Don Mount goes to court
City council may have endorsed the Don Mount Court housing development project, but a local residents’ group says it will appeal the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.
The project involves tearing down and rebuilding 232 rent-geared-to-income social housing units and building an additional 255 market units.
"While the Riverside Area Residents’ Association anticipated the outcome, we were appalled that this was passed as a quick item with no debate or discussion," said Mary Kelly, a spokeswoman for the group.
"To this end, the association will exercise its democratic right and we will appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board."
Kelly said they are appealing because the project doesn’t adhere to the zoning, the official plan or the current tree bylaw.
The OMB has the jurisdiction to overturn the city’s decision if it sees fit, but the appeal has to revolve around planning matters only.
"The OMB’s jurisdiction is limited to planning issues and not who lives there," said Bill Bosworth, project manager for Don Mount Court.
The residents’ association could also be risking some dollars by launching this appeal.
"The board can award costs to deter against frivolous appeals simply designed to waste time," added Bosworth.
This project is located at 825 Dundas St., 46 Hamilton St., 35 Carroll St. and 120 Broadview Ave. The site is owned and operated by the Toronto Community Housing Corporation.
Shortly after inheriting social housing from the province, the housing corporation discovered Don Mount Court was crumbling and many of the buildings were deemed unfit to live in. Most residents have since been relocated while awaiting this redevelopment.
If it was simply a matter of rebuilding the 232 social housing units that would be okay, said Kelly, adding the residents’ group objects to the increased density that would accompany the additional 255 market units.
The housing corporation is leasing land to a private developer to help raise money for the rebuild, which will cost millions. The province has kicked in $9 million, but that doesn’t cover all the costs.
Kelly said if market units must be added, then the number of social housing units should be reduced to compensate, and the remaining social units could then be spread out elsewhere in the city.
One thing not in doubt is the need for affordable housing. The housing corporation currently operates 90,000 units of social housing in the city, and there are approximately 75,000 households on the waiting list, said Bosworth.
The residents’ association has until late October to officially launch its appeal, but Bosworth said that won’t delay the start of the Don Mount Court project.
"We will certainly proceed with or without an appeal as fast as possible," he said.