Table of Buildings
The following chart is helpful. There are a few holes. We’ll catch up. The tricky parts are where an address and a proposal change owners e.g. 1181 Queen Street, or the property expands in size, e.g. 2-6 Lisgar morphs into 2-90 Lisgar, or where the nuclear waste silo moves in 2020, e.g. within 48 Abell.
Address | Developer | Name of Project | Notes | Architect | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1155 & 1171 Queen (1155 > 1169) | Baywood | ‘Bohemian Embassy’ | 19 storeys | Page and Steele / Pemberton | ||
45 Lisgar | Medallion | ‘West Q’ | ||||
1181 Queen (v1) | ‘Plaza’ site | 30 stories | Cancelled (sold) | |||
1181 Queen (v2) | Baywood | ‘Plaza’ site | 20 stories Yolo (1181 Queen St) Inc. | Cancelled (sold) | ||
1181 Queen (v3) | Skale Developments | ‘Plaza’ site | 16 storeys | Quadrangle | In progress (at OMB) | |
440 Dufferin | Siteline 390 Dufferin St. Inc. | ‘saw tooth building’ / for sale 2017 | ||||
11 Peel (1230 Queen) | Context (Howard Cohen) > Streetcar | ‘Sanko site’, ‘Toyland’, ‘The Carnaby’ | ||||
40-44 Dovercourt | ‘Art Condos’ | |||||
2-6 Lisgar | Baywood | ‘The Love Boat’ | Page and Steele | |||
2-90 Lisgar | Urbancorp | ‘The Edge’ | Includes TMAC | |||
90 Lisgar | Lisgar Park | |||||
48 Abell (West > 150 Sudbury) | Verdiroc | St. Clare’s Multi-Faith Housing | ||||
48 Abell (East) > 68 Abell | Verdicoc > Landmark/(Urbancorp) | ‘The The Epic’ and and ‘Westside Gallery Lofts’ + ‘The Curve’ | Artscape | Condos and rental | ||
99 Sudbury | OMB 2017 | |||||
2 Gladstone | Harry K. > Streetcar | TACT | ||||
1093 Queen | Baywood. Pemberton | ‘Ten93’ | Page and Steele |
Pre-construction Renderings
The links below take you to pre-construction renderings of developments in the Triangle:
- 1155 & 1171 Queen (Bohemian Embassy) - 1
- 45 Lisgar (West Q) - 1
- 1181 Queen - 1
- 440 Dufferin - 1, 2, 3
- 11 Peel - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- 40-44 Dovercourt (Art Condos) - Slideshow
- 2-90 Lisgar (The Edge) - slideshow
- 68 Abell (The Epic) - 1, 2
- 99 Sudbury - Slideshow
- 2 Gladstone (2G Condos)- 1, 2
- 1093 Queen (Ten93) - 1, 2
Chronology
This Chronology is still a work-in-progress. Be forgiving and double check if you’re relying on it.
2005
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Summer | 1171 Queen | First community meeting announcing the three developments | |
150 Sudbury | Initial meetings of Active 18 | ||
48 Abell | |||
Dec. 16 | Active 18 organizational meeting at the Gladstone Hotel |
2006
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 24 | Active 18 | Active 18 adopts formal constitution | |
Jan 31 | Active 18 | Steering committee | |
Mar 5 | Active 18 | Community charrette | |
Mar 30 | Active 18 | Charrette Report made public at a Press Conference Community’s Area Plan presented | |
Sales office for 150 Sudbury opens | 150S | ||
Apr 6 | Active 18 | Steering committee | |
Apr | 1171 Queen | -Pre-hearing at OMB | 1171 Queen |
150 Sudbury | -Initial hearing at OMB to hear positions of those who want to be parties | 150 Sudbury | |
48 Abell | -This hearing is to consider the applications of the developers because the City has not dealt with the development proposals within the required 180 days | 48 Abell | |
Active 18 | -No evidence is heard | Active 18 | |
-City request that case be put off until area study done is denied | |||
-Active 18 appears as a party | |||
-City undertakes, as condition of adjournment, to organize Working Groups to try to settle the case | |||
Apr 24, May 8, 23 | 1171Queen | Working Group Meetings | |
150 Sudbury | -Working Group Meetings organized by the City | ||
