Your argument is similar to a newsletter sent out by the local councillor, who railed against new developments or proposed new developments in the area, and I found it absolutely riduclous.
Perhaps you should run against the local councillor in the next municiple election.
I've lived in the area for a little while now, and I've never had any problems with traffic or subway congestion (aside from the regular TTC delays).
Of course, not having a car helps. But even when I have driven Zipcars or friends cars outside of rush hour and the weekends, traffic is never a problem, unless there's an accident of some kind.
Seriously?!?!?!?
The area can absolutely support more people, if proper infrastructure is allowed to be built.
Sure any area can support more people,.... if proper infrastructure is built. But that's the thing,... the proper infrastructure isn't being built!!!! We're always behind the 8-ball!
In fact, get an idea of how much property tax money this ward generates for the city,... and look at what this ward gets back in infrastructure,... its robbery!
When was the last time a brand new school was actually built in this ward? Sure there's been some schools that have been rebuilt with Section 37 developer deals. But have not been a new school built in this area that is desperately under capacity.
The Yonge-401 interchange is a total mess, the southbound Yonge to eastbound left turn causes gridlock throughout south North York Centre in rush hour! Yes, try driving in rush hour,.... of course traffic will not be a problem when you drive in the middle of the night!
Look at the Avondale Community Condominium Association (ACCA: about 15 condo towers north-west of Yonge-401 interchange), it takes some of those condo folks 30 minutes to drive from the parking lot to the corner of Avondale and Yonge so they can go on southbound Yonge to the 401. 30 minutes!!! And in the winter its closer to an hour!
The Yonge-401 interchange is so crappy, it backs up the westbound collector to Bayview and Leslie,... yes, during rush hour (when you don't drive). Most folks give up on Yonge-401 and use Bayview or Leslie,... thus most of the top 10 worst traffic intersections in the city are along Sheppard! And Toronto has the worst traffic congestion in North America,... so that gives you an idea of how bad it is,....
But the Councillor is so focused on the house owning crowd that he's completely alienating people like me, who don't drive and own condos.
You can't be serious!
Don't make this into a House owner Vs Condo owner-renter battle. That doesn't make sense at all. Over 60% of the residents in this ward, Ward 23 (Willowdale - ie North York Centre area), are Condo and appartment folks! That's over 60% of the voters of this ward! It doesn't make sense that the local councillor would side with House owners vs Condo folks and alienating Condo folks - the majority of his voters!
http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/city_planning/wards/files/pdf/profile-ward23-2011.pdf
I don't recall the local councillor ever holding a house summit! Here's the link for the local councillor's Condo summit on Sunday April 6 at North York Civic Centre.
http://johnfilion.ca/ward-23-condo-summit-april-6/
In fact, condo folks as represented by the Avondale Community Condominium Association (ACCA: about 15 condo towers north-west of Yonge-401 interchange) and Yonge Corridor Condominium Association (YCCA: about 50 condo towers along Yonge between 401 and Finch hydro corridor) are just as pissed at the gridlock traffic, 100% full capacity Yonge line, lack of local school capacity, lack of infrastructure,... and yes, even the over-development in the area! The Condo-folks get it worst than the house folks,... because the condo-folks have to get their cars out of their underground parking spots in AM rush like all the other folks in their condos,.... and the kids from houses get first priority at the local schools - so condo kids are the ones that are usually bused out.
Take Sheppard West for example, between Beecroft and Senlac. There's derelict houses and tiny medical offices, that can and should be converted to moderately sized townhomes or condos. Instead, the Councillor has refused any development proposals and drives me crazy.
And that drives you crazy,.... not the gridlock traffic, crappy TTC service, kids being bused out,.... hmmm,....
Yes, let's take Sheppard West between Beecroft and Senlac. Those derelict houses and tiny medical offices,... probably highest density of dentist office and plastic surgeons anywhere - people driving by must wonder if everyone who lives around here has are seriously ugly with terrible teeth!,... anyways, those derelict houses and tiny medical offices are being converted to 3,4 or 5 storey office building for larger medical offices,.... or other office use like mortgage brokers, insurance, investment, foreign governement offices, etc,... If you add up all the office spaces along Sheppard West between Beecroft and Senlac,... how many office tower would that be equal to??? That's what we need more of in this area,... offices - places of employment - for good jobs,... so the people who actually live in the area can have jobs that they can WALK to and not rely on the TTC or drive! In good urban planning, there must be a balance between office-work places of employment and land for residential use,.... in North York Centre, we've seen over 50 condos in the last 17 years since Amalgamation,... and only one office tower built (not including HullmarkCentre 12 storey under construction now). The absolute dumbest thing would be to replace those office space along Sheppard West between Beecroft and Senlac with townhouses and condos!
Looking at the 2 developers, I'm not surprised.
