Area homeowners are currently in talks to bring down the height of a 12-storey condo building with ground floor retail and commercial uses proposed at 4155 Yonge St., across from Auberge du Pommier. After presenting homeowners with alternate designs, Ire-Yonge Developers Inc. is now considering a counter offer from homeowners.
Jason Pantalone, director of land acquisitions and development at National Homes, said the developer should know within a month or so whether the various stakeholders will be able to arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement or whether they will proceed with the original application.
“We’ve shown them [residents] a number of drawings that indicated a reduction in height,” he said.
Doug Farley of the Yonge Ridge Homeowners’ Association said he has seen 10- and 11-storey options. Residents have come back with a counter offer that reflects what they’re willing to accept at the site. Farley didn’t want to discuss the details because the developer is still deciding.
“I believe that our offer will be seriously considered,” he said. “If they’re going to go to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board), this would not be slam dunk. There are lots of challenges to that property.”
Concerns include the height — that it would block sightlines and create privacy issues for neighbours — density, the size of footprint, parking, traffic and more. Local councillor Jaye Robinson believes that the two working group meetings held to date on this application have led to progress. On the issue of traffic, she has spoken with local businesses and condo boards as well as with parking enforcement and the transportation department. Area commercial operations that are using William Carson Crescent to receive delivery trucks will now do so between midnight and 5 a.m.
Farley, however, said, based on past experiences, he was skeptical of this solution as a long-term fix.