A proposal to construct a small apartment building near Bathurst and Bloor has been rejected for the second time this week.
As we reported back in April, the developer, Green Street Flats, applied to construct a new three-storey, eight-unit apartment building at 91 Barton Ave. However, this proposal was rejected in a 2–1 vote, particularly after a ton of resistance from neighbourhood residents (it appears that some residents who opposed the CoA applications wrote letters of opposition).
A modified plan was presented to the City’s Committee of Adjustment (CoA) this past Wednesday for a three-storey, nine-unit apartment building (with a two-story, two-unit laneway suite at the rear yard along Ciamaga Lane), but with one unit being affordable. This was also rejected in a 2–1 decision yesterday.
Yup 2-1 refusal.
— 🏭🏘🏢Sean Galbraith🗻❄️🥏 (@PlannerSean) August 14, 2024
And not everyone is happy about the decision. Some believe that this type of conflict between developers and residents, who are at odds as decisions are made about what buildings are erected in their neighbourhoods, is contributing to the housing crisis in the city.
“The comment from the refusers were basically, “its a good project just not on this lot”” one X user who watched the CoA meeting explained.
The comment from the refusers were basically, “its a good project just not on this lot”
— 🏭🏘🏢Sean Galbraith🗻❄️🥏 (@PlannerSean) August 14, 2024
Some were also concerned about the rejection, considering the development is in a major transit station area (an area considered a “priority zone” for development because it’s close to a major transit station).
“Wild! This is in a MTSA [major transit station area], if I recall,” one X user said. “This will be something of a blow to EHON [Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods] and any chance of affability is going to be killed by the costs of an appeal.”
Wild! This is in a MTSA, if I recall.
This will be something of a blow to EHON and any chance of affability is going to be killed by the costs of an appeal. https://t.co/Rmoo7fQUjW
— Tristan DowneDewdney (@TristanToronto) August 14, 2024
The debate over this development has been ongoing for months, with some in favour of the rejection, fearing the development would only lead to small, costly units.
“FYI the letters of opposition are actually supporting multiplex housing,” one X user said. “The proposal will create super expensive crammed units. Neighbors want quality affordable housing, not this”.
“Crammed units”…
Jenny, do a modicum of homework before you trying this (the unit labels in the diagram don’t match perfectly with the area chart, but each unit is properly accounted for).
So I’ll flip that back: how do we create cheap, “quality affordable housing”? pic.twitter.com/KL9lSpm1vd
— Urban Cayman (@ProjectEND) April 16, 2024
We’ll continue to report on any developments to this project. But in the meantime, over 40 muralists have teamed up to transform the soon-to-be demolished house at 90 Barton into an immersive art installation.
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