216-218 Bathurst St (5 Robinson St, Savoy Hospitality LLC, 1s, Ava Janikowski Architect)

[drum118]

Mods will leave it up to you to how to title this project.

This went to committee of adjustment on July 26, 2017 requesting that this site be converted from commercial to 30 suit Hotel

Really!! A Hotel 2 block north of Queen

 

[am29]

Does that say the EXISTING building will be converted to a hotel?

 

[drum118]

Does that say the EXISTING building will be converted to a hotel?

Yes

 

[ProjectEnd]

Deferred for a maximum of 3 months: https://web.toronto.ca/wp-content/u...f_A_TEY_Decisions_July_26_2017_PM_Hearing.pdf

Materials available here: http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentAp...=4121038&isCofASearch=true&isTlabSearch=false

 

[ADRM]

Deferred for a maximum of 3 months: https://web.toronto.ca/wp-content/u...f_A_TEY_Decisions_July_26_2017_PM_Hearing.pdf

Materials available here: http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentAp...=4121038&isCofASearch=true&isTlabSearch=false

Pretty neat.

 

[ADRM]

Pretty neat.
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Ah, actually, colour from one of the other docs:

 

[Automation Gallery]

Lot of history with this building, i'm glad they're keeping it

 

[ADRM]

The couple neighbourhood opposition reports in the supporting docs make for pretty infuriating reading.

 

[88drums]

I wonder if this will end up as a hostel rather than a hotel -- both the building and location seem like a great fit for one. Either way, a neat and rather unexpected reuse of the space.

 

[ADRM]

I wonder if this will end up as a hostel rather than a hotel -- both the building and location seem like a great fit for one. Either way, a neat and rather unexpected reuse of the space.

If I'm reading the supporting docs correctly, some of the rooms will have shared bathrooms, and there's to be a large communal space with games tables, arcade games, etc., so it sounds like they're going for something not-quite hostel but definitely more in that direction than the Four Seasons.

Ironically, one of the opposed neighbours highlighted the "hostel-esque" nature as a main reason for opposition.

 

[Automation Gallery]

ironically, one of the opposed neighbours highlighted the "hostel-esque" nature as a main reason for opposition.

Hmm? I guess cause hostels in Canada are looked at differently from the ones in Europe and elsewhere

 

[ADRM]

Hmm? I guess cause hostels in Canada are looked at differently from the ones in Europe and elsewhere

NIMBYs gonna NIMBY.

 

[UrbanFervour]

Not to be a downer... but the exterior trellises... why?

Are they gonna plant them with ivy? because if not, they're not really an improvement imo.

 

[bilked]

To bring this one up to date (and provide a hellish glimpse into the planning process) the owner’s application to add a *one* storey addition for the development of a 30 suite hotel was refused at the Committee of Adjustment and then appealed to the Toronto Local Appeal Body. The owners ultimately settled with the City for something basically the same as the original ask, but the appeal was resisted by 5 members of the Woloszczuk family who own the properties on Bathurst immediately north (and who, for some reason, did not participate in the mediation process, but who each individually applied for interested party status). Here is the decision:

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/99a2-TLAB_17-274561-S45-19-TLAB_216-218-Bathurst-and-5-Robinson-St_Decision_SGopikrishna.pdf

The end result, surprise surprise, is that the appeal was allowed, notwithstanding the, uh, deft legal footwork of Mr. Woloszczuk:

​

Mr. Wolosczuk cross-examined Mr. Chan [the appellant’s expert] for the better part of five hours. By way of editorial comment, there were relatively few questions asked notwithstanding the length of the cross examination, because many questions were repeated, restated and reiterated because Mr. Wolosczuk was clearly not satisfied with Mr. Chan’s answers.​

Here are the properties as of today:

 

[bilked]

As an aside, at the hearing Mr. Woloszczuk purported to represent the concerns of the community... Personally, I have a hard time believing that anybody who landscapes the front of their property with a 12 foot billboard advertising frozen French fries really gives much of a shit about the community:

But that’s just me.