THIS JUST IN....
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On Thursday, February 23, 2006, we met with Councilor Pam McConnell, who is the City of Toronto councilor for the area. She is also a close ally of the mayor and one of the most powerful City Council members. We discussed with the councilor her key concerns for the site, and explained our revised designs for the building, emphasizing how the new design respected her concerns about shadows on City Hall square, the reduction in hotel units, the separation of the hotel suites onto the upper floors, and the selection of larger, 2 to 4 bedroom residences. We asked the Councilor if she was prepared to support the design direction, which includes an increase in density for the additional 56 Temperance Street site, and an overall density of over 1,000,000 sq. ft., (which is equivalent to the original 91-storey Sapphire tower).
Councilor McConnell said that she was very pleased with the new direction and that she would communicate this to the Planning Department. She also acknowledged that she would advise her City Council colleagues to support the new design. Frankly, it is an informal tradition on City Council with respect to building applications that the individual councilors follow the lead of the local councilor in whose ward the development is proposed.
Unquestionably, this meeting represented a very significant breakthrough. We now feel very comfortable proceeding with detailed design drawings of the building. Within the month of March we will be providing to existing suite owners the new suite options, and before the end of April, we will be publicly relaunching the project.
Again, if you wish to participate in the 16% Sapphire II Secured Mortgage, the program will be closed very soon. Please contact Sean Stewart at 416-548-8115, or
sean.stewart@onekingwest.com
Regards
Harry Stinson