We’ve won a battle in a protracted war…..and I am so impressed with the great spirit and energy of our neighbourhood; On Wednesday March 4 we met at the Committee of Adjustment, and after four hours of sitting around (interspersed with some discussion with the Feather Factory representatives), the Committee heard the case and agreed with the affected neighbours! They rejected the Feather Factory Lofts application to reduce the amenity space required by law, and therefore the developer has to go back to the drawing board and make good on the required amount of space. It was clear to the C of A that the decision NOT to comply was purely motivated by profit. Our new neighbours, when they do finally arrive at 2154 Dundas Street West, will at least have enough space to meet and discuss community issues in their building.
Many thanks to all of the people who sent in letters (very important that you did this, it is part of the official record) and all of the folks who came down to City Hall (this show of strength was critical) and those brave enough to speak at the hearing. Brian Torry spoke very eloquently, as did John Phillips, Gerry Lebrun, Kevin Healy, and Mary Korda, among others. It was inspiring and vindicating, to say the least.
I have emailed Councillor Gord Perks to get a clear understanding of what happens next in this process, and I will forward that information when I receive it.
The Feather Factory folks have been nothing but negligent throughout the entire renovation process, and I do hope that this will be a bit of a reality check for them. We’re on a roll; Metrolinx and 25 Ritchie better do their homework!
Just a note to remind you of the Committee of Adjustment board review of the Feather Factory Lofts application tomorrow (Wednesday, March 4) at 10 am at City Hall, second floor committee room 2. If you can’t get to the meeting, there is still time to fax your letter to David Driedger, Committee of Adjustment (416) 392-0508. Make sure to quote the file number A0174/09TEY and the applicant Feather Factory Lofts Inc. on your letter, and send it in today so that it may be included in the file they review tomorrow. I’ve attached a copy of the letter I sent below; feel free to crib from it if that is helpful.
Kevin Healey, chair of the RMRA, has arranged a meeting/tour of the Feather Factory Loft on Thursday, February 26 at 7:00. Everyone is encouraged to attend. It is hoped that a large showing from the neighbourhood will strengthen our hand and let Plazacorp and the City know that we are very committed to see the right things done in our neighbourhood.
The RMRA has learned that the owners of the Feather Factory are conducting a tour of 2154 Dundas this Thursday evening at 7pm; you are welcome to join the tour if you have not already viewed the property from the inside. As you may know, the recently conferred Heritage Designation allows them to be exempt from the requirement to provide parking, and residents have limited opportunity to halt the project through the Committee of Adjustment meeting on March 4.
The RMRA is not happy with the circumstances behind the renovation and zoning of the property. But at this stage, we have little power to do anything; however it does provide an opportunity to have ask the developers of the project to support our local parketttes on Ritchie and Columbus Avenues and for planting of trees on Dundas Street West.They are willing to commit $5,000 to this project; we have asked for $50k, pointing to similarities to the Ritchie lofts support of the Wabash Community Centre. In return, we could issue a letter of support for the project at the committee of adjustment. Not ideal, but it does get us something for our local community.
Paul Weinberg
Local representative, Roncesvalles Macdonell Resident’s Association
The Heritage Preservation Board on February 20, 2009 unanimously approved the Feather Factory application (attached below this post, it is a pretty big file) for historical designation. This designation allows the development to be exempt from parking requirements. This is an unfortunate loophole in the system, which is designed to give flexibility to developers and encourage them not to tear down historical structures; we’re really caught between a rock and a hard place on this one.
There is a Committee of Adjustment meeting on March 4 at 10:00 re: 2154 Dundas St. The meeting will be held in Committee Room 2, second floor of City Hall.
The purpose of the application is to convert the Zoning from a 44-unit commercial building, to a 43-unit residential building — but with no variance to zoning by-laws regarding parking.
Thanks for such a great turnout last Tuesday night, it was wonderful to see the support from our community.
We’ve posted the comments that Debbie Adams made at the meeting with Gord Perks and Corwin Cambray on Tuesday, February 17 at the High Park Library, as well as the alternative Built Form plan that Debbie had distributed at the meeting and the minutes of the meeting as distributed by Gord Perk’s office. You can click on the links below to see these documents.
The Weston Community Coalition has been working for several years to make the Metrolinx Pearson/Union rail link and Georgetown GO expansion more representative of community needs; if you haven’t checked out their website please do so. There is a link to an online petition there, along with a massive quantity of great information on the Environmental Assessment process and other good bedtime reading…
Don’t forget the public meeting with Gord Perks at the High Park Library, 228 Roncesvalles Avenue. This public meeting will be dealing with concerns regarding the Bloor/Dundas Avenue Study’s design proposals for eventual development of the Loblaws/Zellers site.
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