48Abell | -Developers represented | ||
Active 18 | -All City Departments represented | ||
-Various community groups and sectors represented | |||
-Meeting in public chaired by Councillor | |||
-Active 18 develops a negotiation position | |||
-Active 18 meets privately with two of the three developers (third developer—Urbancorp—refuses to meet with us) | |||
May 4 | Active 18 | Steering committee | |
May | 1171 Queen | Planning Division announces it recommendations to City Council for terms on which the three developments would be approved | 1171 Queen |
150 Sudbury | |||
48 Abell | |||
Active 18 | |||
Jun | 1171 Queen | Second pre-hearing at OMB | |
150 Sudbury | Schedule for exchange of witness statement and hearing date established | ||
48 Abell | |||
Active 18 | |||
Jun 13 | 1171 Queen | Toronto and East York Community Council Meeting to consider recommendations from Planning Division for revisions to OP regarding OP | |
150 Sudbury | Active 18 lobbies councillors, deputations from the public to the meeting—Planning Division recommendations adopted across the board | ||
48 Abell | |||
Active 18 | |||
Jul 3 | 1171Queen | Community Council directs Parks to proceed with purchase of park land | |
150 Sudbury | tag: Community Council Date year early? |
||
48 Abell | |||
Active 18 | |||
Jul 6 | Active 18 | Steering committee | |
Jul | Active 18 | Preparation for OMB | |
Sep 13 | Active 18 | Accountability Meeting with Active 18 Members | |
Sep 26 | 48 Abell | Failed motion at City Council to designate 48 Abell as a heritage building | |
Active 18 | |||
Sep-Nov | 1171 Queen | Hearings—35 days | |
150 Sudbury | |||
48 Abell | |||
Active 18 | |||
OMB | |||
Dec | 1171 Queen | Three days of argument at OMB | |
150 Sudbury | |||
48 Abell | |||
Active 18 |
2007
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 10 | Reasons of OMB released (48 Abell [PDF, 150 Sudbury PDF, 1171 Queen Street W. PDF) | ||
Jan 26 | Active 18 letter of support to Harry Klaczkowski but at four storeys, not the eight requested | ||
Jan | Margie Z hosts a meeting re decision and OMB power | ||
-Active 18 Press Conference | |||
-CMC files Application for Leave to Appeal(LINK ) for Active 18 |
|||
Feb 5 | City Council decides to appeal the OMB decision | ||
Feb 14 | Mayor writes to Minister PDF | ||
Application for Leave filed by the City | |||
Mar | City appeals to OMB under Section 43 for a review | ||
Argument on Court application scheduled for Jun 11 | |||
Active 18 (CMC) files Factum for Leave (Div Ct.) PDF | |||
Active 18 Letter of Support for City on Sec 43 Appeal to OMB | |||
Apr | Baywood purchases the land the City hoped to buy for parkland | ||
May | OMB sets Jun 4 for four day hearing on whether to appoint a new panel to review | ||
May | 2—6 Peel | Community Meeting hosted by the City on proposed Secondary Plan for the Triangle area | |
Jun 4—9 | -OMB: Sec 43 Appeal Argument | ||
Jul 10 | OMB rejects Section 43 Appeal | ||
Jul | Mayor meets Active 18 | ||
Jul 16 | Divisional Court Leave application—adjourned | ||
-Meeting Active 18 and Planning Division | |||
-Wednesday: Settlement passed by City Council but not Secondary Plan | |||
-Thursday: Leave argument in Divisional Court LINK |
|||
Jul 25 | Leave granted re 150 Sudbury | ||
Aug 23 | 1181 Queen | Staff Report on Baywood Application | |
Aug | Negotiations between Artscape, Active 18 and Westside/UrbanCorp re 150 Sudbury | ||
Oct | Meeting with Planning Division et al on Westside settlement | ||
Fall? | 1093 Queen | ||
1181 Queen | |||
2—90 Lisgar | Active 18 learns Baywood has bought four more sites: | ||
