transit
835-839 Yonge Street; two towers of 49 and 41 storeys with 922 units approved with holding provision
City Council's Planning and Heritage Committee recommended approval of a mixed-use development at Yonge and Church with two high-rise towers totalling 922 rental and condo units, retaining the heritage facade at 835 Yonge. Deputants objected to density, loss of rent-controlled housing, and strain on transit and sewer infrastructure; staff confirmed technical reviews support the project. The decision moves to City Council for final approval.
From the floor
“My concern is that this is an older building and it's rent controlled and so when they build new buildings, we're going to lose rent control buildings for future generations. And I think it's very important that we think about our future generations because, you know, it's hard to get rent control buildings in the city the way that the city is.”Tenant in the existing building at 835 Yonge
“I would like for the city to think about the people before the profits and I mean city councilors to think about the people before the profits.”Tenant in the existing building at 835 Yonge
“The density is so intense. We have like five or six tall skinny towers in that one area. They're all like more than 30 stories. It's so dense and you know it takes a long time just to leave the building. You know for people that drive and also people that use public transit. Yeah. It's too the area is too dense.”Tenant in the existing building at 835 Yonge
“So to to staff, you've heard the deputants loud and clear about the enormous crowding in the area. Why do you think there is adequate infrastructure in this area to support so many new people when it's already very crowded?”A councillor
“Staff have reviewed the proposal, including the potential impacts on sewer capacity, TTC infrastructure, and are satisfied that the technical studies submitted with the application demonstrate that these impacts can be appropriately accommodated. in terms of school boards, school boards including Tdsb, TCDSB also have reviewed the application and they will continue to provide input, through the site plan process.”City of Toronto planning department
1 more person spoke
“Conan, can you talk specifically address the TTC issue? the college parks, the college station does get very very crowded. On what basis can the TTC say that they can take four more very large buildings in this precise location”A councillor
Also in this item
• The existing 200 rent-controlled units in the 1976 building will be retained and remain rent-controlled post-demolition; the new 922 units will be market-rate, representing a net loss of affordable rental housing at the site.
• A councillor directly challenged city and TTC staff on how the already-crowded College subway station can support four new large buildings at this single corner, and staff offered no specific answer.
The journey
Time to act
You can weigh in
Residents may contact their ward councillor before the full Council vote (date not stated in transcript). The item moves to City Council; public deputation may still be available at that stage if the meeting is noticed.
Decision
Approved with holding provision. The committee recommended to council that the Zoning By-law Amendment proceed with conditions: retention of the 200 existing rent-controlled units in the original building, a privately-owned public space of 672 square metres at the Yonge-Church corner, and compliance with site plan requirements on traffic, servicing, and school capacity.
On video
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