City Council’s approval of the first official plan for the new City of Toronto may result in a new residential development at St. Thomas and Charles St. W.
Passed by a vote of 34 to 7, the plan hopes to achieve social, economic and environmental benefits through directing and shaping the growth of Toronto.
As part of the new plan, councilors and planners on the Toronto-East York community council have approved a 28-storey condominium project at St. Thomas St. and Charles St. W. Although the project still requires approval from the full council, city councilor Kyle Rae is confident that the project will go through.
Complaints have arisen from various resident associations, claiming that the building will be too high and block the winter sun. Although on the cusp of the U of T campus, the university has no problems with the project.
“No one from U of T came and opposed it,” said Rae. “Also, there’s very little shadowing that will happen to U of T south of Charles.”
The university will not be receiving any financial benefits from the development.
“This property isn’t ours. If we never chose to buy it, we can’t complain,” said provost Ron Venter. The condo builders pledged to spend money to spruce up the building’s surroundings.
As long as the city complies with the appropriate guidelines and operates within the law, Venter sees no complications with the property being close to campus. “It’s not going to change the character [of the area] tremendously,” he said.
Rae says that the development, along with some street improvements in the neighbourhood, will comply with the vision of the official plan. “You’re going to see a beautiful residential building,” he said. Venter even supposes that the development may be a positive attraction for professors and students attending the university.
“It might even be helpful.”
