November community council to consider River-Labatt condo

Dennis Hanagan—

Toronto community council decided at its October meeting to defer making a decision for a month about a condo tower proposed for River St. and Labatt Ave.

Applicant MAVI Developments Inc. is seeking amendments to the city’s Official Plan and zoning bylaw to build a 38-storey tower at the southeast corner of River and Labatt.

It would contain 584 dwelling units, ground floor retail, office space on the ground and second floors and a 3-level underground garage for 405 vehicles. The Salvation Army building on River would be demolished.

According to a planning report MAVI launched an appeal at the Ontario Municipal Board over the city’s Queen-River Secondary Plan that covers the area where the tower would be built.

In the meantime, the city and MAVI have continued to discuss the proposal, and some revisions have been made. For one, the original 2 towers of 26 and 34 storeys have been reduced to just the one.

Community council voted to adjourn the matter to Nov. 15 when it next meets.

Ward 28 councilor and Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell called the reduction in towers “a huge step forward.” She said she wanted to make sure that the small townhouses next to the development would not feel overwhelmed by it.

Under Section 37 of the Planning Act the city wants $2 million from the developer with $1 million of that going toward the development of Dixon Hall Youth Centre in Regent Park and $625,000 for local streetscape or parkland improvements.

In addition, $325,000 would go toward the development of the Cabbagetown-Regent Park Museum and $50,000 toward the redevelopment of Canada’s First Parliament Buildings site at Berkeley and Front streets.