-1093 Queen (Queen and Dovercourt) | |||
-1181 Queen (plaza site across from the Gladstone) | |||
-1155 Queen | |||
Nov 7 | 1093 Queen | Community consultation on three new Baywood buildings on Queen Street | |
1181 Queen | |||
1155 Queen | |||
Nov. 20 | Page and Steele peer review | ||
Dec. 17 | 1171 Queen | OMB site plan hearing |
2008
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 8 | 1171 Queen | OMB reasons on by-law argument PDF | |
Jan 14 | Steering committee | ||
Jan 26 | 2 Gladstone | Active 18 letter of support | |
Jan 28 | Steering committee | ||
Jan | 1093 Queen | ||
1181 Queen | |||
2—90 Lisgar | Active 18 presents Buildings We Like to Community Council PDF | ||
Feb 6 | 11 Peel | Active 18 meets ‘Toyland’ developer | |
Mar 2 | Active 18 Park Charrette | ||
Active 18 Presentation: Parks We Like | |||
Charrette Report PDF | |||
Mar 10 | Active 18 Annual Meeting | ||
Apr 8 | 1155 Queen | Community Council Re: 1155 Queen PDF | |
Apr 9 | 2—90 Lisgar | Staff Report | |
Apr | 48 Abell | Verdirock seeks to re-negotiate | |
Re Artscape? |
|||
Apr | Notice of Meeting for 2—90 Lisgar PDF | ||
Apr 23-24 | OMB hearing on 1171 Site Plan | ||
May 6 | Community Council Meeting on 2—90 Lisgar | ||
May 8 | Meeting with Planning Staff and developer’s architect on 1055 façade | ||
Active 18 Presentation on Façade | |||
Jun 3 | Public Meeting on 2—90 Lisgar | ||
Active 18 presentation on park | |||
Jun 26 | 40 Dovercourt | Public Consultation | |
Jul 7 | 1155 is approved at Community Council | ||
Nov 13 | Informal Public Meeting on 1181 Queen (Plaza Building) and 1155 Queen | ||
Dec 4 | Formal Community Meeting on 1093 and 1155 | ||
Active 18 Presentation by S Heuchert |
2009
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 10 | 2 Gladstone | Active 18 Submission to Council on proposed zoning for three projects | |
2—6 Lisgar | |||
1093 Queen | Which buildings ? |
||
Feb 2 | 1093 Queen | Request for Directions | |
Feb 2 | 2-6 Lisgar | Request for Directions – | |
Feb 2 | 2 Gladstone | Request for Directions | |
Feb 10 | See Active 18 Executive Summary of local projects for Annual meeting | ||
Mar 2 | Park | Active 18 Park charrette | |
Mar 16 | Park | Park Working Group | Date early? |
Jun—Aug | 150 Sudbury | Negotiations re Artscape selling more units | |
Nov | 150 Sudbury | City/Artscape/Urbancorp revise plan for 150 Sudbury | |
Nov | Park | Discussion—Public Access Open Space | |
Nov 18 | 11 Peel | NW Triangle charrette | |
440 Dufferin | |||
? |
Woolfitt—The Modern announced |
2010
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 12 | Community Council considers Queen Street restaurant by-law | Not in text ? |
|
Feb 16 | 440 Dufferin | Active 18 NW Secondary plan | |
Jun 14 | Active 18 proposes Arts Precinct | ||
Jun 22 | 11 Peel | Letter from S. Heuchert and C. Campbell on ‘Employment Lands LINK |
|
440 Dufferin | |||
Jul 12 | 11 Peel | ||
440 Dufferin | Response from Planning—LINK |
2011
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Active 18 | Annual Meeting | ||
Jan 11 | Staff Report on The Edge | ||
Nov 23 | 440 Dufferin | The “Planning Rationale” for the 440 Dufferin proposal by Urban Strategies | |
Dec 2 | 440 Dufferin | Application to City lies | |
Dec | TMAC | Barlow Report |
2012
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 12 | Active 18 | Annual Meeting and Party—Great Hall | |
? |
TMAC | TMAC Working Group | |
Mar 22 | 440 Dufferin | Active 18 deposes to Planning and Growth Management re: 440 Dufferin re employment and City’s Five Year Review. See Staff Report |
2013
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
? |
