APPROXIMATELY 100 PEOPLE packed into a community consultation meeting on March 5 to discuss an application from Menkes to build two 42-storey condominium towers on the Gibson Square site.
The Ontario Municipal Board made a controversial decision last year to amend the official plan, allowing the company to develop residential homes on the lands at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue, which were reserved for commercial uses. The decision did not please Coun. John Filion at the time, but he said he has put it behind him.
“I’m not happy about it being entirely residential,” he said. “However, the Ontario Municipal Board, in its lack of wisdom, decided that, so we have to make the best of a bad situation. And on that front, I think we’re doing pretty well.”
The towers will add 937 units to the area, with a nine-storey podium that would join the two towers. The lower floors of the podium would be reserved for retail space.
Three-quarters of the rose garden that currently sits at the corner of Yonge Street and Park Home Avenue will likely be saved, Filion said. Underground parking will likely be provided for those visiting the historic Gibson House, which sits adjacent to the development site. The site will also be landscaped.
“What we hope to have is almost like a seamless whole, with adjacent parkland, so that it’s all treated as one whole,” said George Belza, the development consultant for Menkes.
City staff will be reviewing the application, and will likely rezone the site by the end of December, Belza said.
After all of the controversy, Coun. John Filion said he’s keeping a positive attitude.
“You know, I’m pretty optimistic that we’ll come up with something that everybody’s happy with.”