Toronto highrise condos hot topic for voters
November 11th, 2006The building boom of recent years has put development issues front and centre for many of the GTA’s municipal races
Excerpt from an article by Theresa Boyle & Gail Swainson, Real Estate Reporters, Toronto Star
As a former highrise dweller, Adam Vaughan insists he has nothing against condominiums.
“No one is suggesting we stop building condos. I lived in one, I like them,” the former Citytv reporter says. “The issue is what kind of condos are we building.
The building boom of recent years has seen development issues become front and centre of many political campaigns across the Greater Toronto Area. Whether it be battles over highrise condos, concerns about “let’s make a deal” planning or demands for more citizen input, land-use issues are figuring prominently in Monday’s municipal vote.
Ward 20 encompasses a swath of Toronto’s waterfront, running from Coronation Park, near Strachan Ave., over to University Ave. The area has become dense with highrise condominiums, and more are on the way.
Remarking upon the glut of studio and one-bedroom units in highrise condos, Vaughan says connector doors should be “roughed in” between units so future owners can purchase adjacent suites and make them large enough to accommodate families.He also wants more public space incorporated into developments where children can “blow off steam” and residents can socialize. A good example of this is VU, at Jarvis and Adelaide Sts., where the podium rooftop is being turned into recreational space, he says.
Development issues can make or break a political career. Former councillor Anne Johnston was defeated in the 2003 election largely because of her support of the Minto twin-tower condo project at Yonge and Eglinton.The Toronto mayoral race has seen David Miller promise world-class architecture and beautiful public spaces. He says he wants to create vibrant waterfront communities, such as one planned for the west Don Lands. He also wants to see more green buildings constructed.
Over in Ward 21, there’s grumbling about a 22-storey condo development on the northwest corner of Bathurst St. and St. Clair Ave. W.
Development issues are central to many other campaigns across the General Toronto Area. In Central Toronto’s Ward 16, a proposed condominium development on Avenue Road, north of Lawrence, is top of mind for voters.In Ward 25, the proposed redevelopment of Don Mills Centre has become a ballot issue. The mall has been demolished to make way for an outdoor lifestyle centre, which will include stores and condominiums.
Over in Ajax, Mayor Steve Parish and his council colleagues are squaring off with their Durham Region counterparts over the province’s Greenbelt plan.
Development is also an ongoing election issue in Pickering, where several candidates have made it their mission to knock off the old guard, insisting they are far too cozy with the developers.Critics are working overtime to unseat long-time Pickering politicians who support a prominent developer’s bid to build on the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, which the province has protected.
Valerie Burke is running against Daurio in Ward 1, backed by a number of residents who want that section of Yonge between the Farmers Market and Thornhill Mews, to remain true to its roots.
———————————————————————————
