Reminder: tonight is the official community consultation meeting regarding the development at Danforth and Woodbine. Attending the meeting will be: Councillor Bussin, representatives for the developer and City of Toronto Planner, Tine Major, lmajor@toronto.ca.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 – 7 – 9 p.m.
Terry Fox Community Centre, 2 Gledhill Ave.
For more information, contact Councillor Sandra Bussin’s office at 416-392-1376 or councillor_bussin@toronto.ca
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Below is the letter that DECA sent to Councillor Bussin regarding this development as a result of DECA’s community meeting and discussions on the blog.
Councillor Bussin,
Thank you for participating in the Danforth East Community Association’s meeting regarding the proposed re-zoning of the site at Woodbine and Danforth.
Residents in this community are intensely interested in developments along the Danforth. In fact, DECA has taken the unusual step of forming a Business Revitalization Team that provides professional consultation and expertise to help local businesses with everything from graphic and store design to marketing and retailing guidance. In the case of this development, residents are particularly interested in seeing a viable, beautiful, dynamic building because since the horrific fire in 2001, this address has been a blight on our neighbourhood.
There is no doubt; a building of this size is out of character with the existing streetscape. As such, DECA respectfully requests that the interests of the wider community be given serious consideration and that DECA be consulted on an ongoing basis throughout the process.
The taller the building the greater the impact on our neighbourhood; notwithstanding any discord there may be about the height of the building, there are a number of areas where the community is wholly in agreement:
- A quality retail space with high ceilings and extensive windows to attract high end tenants
- An increased parking ratio especially regarding visitor parking and ensuring new parking for retail shops
- Building to the City of Toronto’s Green Standards and consultation with DECA’s Green Committee regarding native trees, bicycle parking, a green roof and sustainable energy practices
- The ability for local artists to use the retail space at no cost until leasing is complete
- Attention to façade detail in the podium to ensure consistency with the existing three and four floor commercial strip
- A unique top to the building, perhaps using LED lighting on the Danforth side
- Consultation with DECA regarding Section 37 funding projects
We look forward to working with your office, the City planning department and the developer on this project.
I have attended two meetings on the BH and am unable to attend this evening. I just wanted to register my disappointment with the tone of the letter you sent Councillor Bussin. First,, at least at the second meeting and on a number of the postings on it there seemed a number of folks who were not only concerned with the big hole site but the generally dreary state of much of the business area. Your letter fails to mention that realization. There was also a good range of comments that supported the building in general. You write as if there was some sort of consensus around the height concern; my conversations and reading your web site suggests that this is inaccurate. The fact that “a building of this size is out of character with the existing street-scape” is hardly a criticism in the mind of many folks. To repeat, the Danforth in this area is pretty dreary. As well, the city’s official plan suggests this kind of development. Finally, you fail to mention that there is a realization that this lot is one of unusual proportions and that many of us realize that it can and should accommodate something “different”. This building may not be perfect but it would be a terrible mistake to make some notion of perfection (on which there would be little or no agreement in any event) to get in the way of an initiative that could do something worthwhile for the area as well as the city in general. Let me be clear, your suggestions for consideration, tall windows etc., are useful, it is the tone that is problematic.
This was my first meeting on the issue. I found it very informative about the progress of Danforth East, as well as all the concerns local residents have within the community. It was great to see the large number of residents to show up to the meeting and voice their ideas about this major proposed change within their neighbourhood. I hope the dialogue continues as new developments should be encouraged whether it be businesses, art programs, community events, etc.
I’ve recently opened up a new business on Danforth Avenue (+ Main St) and see great potential within this community. I am very committed to doing my part in making a positive impact and an ongoing contribution to the development within our neighbourhood.
Thank you,
Adrian
Guru Coffee
2741 Danforth Avenue
416-917-7419