Toronto Council gives final approval for 11-storey building on Main Street south of Gerrard

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

Toronto Council has issued the final stamp of approval for a controversial 11-storey development application just north of the Main Street Library, where surrounding buildings reach just two storeys in height.

During the June 24 meeting, councillors voted in favour of developer Batory Planning and Management’s mixed-use residential proposal, which includes 56 units (seven of which are rental replacement units), four visitor vehicle parking spaces, 62 bicycle parking spaces, and retail space at the ground floor.

As part of the approval, Batory Planning is obligated to consult with the councillor for Beaches-East York to commit to a number of measures, including establishing a Construction Liason Committee made up of local residents, local businesses, parent council representatives of Beaches Alternative School and Kimberley Junior Public School.

Those liaison meetings are to be held by-weekly when construction begins, and notes from the meetings will be shared with the members and councillor’s office.

Construction crews will also be required to ensure proper site management, which includes implementing proper signage, safe walkways, and a “24 hours a day/seven days a week contact number for the site superintendent,” according to the motion supported by Toronto Council.

A separate item, which focused on the site’s seven rental replacement units, will require the developer to “provide and maintain” replacement units for a minimum of 20 years, and provide them with access to all of the new building’s indoor and outdoor amenities.

However, despite Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford’s “advanced motion” to “secure on-site parking for returning tenants,” the wording of the motion itself suggested parking will only be provided to returning tenants “if” the developer is able to secure on-site parking.

“If vehicle parking spaces are provided, the owner shall provide and make available to tenants of the replacement rental dwelling units at least the same number of parking spaces per unit as is provided to the market dwelling units,” read the motion.

With just four visitor-parking spaces planned, it remains unclear whether they will be converted into parking spaces for existing tenants.

Since it was first proposed in January, Batory Planning’s application has been a topic of contention amongst many of the area’s residents and business owners, who argue that the proposed building doesn’t fit the surrounding context and could set a new precedent for development at Main Street just south of Gerrard Street East.

“I understand bylaws have changed and so on – but to jump from a small two-storey building to something that is 11 – that is going to change the streetscape in that area in a really drastic and dramatic way,” said one resident during their deputation at a May 28 Toronto and East York Community Council meeting.

In a January interview with Sarabeth Holden, owner of Red Tape Brewery at 159 Main St., she expressed concern that a new building with a large ground floor retail space could pose a challenge to small businesses in the area.

“Whenever private developers are looking for ground floor retail with high rents, big-name shops regularly take up that space, which will make it challenging for small businesses in the area,” Holden told Beach Metro Community News.

Proposal for 11-storey residential building just north of Main Street Library received by city

Community members’ concerns over proposed 11-storey building north of Main Street Library include size of building, lack of parking

Proposal for 11-storey building on Main Street approved by Toronto and East York Community Council