TMAC | TMAC “deal” done | |
Jul 9 | 440 Dufferin | Prov approves City’s OP 231—[which does not include conversion of 440] | |
Jul 10 | 440 Dufferin | Staff Report to PGM | |
Aug 2 | 440 Dufferin | PGM considers a Request for Directions dated Jul 10 Rec’d opposing—“attend and oppose”—not negotiate | |
Aug 25 | 440 Dufferin | Council directs that no conversion for 440 Dufferin | |
Sep 9 | Siteline appeals to OMB from City’s failure to decide | ||
Oct 23 | 440 Dufferin | First OMB Procedural Order | |
Nov 14 | 440 Dufferin | Revised proposal submitted “based on feedback … including Request for Directions … hints strongly that they can have what they want if ….Request for Directions says no such thing … | Date year early? |
Nov 17 | Active 18 letter opposing | LINK |
2014
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Jul 9 | 440 Dufferin | Prov approves City’s OP 231—[which does not include exemption/conversion of 440 Dufferin] | |
Jul 10 | 440 Dufferin | Staff Report to PGM | |
Aug 2 | 440 Dufferin | PGM considers a Request for Directions dated Jul 10 Rec’d opposing—“attend and oppose”—not negotiate | |
Aug 25 | 440 Dufferin | Council directs that no conversion for 440 Dufferin | |
Sep 9 | 440 Dufferin | Siteline applies to OMB from City’s failure to decide | |
Oct 23 | 440 Dufferin | First OMB Procedural Order | |
Nov 26 | 440 Dufferin | Revised proposal submitted “based on feedback … including Request for Directions … hints strongly that they can have what they want if …. Request for Directions says no such thing … |
2015
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Feb 1, 2 | 440 Dufferin | OMB Mediation | |
Feb. 3 | 440 Dufferin | my complaint to Ana re the proceeding | |
Ana Bailao sends me wording of Resolution —It says—Community consult …. What goes through PGM is the same wording | |||
Mar 15 | 440 Dufferin | Chief Planner asks for a review | |
Mar 31 | 440 Dufferin | City Council passes | WHAT |
Apr 10 | 440 Dufferin | Planner quoted saying …. | |
May 6 | 440 Dufferin | Pre-hearing | |
Jun 25 | TMAC | Public Meeting on TMAC cancelation |
2016
Date | Subject | Description | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
99 Sudbury | Various meetings | ||
Jul 13 | 48 Abell | Sale of Mews Units to Woolfitt Gallery | |
Sep 28 | Lisgar Park | Park Meeting with neighbourhood on uses | |
Oct 24 | 99 Sudbury | OMB Pre-hearing | |
Nov 29 | Queen Street Heritage Study presented to public meeting | ||
Dec | Woolfitt announces purchase of laneway units |
2017
Forthcoming
Documents
Our Document Library is fabulous. The first reason is that the documents are no longer in my garage. None of the other reasons matter.
The good news is that there is a huge data base. It’s got much more than is actually referred to in the Blog. It was one of our objectives to create a place to save a large selection of planning docs - other than my garage! Some are useful. But the easier digital storage has become the more we can stretch to save what might be useful. Part of the objective of the Blog was to be useful for others in more than a quickie look-see. As the City abandons the defence of the public interest and that falls to the citizen amateur, the more we may need access to detailed history. There are some docs here you won’t find elsewhere, e.g. a more or less verbatim transcript of an O.M.B. Hearing.
The bad news is …. there are some documents in the data base which are in fact just an index of many more documents that were batch scanned and stored. Mea culpa. We reached the limit of available time and were not able to index in the detail we might like. You would like.
