Toronto City Council recently approved plans to scale back the Lawrence Heights redevelopment, which falls within the bounds of Bathurst Street and Dufferin Street, and Highway 401 and Lawrence Avenue.
The condos on Toronto Community Housing Corporation’s (TCHC) property will be reduced from 4,800 new units to 4,100, and the residential units on the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) lands will be reduced from 400 units to 300. The move was meant to address concerns raised about traffic congestion and infrastructure and sewage capacity. But some residents say the new plan is only a start.
“The plans were scaled back very slightly,” said Maria Rosaria of the community group Save Our Streets. “It’s still too much. What happens to this already overly congested area?”
Local councillor Josh Colle, who spearheaded the changes, said the plans are vital to the quality of the community.
“With a development of this size, there will be always be levels of concern,” Colle said. “Right now, Lawrence Heights is a neighbourhood with extremely serious challenges. I would think that most people who live nearby would want to see these issues addressed. The status quo is not an option,” he added.
The next step, according to Colle, is to work on a secondary plan, which will go to community council at the end of next year. But the question of funding remains.
TCHC will fund the redevelopment of buildings on their property, while the City of Toronto will have to bear infrastructure costs.
Rosaria said she wants to see financial responsibility. “The city’s in a real financial hole, so it makes you wonder about the logistics….We really want a transparent framework,” she said.
Colle said he is willing to continue to work with the community to ensure a balanced plan is reached.