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On March 2nd, 2017, I attended a public meeting organized by city hall councillors Mike Layton and Joe Cressy to discuss Westbank's planning application for the Mirvish Village redevelopment.
The planning proposal for this looks really interesting and well done: https://t.co/3EUVgH3lcz
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 2, 2017
I'll be swinging by. https://t.co/DKiPngYLa9
Nota bene: I'm unqualified to judge planning proposals.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 2, 2017
But! 800 new *rental* units! A sliver of new green space! Interesting looking buildings! Hahaha we are fucked for housing
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 2, 2017
I made it! Packed room. Judging by their posters this is the the last in a very long line of consultations.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 2, 2017
ICYMI! This is what they're proposing: https://t.co/NUimfm8pDO #HonestEds #redevelopment #community #planning #city #building #Toronto
— Laura Beeston (@LauraBeeston) March 3, 2017
The meeting kicked off with a short speech by councillor Layton, and then Cressy, before we heard from the project's architect and the city planner.
. @m_layton mentions this is the most robust planning process he’s dealt with. A lot of effort has brought us to this point.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Initial submission in 2015. Ambitious, robust. Some problems with it; now third submission. Unusually involved with community.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
I'm very conveniently hidden behind a pillar in this shot:
at the #community #consultation meeting for the #HonestEds #redevelopment. Nice crowd. #Toronto #citybuilding pic.twitter.com/OtIXXMEEe9
— Laura Beeston (@LauraBeeston) March 3, 2017
300 people at community consultation at the Bickford Ctr re @VillageMirvish redevelopment by @westbankcorp. #Toronto #TOplanning #TOpoli pic.twitter.com/jIz40WApMK
— UrbanToronto (@Urban_Toronto) March 3, 2017
"Last thing we want as a community is give up our autonomy and hand it over to the OMB", great to see so many involved West Bank & community
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
.@joe_cressy highlights how involved and engaged so many ppl in the room have been, to a round of applause
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Councillor Cressy: "what happens at this corner will impact our neighbourhood for the next 100 years." #HonestEds #redevelopment
— Laura Beeston (@LauraBeeston) March 3, 2017
This is a model for how we want the development community to engage with the city, over so many years. Lots of sweat & tears from city staff
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
We all want affordable, mixed income, livable, etc, neighborhoods. Wants to hear what’s left to get community to agree. Now for the builder;
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Architect highlights how they want community feedback. This process began in 2013, approached by developer. Part of the neighborhood.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Project: 100% rental, public market space, sustainable building, heritage retention, street scale, pedestrian oriented, micro retail
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Community consultation got us more public space, park space, reduced shadowing on the street, less room for cars
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
I’m just some idiot but this project looks dope. A lot of attention to detail.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Architect repeats "so we removed density" over and over.
City planner details the hundreds of comments and dozens of meetings that have gotten us this far, focus on livability.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Almost all growth in Toronto slated to go on major avenues, leaving large yellow-belt/low density untouched.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Planning is very labour intensive; lots of policy angles.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Shout out to community on how most progressive aspects came from residents.
The presentations now over, mics were open to the public. Councillors and staffers took about five comments or questions at a time before answering all at once.
Q&a brings; what is sq ft of units? Can we guarantee it stays as rentals?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Renter defends project, was priced out of the hood.
Lady steps up & declares building too dense, too crammed, transit jammed, city does not have resources to fix problems. Wants less height
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
The annex is already a vibrant without uhm these new people I guess. Can we not remove even more housing?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Answer:
450, 550, 850, 1200 sq ft. 37% of units family oriented.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Intent is to keep as rental. More info to come. Priority to subsidize some units
Another lady comes up and asks to reduce density; too much concrete, concerned with global warming effect; already at pt of high density
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Millennial speaks in favour of the project; selfishly speaks of wanting to start a family and afford housing
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Old guy who said 5 year project construction length was a life sentence in terms of disruption heckles city planner suggesting it’d be 3 yrs
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Local dentist concerned with black community legacy; how can we ensure there’s a legacy for the different communities in the area?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Millennial speaks in support of the project, can’t afford a condo. How can we beef up transit for neighborhood?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Older gentleman reinforces historical roots of community; older lady asks re floorplans of apartments, doesn’t want shoe boxes
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Answer:
Rental units have to be better than condos; condos you sell once whereas rentals have to last from tenant to tenant.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Renter on Palmerston echoes earlier statement how it’ll affect hood for 100 years from now; think about how project’ll be written about then
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Older gentleman comments, common sense would require better transit infrastructure. Subway is packed rn; how will ppl get to work?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Markham st res applauds project but is concerned about headcount. Can we really handle so many single people w/no ties to area i.e. owners?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Don’t want to end up like st Jamestown, can’t we reduce housing/avoid becoming a slum?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Can’t let poors move in I guess?
Next citizen concerned abt 13,000 "headcount" in one block; makes negative connotation to St Jamestown... Many groan at comparison.
— Laura Beeston (@LauraBeeston) March 3, 2017
Uoft student asks what price ranges?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Dude who works out of CSI says process was thorough, project is cool, more developers should do this
Answer:
Transit: we’re fucked lol, we don’t fund it (my take).
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Official answer is we got piecemeal capacity improvements on the pipeline.
Prices: market rate... 5 years from now. (lol)
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Density: it’s fine if done well, chill
@m_layton is pushing for public $ for affordable hous
Millennial is getting evicted as we speak. Wants stability.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Wants this to set a precedent. Initially didn’t like it, now is open.
Tiny lady, resident for 27 yrs, shows map of development, rails against tall building behind a heritage, reduce height from 17 stories
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Goes on to talk about how this’ll cost 2k for a 2 bedroom, too expensive.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Lady has obviously not looked at rental prices any time soon.
Millennial stuck in east york, works in culture, can’t afford to participate. Very important for artists in this community. Thanks devs
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Markham resident, who employs artists even, says there’ll be too much traffic, inconceivable Lennox st can accommodate. Wants co-ops?
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Middle aged lady questions heritage preservation, says building doesn’t have amenities, not enough daycare? Not accessible enough.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Older guy who works in the area says area is actually NOT vibrant, school closures means density has dropped, this project is good.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Answers: heritage preservation is tricky. Buildings mostly "in situ".
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
They’re figuring out traffic; reduced parking, maybe left turn lane
The rental building will have amenity space aimed at families, not just fuck-mountain gyms
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
(Er, fuck-mountain is how my friends who moved into Cityplace described the young, virile single scene)
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Millennial wants to live in well maintained apartments she can afford.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Mid aged lady who lives at Eglinton thinks this lacks big retail.
Millennial bemoans lack of housing, precarious housing conditions. Thinks this is a great development.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
Last speaker: just moved in to hood with new family, feels like won the lottery, thanks project.
— ________________ (@phillmv) March 3, 2017
That’s a wrap, folks! Thanks for listening