Documents 2007
- Reasons Re: 48 Abell Street; Ontario Municipal Board; 10 January 2007
- Reasons Re: 150 Sudbury Street; Ontario Municipal Board; 10 January 2007
- Appeal letter from David Miller to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 16 February 2007
- Affidavit of John Gladki for Active 18, Section 43 Review Hearing
- Review Application, Reasons, Ontario Municipal Board, 10 July 2007
- Factum of the Responding Party (Active 18) at Divisional Court, 28 March 2007
- Factum of the Appellant (City of Toronto) at Divisional Court, 12 September 2007
- Joint Factum of the Developers at Divisional Court, 4 July 2007
- Divisional Court Reasons, 25 July 2007
- Ontario Municipal Board procedural order, 16 November 2007
- Final Official Plan Amendment and Zoning for 1171 Queen Street, City of Toronto, 20 December 2007
- Final Official Plan Amendment and Zoning for 48 Abell Street, City of Toronto, 20 December 2007
- Final Official Plan Amendment and Zoning for 150 Sudbury Street, City of Toronto, 20 December 2007
- Notice of Public Meeting for 2 May 2007 Re: Secondary Plan, City of Toronto
- Final Report Re: Official Plan and Zoning By-law for West Queen West Triangle; Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District; 11 June 2007
- Draft Official Plan Amendment, City of Toronto, 26 June 2007
- Letter on behalf of Landmark Developments Inc. (owner of 150 Sudbury Street) to Toronto and East York Community Council Re: Opposition of Official Plan and Zoning Amendments, 25 June 2007
- Letter on behalf of 48 Abell Street and 1199 Queen Street owners to Toronto and East York Community Council Re: Opposition of Official Plan and Zoning Amendments, 25 June 2007
- Administration Committee Minutes Re: Parkland Acquisitions in the West Queen West Triangle; 4 July 2006
- City’s Response to Offer of Settlement on 1171 and 1171R Queen Street West, 4 July 2007
- City’s Response to Offer of Settlement on 48 Abell Street, 4 July 2007
- Submission to Toronto City Council Re: Secondary Plan and Zoning for the West Queen West Triangle; Active 18; 12 July 2007
- Letter to Community Council on behalf of 48 Abell Street owners Re: Proposed Settlement (Phase 1 and Phase 2); 17 July 2007
- Letter to Community Council on behalf of 1171 Queen Street West owners Re: Proposed Settlement; 18 July 2007
- Staff Report to City Council Re: West Queen West Triangle - Open Space, Affordability and Parking Lots; City Planning Division; 18 July 2007
- Staff Report to City Council Re: West Queen West Triangle - Status of Land Acquisitions and Request to Initiate Expropriation Proceedings for 90 Lisgar Street; City Planning Division and Parks, Forestry & Recreation; 18 July 2007
- Staff Report to City Council Re: West Queen West Triangle - Settlement Report; City Planning Division and City Solicitor; 18 July 2007
- Final Report Re: Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments - West Queen West Triangle; 26 July 2007
- Letter on behalf of 150 Sudbury Street owners Re: Artscape/Westside Project Proposal; 19 September 2007
- Letter to Mayor Miller and City Council Re: Artscape Proposal; Active 18; 19 September 2007
- Letter on behalf of Drakestone Investments Ltd. (45 Lisgar Street) Re: Offer to Settle - Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Appeals; 23 October 2007
- Preliminary Report to Toronto and East York Community Council Re: 1181 Queen Street West, Rezoning; Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District; 23 August 2007
- Preliminary Report to Toronto and East York Community Council Re: 1155 Queen Street West - Application for Zoning By-law Amendment; Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District; 17 August 2007
- Preliminary Report to Toronto and East York Community Council Re: 1093 Queen Street West; Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District; 17 August 2007
- City Council’s Decision and Instructions Re: West Queen West Triangle - 1171 Queen Street West, 48 Abell Street and 150 Sudbury Street; 21 December 2007
Newspaper Coverage
There is a collection of press coverage related to the development of the WQW Triangle over a dozen years. There are articles here from ‘big’ dailies and also the local press. It is not complete.
Some folk may prefer their history as digested by the press. Go for it. There is chart of the news articles just below with links for each to the Document Library. Click, read, click, read, click, read ….
Some folk may want to look at the press coverage for other reasons? Does ‘the press’ influence the planning process? Is the coverage fair and accurate? Do the press ‘think’ before they write or just parrot what the big developers tell them? (The NIMBY argument). Do different newspapers have a predictable ‘line’ on development?
We haven’t done an analysis of these more interesting questions.
There are more press stories than these listed here. There are obviously planning issues and stories that are not focused on WQW that matter to the end planning result. One of my end conclusions and regrets is that community activists focus too much on design and not enough on the bigger picture. Employment issues are an example, but maybe our best showing where A18 did push local employment. Section 37 is another example where our relative good local result should be seen in the context of the much bigger problem city wide. These last two are examples where this clipping file is a drop in the bucket.
