Now a thorny rose of another name, the former Alexandria townhouse project on Bayview Avenue that went bankrupt last year has new life as the Homes of Bridle Path.
The controversial townhouse project on the east side of The Bridle Path at Bayview and Post Road has been taken over by Urbancorp and both City of Toronto staff and Toronto City Council expect to see new development plans cross their desks within the next few months. The project was initiated by Hush Homes, but with starting prices in the $2.4 million range, the project bellied up due to a lack of sales. Prior to its bankruptcy, the 20-townhouse project became the bane of the community because of its proposed density and because they felt it did not match the character of the neighbourhood dominated by single-family dwellings.
Appeals were fought to reduce the density at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), but the Alexandria townhouse project was given approval to move ahead as proposed. It was to have already been completed and occupied in early 2014, but according to Urbancorp’s website, occupancy is now expected in 2017.
Original plans by Hush had the 20 townhouses all at three storeys and between 3,700 and 3,900 square feet, with each served by a two-car, underground garage. The new developer is advertising the starting price point at around the $1 million mark for three storeys, three bedrooms and square footage ranging from about 2,000 up to about 2,300. That has some anticipating there may be changes coming to the development plans there.
“They [Urbancorp] have not filed any new applications, but our understanding is they plan to at some point this summer,” said Ward 25 councillor Jaye Robinson. "They absolutely have to file a new application unless they plan to do exactly what was approved by the OMB. With the new price point one has to think the plans will change and there are serious concerns about the potential of adding more density.
“I can tell you that [added density] would not be a welcomed change by the community,” she added.
Requests for comment by the developer were not returned by press time.
