Even after a study was completed to create a framework for development along a portion of Avenue Road, a recent condo proposal at Fairlawn Avenue is breaking the area density maximum and leaving neighbours concerned. One of nine proposed condo developments along Avenue Road, the seven-storey, 136-unit mixed residential and commercial building would have a density almost 25 per cent greater than the 2007 Avenue Road Study stipulates.
Fairlawn Avenue neighbour Miriam Moss compared its density to the area’s first “reasonable” seven-storey, 80-unit Tribute project at 1717 Avenue Rd., and said the plan is flouting the study made in consultation with locals.
“We’re not trying to stop the developers. We’re trying to stop the developers from running roughshod over it,” she said. “The concern is that whatever we let happen here is going to get worse as each condo is built.”
Her informal residents group was also concerned that local stores would be harmed, but Sarah Bayat of nearby Floris Flowers is looking forward to a growing community.
“I think, as long as it’s done the way that Tribute did across the street and maintaining a ground floor storefront, that’s a happy medium where we can preserve the retail climate in the neighbourhood while having the residential on top,” she said. “We see that in downtown Toronto all the time, and it works great.”
Previous height and density limits may shift, said Ward 16 councillor Karen Stintz, as ongoing changes are made to the original study, including a secondary plan.
“The reason we did the secondary plan is so we could set expectations for Avenue Road,” she said, “and I think, by and large, this application sits within those expectations.