Articles
- 2005-12-01 - Penty - Active Opposition: Ward 18 community group battles series of developments - Parkdale Gleaner
- 2006-01-05 - Duncan - Beyond NIMBY: Virtually everyone agrees Toronto needs to grow up, but residents’ groups say planners and developers should build consensus before building condos - Globe and Mail
- 2006-08-26 - Boyle - Old ‘hoods get new blood - Toronto Star
- 2006-09-01 - Armstrong - Residential demand casts its shadow - Queen Street West readies for heritage district study results, drastic population influx - Parkdale Gleaner
- 2006-09-07 - Baywood Homes (Advertisement) - Downtown life is cool at Bohemian Embassy - Metro
- 2006-09-16 - Lorinc - Let’s make a deal, developers: Welcome to Section 37 Negotiations, ‘the crack cocaine of planning’ - Globe and Mail
- 2006-09-28 - Baywood Homes (Advertisement) - Bohemian Embasy adds to new dimension to Queen Street West - Metro
- 2006-11-11 - Hume - Queen West failure shows city’s faults - Toronto Star
- 2006-11-11 - Whyte - Queen Street artists display their defiance: luxury condo may replace industrial building, ‘The community saw it as a slap in face’. - Toronto Star
- 2006-11-17 - Raymaker - Playing condo name game can be tricky: A project’s success is partly dependent on what it’s called. Some builders spend months coming up with a moniker. - Globe and Mail
- 2006-11-18 - McLaren - Oh, Give me a home where the bohemians roam - Globe and Mail
- 2006-11-25 - Rochon - Toronto is growing up urbsurd: This city likes to boast about its WQW arts district. Too bad it is unwilling to protect it. - Globe and Mail
- 2006-12-09 - Marlow - Guarded praise for Queen condo plan: Two towers could replace building at 48 Abell St. - National Post
- 2006-12-28 - Hume - Planning ‘gifts’ that beg to be returned - Toronto Star
- 2007-01-13 - Macdonald - OMB gives green light to condos on Queen West - National Post
- 2007-01-13 - Ross - OMB lets Queen Street West condo-plan proceed - Globe and Mail
- 2007-01-13 - Ross - The Gladstone’s birthday lament: After a year in business, the renovated hotel faces the massiveurban change that is hot on its heels. - Globe and Mail
- 2007-01-15 - Ross - Approval of development on Queen W. draws fire - Globe and Mail
- 2007-01-16 - Barber - A bright spot in the OMB disaster - Globe and Mail
- 2007-01-16 - Hume - Boho goes condo as developers rule on Queen West - Toronto Star
- 2007-01-17 - Aulakh and Lewington - Mayor condemns OMB ruling: Miller, opponents of Queen West project mobilize for more battles over planning - Globe and Mail
- 2007-01-19 - Aikins - City loses Queen West Triangle - Nova Res Urbis
- 2007-01-19 - Moloney - City may set up OMB byass: Toronto would gain more control over land-use dvelopment if it sets up separate appeal board under City act - Toronto Star
- 2007-01-21 - Toronto Star - Undemocratic OMB needs to be reined in - Toronto Star
- 2007-01-25 - Hume - It’s time for Toronto to get the keys to the City - Toronto Star
- 2007-01-25 - Smith - Tomorrow’s slum row: How the city was asleep at the switch in Queen West OMB debacle - NOW Magazine
- 2007-02-01 - Rau - We’re not going anywhere: Artists worried over Queen West condo approvals - Xtra Toronto
- 2007-02-06 - Brieger - Mayor urges fight against Queen condos Triangle development: Miller wants to salvage city plan for artists’ studios - National Post
- 2007-02-06 - Vincent - Fight condo plan in court, mayor urges: Rejects as ‘utter nonsense developer’s claim that critics oppsoe project because of its affordable housing component - Toronto Star
- 2007-02-06 - Waldie - Cities must have more economic clout - Globe and Mail
- 2007-02-07 - Cowan - Council to take OMB to court over condos - National Post
- 2007-02-07 - Lewington and Gray - Council can’t play nice, forfeits photo shoot: Portrait srapped after some councillors balk at request to quit front-row seats - Globe and Mail
- 2007-02-07 - Moloney - City to fight condos in Queen W. Triangle: fearing OMB-approved projects will drive away artists, councillors consider court challenge, provincial intervention - Toronto Star
- 2007-02-08 - Hume - Changing the civic universe, a bit at a time: Toronto’s taxing powers are still not ideal, but at least OMB no longer acts as de facto planning department for Ontario cities - Toronto Star
- 2007-02-08 - Levy - The art of affordable housing - Toronto Sun
- 2007-06-05 - Barber - The OMB’s bohemian song and dance - Globe and Mail
