From the outside, Lawrence Park Medical Centre at 250 Lawrence Ave. W. might look a bit worn down, but it serves an important purpose. It houses many of the neighbourhood’s doctors and specialists and it caters to thousands of patients.
But now the centre has been sold for approximately $12 million and the new owner is looking to demolish it and put up an 11-storey condominium in its place — leaving councillor Christin Carmichael Greb to wonder: where will doctors and patients go?
An official plan amendment and zoning application was submitted by the Goldberg Group to the City of Toronto on March 27. The development calls for 259 units, three townhomes fronting onto Glengarry Avenue and three levels of underground parking. The proposal also calls for the corner house, at 219 Glengarry Ave., to be demolished and turned into two semi-detached homes.
Although Coun. Carmichael Greb is also opposed to the height of the proposed building, her primary concerns with the application are the lack of employment use and the displacement of doctors, patients and other businesses.
“It’s a medical building that is heavily used by the surrounding area,” said Carmichael Greb, who is concerned about the seniors and families with young children in the neighbourhood who frequent the centre.
Irena Gryffer, a hearing instrument specialist in the building, said that maintaining a level of comfort and accessibility for patients is important, and the camaraderie between other tenants is useful since many of her patients see more than one specialist in the building.
“Every single day we get a call asking if we’re taking new patients,” said a receptionist at the office of family physicians Sheldon, Grant and Catz-Biro, at which point a patient sitting in the waiting room chimed in, “It’s hard finding a good doctor in Toronto.”
But it’s not just doctors — there is a blood lab, an X-ray and ultrasound lab, physiotherapists and other office space being used.
“All these people, specialists and others now have to scramble to find where they are going to go. It’s something we’re trying to stay on top of,” said Carmichael Greb, who then added that commercial properties being redeveloped for residential use is a common issue happening in the neighbourhood.
The councillor has asked City of Toronto, City Planning to expand the notice area so more residents are informed of the process and are able to get involved, and she anticipates a preliminary report to be issued sometime in May, followed by a community consultation meeting.
