Despite pleas from several residents to put the brakes on development plans for the Yonge-Eglinton Square, North York councillors have given the project the green light.
After extensive community debate at the March 9 community council meeting, Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Karen Stintz said there's little hope of finding a solution that will please everyone."If I thought more time would bring us to greater consensus, I would give it. I would give it in an instant," she said."The reality is we've been at this for over two years."The project on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue proposed by large real estate developer RioCan includes a three-storey retail addition to the shopping centre, five- and seven-storey additions to the existing office buildings and a rooftop terrace.The redevelopment of the site also includes renovations to the existing retail concourse to improve pedestrian connections from Yonge and Eglinton to Duplex Avenue and Orchard Heights Boulevard.While many residents said they want the open space saved, Stintz pointed out everyone agrees the existing under-used, windblown space can hardly be called an ideal community zone."I know how important that space is. I do not take lightly the decision I make today," she said. "That space was never designed to be a square. It was never designed to be like Mel Lastman Square or Dundas Square. That's why it doesn't function in that manner. If we come together, we can do this right. I'm not going to argue it's perfect and I'm not going to argue changes can't be made between now and council (on March 31 and April 1 when a final decision will be made)."Don Valley West Councillor Cliff Jenkins made an unsuccessful pitch to delay approving the development until June so RioCan and residents could find a way to retain the open space."We have seen applications that have nibbled away at public space. He have to start locking it in," he said.But Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Howard Moscoe said sending the issue to council at the end of this month puts pressure on both sides to work now to find a solution if possible.Many residents, including St. Paul's public school board trustee Josh Matlow, said RioCan's development doesn't support their vision of the neighbourhood.While Matlow agreed the status quo is unacceptable, saying benches, plant boxes and other amenities would welcome visitors.Replacing the open space with retail is unreasonable, he argued."Once the space is lost, it is lost forever," he said. Jordan Applebaum, chairperson of the Eglinton Park Residents' Association, said residents are worried about taller office towers overpowering their homes.Complaining RioCan has left the open space uninviting to visitors, he argued the corner can't afford to lose what little open space there is.While most speakers at the meeting opposed the development, there were some who supported the project. Former Toronto mayor David Crombie, who has lived in the Yonge-Eglinton area for decades, said the development will make the site a much better urban experience for people who use it on a daily basis."It is (now) an inhospitable place and this project will help fix it," he said.Mark Noskiewicz, a lawyer for Goodmans law firm representing RioCan, said the new rooftop terrace means the amount of open space will only be reduced by about 10 per cent."This application makes all the right moves," he added.