- 2007-08-23 - Foad - Selling off Queen West: City’s secret triangle deal is just the start - six more towers may be on the way - NOW Magazine
- 2007-08-26 - Levy - West Queen West not all it’s cracked up to be: Graffiti, drugs, and now murder, but little action from BIA or City Hall - Toronto Sun
- 2007-12-21 - Mays - Brickbats and bouquets - Globe and Mail
- 2008-12-18 - Terefenko - Queen West hangover: Nightlife is drowning the day life out of west-end strip - NOW Toronto
- 2009-06-03 - Terefenko - Ossington’s high noon: deputy Pantalone’s bar ban may be too late to save hip strip - NOW Toronto
- 2010-10-16 - Reinhart - Faster response to residents a key in Ward 18: Giambrone approach to redevelopment, parking issues alienated some. - Globe and Mail
- 2011-07-30 - Morris - The taming of West Queen West: As the booming party strip prepares for an influx of condo dewellers, new businesses may be taking a mellower track. - Globe and Mail
- 2015-04-05 - Whyte - Drawing the line on cultural development in Toronto: As city bends rules to accommodate growth, arts group shave been able to benefit - Toronto Star
- 2015-06-15 - Lorinc - Toronto arts consortium launches lawsuit over Queen West facility - Globe and Mail
- 2015-06-15 - Whyte - Group sues city over cancelled Queen West arts hub: The Toronto Media Arts Centre’s planned 36000-square-foot facility was meant to be a shining eample of the city’s Section 37 provision. - Toronto Star
- 2016-12-24 - Benzie and Pagliaro - City can insulate arts hub from hikes: Critics argue 401 Richmond’s tax problems were reuslt of how building is assessed - Toronto Star
- 2017-01-01 - Kupferman - Screwed: Anatomy of a real estate disaster. - Toronto Life
External Links
There is a wealth of material about urban planning. You can study it without ever knowing there is a Planning Division, as if it an art form and developers, politicians and their ilk do not exist. Or you can immerse yourself in local by-law fights. The following list focuses on Toronto and material more directly relevant to the kinds of local fights that go through City Hall, deal with Official Plan issues and might end up at the OMB.
City Hall
The City has dramatically improved its web accessibility. You can:
- Search for City Council Agendas
- If a project is coming up for discussion at a meeting the Report of Planning Staff will be part of the Agenda.
- Get the plans for various project proposals
- Here is a guide to the ‘planning process’ - a road map through the approval process. It’s a good start to what’s supposed to happen next.
There are numerous higher-level planning issues, e.g. how to deal with ‘Employment Land’ across Metro. The Planning Department is good about posting them.
The City’s consolidated general zoning bylaw
The Province of Ontario
The Department of Municipal Affairs has an excellent web site. and The Citizens’ Guide to Land-use Planning
Planning at the Provincial level is important. Here you need to read:
- The latest Provincial Policies and the discussion of their revision.
- The most up-to-date Planning Act
Other Community Organizations
You are not alone! There are many others groups active fighting planning fights. Some have excellent web material. Some used to have excellent web material. Some have sites that barely keep up with local meetings. All this is volunteer. Marvel not at how bad some of it is BUT how good a lot of it is in trying circumstances.
- People Plan Toronto
- Grange Residents Association
- Active 18 Community
- Parks People
- Annex Ratepayers
- CORRA
- Parkdale Residents Association
- Ossington Community Association
- Trinity Bellwoods Community Organization
- North Toronto
- Corktown Residents and Business Association Councillor Bailao’s constituency web site
- Torontoist
- UrbanToronto Magazine of the development industry - data base of projects after 2011 is useful
- Novae res urbis is an industry newsletter. It cost $. If you can get your hands on it it often has has good technical articles on planning issues and OMB cases.
- OMB CASE LAW (follow these links to search for case files & previous decisions)
- The cases are all there but it is extremely difficult to search. You need the file number.
Legal
KRUSHELNICKI, BRUCE, A Practical Guide to the Ontario Municipal Board
Some Toronto law firms specialize in planning law. This is almost always be on the side of the developers. That’s who has the money. Some of these will take the occasional case for community groups. A connection to the senior partner helps!