upstairs could be used for retail or office space, while the main level can be a museum, an art gallery, a shared space of local and Toronto entrepreneurs, a place for aspiring musicians, actors, and other artists… However, the cost to buy such sites is prohibitive.  It is time for us to have a public discussion about buildings such as the Bank of Montreal Building (and Postal Station K would have been covered by this) and find ways to raise and set aside money to preserve the few historical buildings that we have in the city.  Alternatively, we must ensure that private owners and developers retain and protect the historical site and make that portion of the building available for public use.

As for the current proposal, the City of Toronto will schedule a community consultation meeting for this proposal. The notice will go out to those residents living within 120 metres of the site and will also be posted on the site.

The developers are requesting a zoning by-law amendment to permit the building of a 5-storey building. The Bank of Montreal building is not currently listed as heritage property, but a Heritage Impact Assessment is under review by city staff.

There are a few issues that will have an impact on residents on Roselawn: access for delivery and loading is currently planned from Roselawn Avenue on a private lane to the rear of the building.

To see the preliminary report on this proposal, go to: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/ny/bgrd/backgroundfile-72052.pdf

We will have to keep an eye out for this one to ensure that the new development preserves the historical building, that residents and neighbours are protected from noise, traffic, and shadowing, and that any development is done in a manner that benefits the community.