Toronto West Don Lands: Blocks 17 & 26 | 141m | 43s | Aspen Ridge | Core Architects

There it is, commence the media witch-hunt.

So we are going to have the media and councilors go after Dream, Kilmer, and Tricon, three groups who have been dedicated to building purpose-built rental (often with affordable components), in a city and period of time where it was not always particularly easy to do so, and who took a chance to work with the public sector to deliver municipal and provincial vision of the West Don Lands.

It is not a revelation to anyone that various developers donated to the Ford campaign, the Wynne government and City Council introduced legislation and policy that was not popular among the developer community. Publishing a high-profile article on the topic in relations to the MZOs seem in bad taste, as it is drawing conclusions or implications of cronyism that don't necessarily have to exist. It is equally viable to believe that our public bureaucracy (Infrastructure Ontario) sought the MZO in cooperation with the developer consortium that they've been successfully dealing with for years, without involvement of the Ontario PCs, but that is not a "side" of the story presented.
 
WislaHD said:
There it is, commence the media witch-hunt.

So we are going to have the media and councilors go after Dream, Kilmer, and Tricon, three groups who have been dedicated to building purpose-built rental (often with affordable components), in a city and period of time where it was not always particularly easy to do so, and who took a chance to work with the public sector to deliver municipal and provincial vision of the West Don Lands.

It is not a revelation to anyone that various developers donated to the Ford campaign, the Wynne government and City Council introduced legislation and policy that was not popular among the developer community. Publishing a high-profile article on the topic in relations to the MZOs seem in bad taste, as it is drawing conclusions or implications of cronyism that don't necessarily have to exist. It is equally viable to believe that our public bureaucracy (Infrastructure Ontario) sought the MZO in cooperation with the developer consortium that they've been successfully dealing with for years, without involvement of the Ontario PCs, but that is not a "side" of the story presented.
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I guess that’s what happens when you make a non-transparent decision and decline to provide adequate justification.

It invites cynicism and exactly these types of questions, which are 100% valid.

Nobody is to blame but the Minister for overusing MZOs and sidestepping a public process.
 
mcornett said:
I guess that’s what happens when you make a non-transparent decision and decline to provide adequate justification.

It invites cynicism and exactly these types of questions, which are 100% valid.

Nobody is to blame but the Minister for overusing MZOs and sidestepping a public process.
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I agree of course, though we still know nothing of the plans. I would expect that an announcement will be forthcoming, with all the glamour of renderporn and announcements of public benefits and (likely) affordable housing.

Optics and public relations are a consistent sticking point with this government. If they had intended to use MZOs on this WDL Block, then maybe they should have led headfirst with the renderporn and affordable housing announcements so that the public understood what the MZO is being used for. Though, I don't expect much from a government led by a leader whose political style is best described as crass.

The MZOs are an interesting tool, which the ministry has full prerogative to take use of. I saw BlogTO referring to it as a "loophole" earlier, which is incorrect as it is fully within their power to use as per the Planning Act.
 
WislaHD said:
I agree of course, though we still know nothing of the plans. I would expect that an announcement will be forthcoming, with all the glamour of renderporn and announcements of public benefits and (likely) affordable housing.

Optics and public relations are a consistent sticking point with this government. If they had intended to use MZOs on this WDL Block, then maybe they should have led headfirst with the renderporn and affordable housing announcements so that the public understood what the MZO is being used for. Though, I don't expect much from a government led by a leader whose political style is best described as crass.

The MZOs are an interesting tool, which the ministry has full prerogative to take use of. I saw BlogTO referring to it as a "loophole" earlier, which is incorrect as it is fully within their power to use as per the Planning Act.
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This project better be absolutely spectacular if I am going to believe public good was in any way a consideration here.
 
I am writing with some very disturbing news.

Demolition machinery has arrived at the Dominion Foundry Complex and locals are reporting that crews intend to demolish all the buildings on site with nothing saved for heritage preservation. Workers have reported that they have instructions to clear the property by March.

This is a site that was subject to a completely unjust and anti-democratic Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) last October. It approved the construction of up to three 50-storey buildings without any specific heritage preservation requirements. To my knowledge, there is still no development application on record, meaning the local community has no idea what will be built and has never been consulted on the project.

If you have concerns about this, please write immediatelly to Minister Clark, Premier Ford, Mayor Tory, and Councillor Wong-Tam. I have urged the City to take whatever legal action might be necessary to preserve the propery in the interim, including seeking a court injunction.

This may be a longshot, but once these buildings are demolished we will lose one of the only historic properties in the neighbourhood. Some of the buildings are quite beautiful and it is easy to see how they could be preserved and repurposed.
 
confirming construction and probable demo equipment arriving on site
8BF6AB35-4647-4D5E-B7E8-2759F0B90926.jpeg
 
Talk about taking any character out of the area. Sure hope we can preserve the...(checks notes) steely grey box aesthetic
 
mcornett said:
I am writing with some very disturbing news.

Demolition machinery has arrived at the Dominion Foundry Complex and locals are reporting that crews intend to demolish all the buildings on site with nothing saved for heritage preservation. Workers have reported that they have instructions to clear the property by March.

This is a site that was subject to a completely unjust and anti-democratic Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) last October. It approved the construction of up to three 50-storey buildings without any specific heritage preservation requirements. To my knowledge, there is still no development application on record, meaning the local community has no idea what will be built and has never been consulted on the project.

If you have concerns about this, please write immediatelly to Minister Clark, Premier Ford, Mayor Tory, and Councillor Wong-Tam. I have urged the City to take whatever legal action might be necessary to preserve the propery in the interim, including seeking a court injunction.

This may be a longshot, but once these buildings are demolished we will lose one of the only historic properties in the neighbourhood. Some of the buildings are quite beautiful and it is easy to see how they could be preserved and repurposed.
Click to expand...
Now we know why the MZO happened.

AoD
 
How is it possible that they can start construction on a project without any information about what is actually getting built here?

I'm not even anti-development it's just absurd that we can't even see what they intend to put here. What do the buildings look like? Why did they choose not to retain any of the heritage buildings? Do they contain any retail amenities? Public Amenities? What is the construction timeline? Who is the builder? Who do local residents hold accountable if construction causes issues off-site?

Toronto is a growing city and I get the need for new housing. But this is crazy.
 
So I understand it, Blocks 17 and 26 (153 to 185 Eastern Avenue?) have no development proposals other than three rumoured 50 storey-ish towers.

Thanks to the MZOs, a respected developer like Dream (+ Kilmer, and Tricon) are presumably paying$ to maybe flatten a site that hosts buildings with heritage character.

Mega-stupid move unless the equipment on-site will be busy with less intrusive work. There better be some real news soon (ideally great architecture and heritage retention). If not their PR departments better be very well-rested.
 
It's the wild, wild west for developers in Ontario now. With this government, they can do anything that they please while consumers and municipalities are the ones who ultimately get screwed over and over again.

Im so sick of this nonsense. Between MZO's, rent-conrol being scrapped, LPAT being significantly altered into a new OMB styled process, and historical preservation rules being skirted , developers are having a field day and are printing money like they never have before.
 
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