Residents call for changes to Yonge-Eglinton tower plan
The future neighbours of a proposed 68-storey tower at 1 Eglinton Ave. East, dissatisfied with what they learned from representatives for developer Davpart Inc. at a public consultation meeting on May 11, are looking for changes to the current application.
Many of the 100 people who turned out for the Monday night meeting at Northern District Library indicated they are concerned with the proposal’s height, density and setbacks, among other issues.
“I made it very clear that the proposal currently forward is not something I can support on behalf of our community, but that our community and I are open to continuing the conversation, if they come back to us with something more reasonable,” Ward 22 councillor Matlow said.
Matlow said the community is not against a building rising at the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, but is insisting it be “one that contributes to the community rather than detracts.”
Davpart Inc. first submitted the application in January. It called for ground-level retail, 672 residential units and more than 10,000 square metres of office space. A private meeting regarding the proposal was held in March between developer representatives and Matlow, who was joined by members of the South Eglinton Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association.
SERRA membr Andy Gort and Jane Auster said the proposed use of Cowbell Lane for deliveries was especially problematic.
Cowbell Lane is a narrow street that runs south off Eglinton one block east of Yonge. Two other buildings — a 56-storey condominium tower under construction at 2221 Yonge St., and the 34-storey Art Shoppe condo tower slated for 2131 Yonge St. — already use it for the same purpose.
“Emergency vehicles will have to use that lane, pedestrians use that lane, cyclists use that lane, and all of these developments will have to access that lane in order to handle their loading and unloading,” Auster said. “So there are quite a few concerns about traffic.”
Arif Dharamshi, who owns the 2245 Yonge St. property, called the three-metre setback proposed for the Eglinton Avenue East side “inadequate,” and speculated the proposed 10-metre southern setback would effectively neutralize any future development on his property.
“The community’s enjoyment of Eglinton Avenue would be diminished by that tower,” Dharamshi said.
MHBC Planning’s David McKay said none of the concerns raised by residents, notably height and setbacks, were surprising, although “some of the details were surprising, and we’re going to look into those.”
Davpart plans to include several members of the community in future discussions regarding the property, McKay said, and will consider suggestions made during the meeting, such as adding medical and community centre space to the new development.
“Obviously, we’re open to feedback and comments from the community, and we’re going to be working with the various community members going forward,” he said.
“This is the epicentre of the Yonge and Eglinton area. There is one subway there, there is going to be a second subway there … and having density there is appropriate,” he added.