While the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) ruled in favour of a double condo project in Yorkville, two provincial MPPs said they want to block it because the condos set a precedent affecting the Queen’s Park vista.
“I’m shaking my head. This is absolutely bizarre,” said Andrew Hoffman, COO of Menkes Developments Ltd., the company responsible for the 221- and 186-metre condos to be built at 21 Avenue Rd., the former Four Seasons site. He said the condos will not be visible behind Queen’s Park when finished, unless they are viewed northward on University Avenue, halfway between College Street and Dundas Street. Hoffman said, from that position, there are other buildings in the foreground that affect the vista.
Nevertheless, New Democrat MPP Rosario Marchese said he would like to see the current development blocked. Which is why, in part, he is pushing forward a bill to prevent any development from crowding Queen’s Park.
“It would be a ghastly thing.… Queen’s Park with these buildings behind it,” said Marchese. Bill 95 had its first reading in the legislature June 3, just weeks after the OMB ruling gave Menkes the go ahead.
When Menkes originally put in an application to the city in 2007, the proposed buildings would have appeared more prominently behind Queen’s Park. City planner Louis Tinker said amendments were made. Heights were reduced. However, when council failed to make a decision within a required amount of time, Menkes went to the OMB. Eventually, the city and Menkes settled on a decision, reflected in the ruling. During the process, Hoffman said the Ontario legislature house speaker, Liberal MPP Steve Peters, was in opposition to the construction but failed to produce planning documents to the OMB in support of his stance.
Currently Peters has asked for a judicial review of the board’s final decision. He said the review will likely provide grounds for an appeal.
“What we’re arguing is the impact that this proposal will have on the views and vista of the legislature,” said Peters.
Regarding Bill 95, Marchese said he hopes it will pass in September, affecting the future of the Menkes development.