The High Park Coalition is seeking the community’s help in raising as much as $27,000 in preparation for an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing in September regarding the proposed controversial Grenadier Square condominium development.
GWL Realty Advisors Inc.’s application, which city planning staff and many local residents call a blatant "over-development" of the site, calls for the demolition of two existing blocks of townhouses (containing 16 units) to make way for the construction of two 26-storey residential towers (containing a total of 558 units), plus a two-storey amenity building.
At a February community council meeting, west end councillors voted unanimously against the application to redevelop the property at 51-77 Quebec Ave. and 40-66 High Park Ave.?The High Park Coalition has been granted party status for the OMB hearing in September while the developer has approached the group with a request for mediation in July. To be successful, the coalition needs a roster of paid professionals in its corner to lend expertise. This includes the coalition’s lawyer and urban planner, who were instrumental in guiding residents through the early stages of their fight, as well as an urban designer and arborist, who will provide critical counsel during the next two phases.
"The OMB is looking for hard evidence, sound urban planning evidence to defend our case," said High Park Coalition executive member Rishi Sharma. "We’re up against a developer who has deep pockets and expert counsel."
The coalition’s efforts helped to convince the City of Toronto Planning department to recommend that the OMB reject the developer’s appeal. An OMB pre-hearing in March was so overwhelmed by potential participants from the community that a second pre-hearing had to be scheduled, said Sharma.
"The OMB was blown away by the number of participants who wanted to be involved in the hearing," he told The Villager.
The coalition is new to the OMB process.
"We want to be as cooperative as possible with the developer, with the city," said Sharma. "We want to promote infill where appropriate. Replacing a three-storey townhouse with a 26-storey building is absurd. This is not the downtown core of Toronto."
The coalition, said Sharma, remains optimistic as it gears up for the hearing in September. The group boasts as many as 2,000 members at large; about 40 "on the ground" helping to fundraise and fashion community updates and an executive team of six, he said.
The High Park Coalition is aiming to raise the $27,000 by Sept. 1. Any amount is appreciated. For information on how to donate online or by mail, visit www.highparkcoalition.ca/donate The High Park Coalition is holding a Garage Sale fundraiser on July 5th between 9:00am and 2:00pm at 50 Quebec Avenue.
– with files from Cynthia Reason
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation