City to fight condos in Queen West triangle
Fearing OMB-approved projects will drive away artists, councillors consider court challenge, provincial intervention
Excerpt from an article by Paul Moloney - Toronto Star
with files from Kerry Gillespie
A developer will fight city council’s attempt to scuttle a condo plan that was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board for the Queen West triangle.
In a 31-11 vote yesterday, council decided to attack developers’ plans on three fronts:
* Going to court.
* Asking the OMB to reconsider its approval.
* Asking the province to set aside the OMB’s ruling.
The city fears condo plans along Queen St. west of Dovercourt Rd., will drive away artists who live and work in the 6.5-hectare formerly industrial neighbourhood.
The three projects approved by the OMB occupy 40% of the triangle.
One of the developers, Verdiroc Development Corp., wants to tear down an industrial building at 48 Abell St. that is now home to artists.
But Verdiroc says its project will provide 190 units of affordable housing, artists’ studios and workshops as well as condos.
“It’s a socially progressive, mixed-use development,” said Verdiroc lawyer David Bronskill.
The city wants Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Gerretsen to issue a ministerial zoning order that would set aside the OMB ruling on the basis that the province needs to protect cultural jobs in the area.
Read the full article
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