BPRO’s President, Ted Butler, met with the Vice-President, Development for the NYX Capital Corp, Tim Jessop. The January 15 meeting took place, socially-distanced, at the site of the proposed development at 3180 Yonge Street. BPRO was accompanied by Eli Aaron, a board member from the Lytton Park Residents’ Organization as well as Naomi Faulkner, a Bedford Park resident and BPRO member with a city planning background.
Mr. Jessop confirmed that NYX Capital has closed on all the properties that are included in the current development submission. This includes the entire block on the west side of Yonge Street, from Bedford Park to Woburn Avenue – everything except the TD Bank which is not included.
Mr. Butler conveyed that there is zero support for the development in the community – that BPRO and all the neighbouring resident organizations are unequivocally opposed to the development and will do everything possible to prevent it from being built as it is currently proposed.
Our primary objections were made from a thorough review of the submission done by Eli Aaron. These included obvious height concerns, balconies on the lower floors, angular plane issues, traffic issues, pedestrian safety, impact on the school and the access pattern for traffic into the building’s underground parking. It was also pointed out that there are a number of public safety issues that have been underestimated in the proposal.
It was clear, and very unfortunate, to learn that NYX Capital sees Yonge and Lawrence being no different from Yonge and Eglinton, where densification and massive building heights are being approved for new projects.
BPRO’s president explained that Yonge & Lawrence is a single family home neighbourhood. Yes, it has a subway station, but it is not a transit hub like Yonge and Eglinton. When asked what would be acceptable to the community, it was outlined that only a development compliant with the midrise guidelines, that demonstrates a high degree of consideration to the traffic around Blessed Sacrament Catholic School and the residential traffic patterns in general, will be acceptable to us.
Mr. Jessop expressed interest in working with the community. In response, it was suggested he needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with a more reasonable proposal. He acknowledged there would be inevitable changes throughout the process, one likely to go on for two years or more.
The meeting ended somewhat pleasantly with an appreciation of everybody knowing who is who, and an agreement to maintain an ongoing dialogue.
Rest assured BPRO, LPRO, and others will continue to mobilize to fight this current submission and we will keep you posted here.
For those who would like to read another article about this development, please click HERE.
