Toronto Council has approved the city's first car-free condominium on University Avenue - over the objection of some councillors who said residents in the 42-storey building wouldn't be able to manage without at least some parking.
"The rationale was that this is going to be an experiment," said Scarborough Agincourt Councillor Mike Del Grande. "This is an awfully risky experiment. It doesn't coincide with other office buildings in the area. And somebody somewhere in another part of the city is going to point to this and say, 'you allowed this.'"The building is part of a redevelopment of the 100-year-old Royal Canadian Military Institute, on University just south of Dundas Avenue. In partnership with Tribute Homes, the condominium tower is being marketed to downtown dwellers who don't use an automobile. In place of parking, there will be nine car-share spots and 319 bicycle storage spots.City planners were critical of the project because of the parking issue, but Toronto and East York Community Council said the plan was a good one - particularly as it complements council's transportation plan to encourage pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.Council generally agreed - with a few exceptions."This is definitely insanity to me," said Etobicoke North's Rob Ford. "You're building a condo with no parking. This is something you talk to the average person out there, they'll say you're joking right?"Local councillor Adam Vaughan pointed out that the project has huge community support in the neighbourhood - and that the sales of condo units in the building indicated there's a real demand for condominium living without the benefit of parking."The developer tells me that thanks to all the controversy that continues to dog this thing - they have now without even opening a sales office sold half of the units in this building," he said. "And they would like to thank all of you who have criticized this building for being too outrageous, head-shaking double-headed or whatever it is - that the market has spoken."