Preservation of community heritage a top priority

Local organizations zeroed in on responsible development as an issue they would like their future Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park councillor to make a priority over their ensuing four-year term.

The Junction Residents Association (JRA), for one, is seeking a leader who will insist on “quality development, including the integration of day care, new social housing and community services,” according to Martin Lennox, JRA vice-chair.The Swansea Area Ratepayers Association (SARA) is keeping a watchful eye on two particular condominium redevelopment projects, 2490 and 2500 Bloor St. W., the former Old Mill Pontiac Buick Cadillac car dealership, west of Jane Street and the Southport Plaza at the south end of Swansea. A member for 35-plus years, William Roberts said he would like to see services that were once there, such as a grocery store, pharmacy and post office, reinstated especially for the many seniors who call this part of Swansea home.

The West Toronto Junction Historical Society is exasperated by what member Neil Ross calls “continued attacks on heritage buildings.”

“It’s staggering you’d want to come to an area that’s historically resonant and family friendly and alter it,” said Ross. “We’d like to see the Junction deemed a heritage district. We’d work with any candidate willing to preserve the Junction’s heritage.”

Candidate Sarah Doucette said engaging the community is key. Development meetings should not only be for residents on adjacent streets, but should be open to the public.

“There has to be constant consultation with the developer and the councillor, who has to be honest with the community,” she said. “Buildings in our ward have to be environmentally friendly, people friendly and public friendly. Section 37 funding, which a developer sets aside for the community it builds within, is important.

“The councillor, the community and the developer should be involved in where that money is spent,” said Doucette. “We should also be negotiating for day care. In these developments, we need spots for car share, locks for bikes and we need outdoor space.”

In terms of preserving the historic nature of the neighbourhood, Doucette said that while people have a right to make alterations to their homes, they should do so with the character of the area in mind.

“Bylaw officers need to ensure that people have the right permits,” she added.

Candidate Nick Pavlov said the ward cannot afford to lose the character of its neighbourhoods.

“Nevertheless, we need to acknowledge that the needs of today’s modern family have changed and aren’t necessarily similar to the time when our mature homes were built. We need to ask meaningful questions from the outset.”

Development should respect scale and the way the building is situated on the property, he said.

“We should look at ways by which developments can fuse with the existing environment and favour those which have been influenced by the neighbourhood materials and proportional influences.”

At the same time, said Pavlov, the community needs to be open to creative and modern ideas. Residents must be consulted prior to any municipal approvals. More importantly, he continued, all variance applications should be brought to the attention of the councillor’s office.

“I believe a good working relationship should be established with the local planner to ensure a cohesive and informed dialogue follows and reflects the needs of the constituents,” he said.

Guaranteeing responsible and quality residential development while protecting old homes is a goal councillor incumbent Bill Saundercook said he always strives for.

“Especially when you’ve got a neighbourhood like the Junction that has phenomenal history,” he said as an example.

When tackling the topic of development, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have experience on his side, he said. Asked how he approaches each construction project, Saundercook said, “it’s on a case by case basis for me, absolutely.”

“People were upset with me about 2500 Bloor St., but I can’t take a stance from day one against it. Tridel has built in Toronto for 40 years, they know the process, they know the attractiveness of a site.”

Saundercook said his intent was to support a suitable application that took into account residents’ concerns.

“I know there’s a lot of disgruntled people because Tridel got 10 and 12 storeys, but now we’ve got to make sure it’s quality and responsible and fits into the community as best as possible.”

Saundercook is encouraging business owners in the Junction, such as the one who owns the site where the train platform at Dundas Street West and Pacific Avenue is, to make sure prospective buildings reflect the character of the area.

Candidate Jackelyn Van Altenberg believes that Ward 13 deserves well built communities.

“Developers should be mandated to hold several meetings with community groups both before and during construction and development of properties,” she said. “Greenspace should be maintained as much as possible during development as well. When building new residences it should be done with a sense of healthy lifestyle and environment for the future of residents as well.”

Candidate Redmond Weissenberger said being proactive is key to providing a “fair and balanced approach to new development and redevelopment within our ward.”

“The number one problem is that any opposition to a development application is done at the eleventh hour, whether it be a home renovation or a new commercial project. Most of these controversies could be avoided.”

If elected, Weissenberger said he would be more than happy to go to bat for his constituents if a committee of adjustment application was cause for concern.

“There are certainly issues to be addressed at this level and it is normally about the appropriateness of the physical dimensions of the project,” said Weissenberger, “however, there is nothing within this framework that dictates style or character.”

Only the Heritage Act can do this, he said.

“The Heritage Act is an incredibly powerful piece of legislation… We normally only hear about the act when there is a request to have a property ‘designated’ and normally only after someone has proposed demolition or a serious alteration,” he said. “This is what I mean by eleventh hour interventions. The intent of the Heritage Act is not to prevent unwanted demolitions nor it is intended to stop someone from building a home of a particular style.”

- Lisa Rainford

Posted in Bloor West - Parkdale, News