Richmond/Lombard plans aren’t very popular

Michael Schwartz

Skillful and skeptical questioning has greeted consultation regarding the proposed 50-storey development at 25 Richmond St. E. and 20-26 Lombard.

The Oct. 15 public meeting saw city planner Angela Stea chair and field courteous-but-testing comments and questions.

Developer Great Gulf Homes is proposing a predominantly residential building.

The site includes two heritage buildings: an eastern building from 1890 built for R G McLean printers and the western section constructed in 1894 for Barclay, Clark & Co. Both will be retained, again with mainly residential intentions.

This wasn’t enough to satisfy local residents.

Their comments were critical of the size of the development, of the noise it would generate (whether during construction or afterwards).

They were also concerned about threats to bird life.

One Lombard Street resident felt there was nothing currently on Lombard to compare with the proposal.

In addition, the 42-44 months needed to build the structure and the question of exactly where construction vehicles would go to and from contributed to the debate. There was even mention of the number of dead birds near the proposed site, victims of flying into existing glass windows.

Stea was able to point out that a construction vehicle management plan had to be submitted to the city council.

There were even, within Toronto’s own green standards, bird-friendly guidelines.

The conversation at one point turned canine: 10% of owners in one block are dog owners.

Transfer that to the new development of 670 units and another 67 dogs will make their presence felt, not least when it comes to children in nearby parks. Proposals for accommodating these new dogs are needed.

And then there are six trees. They are in the public realm next to the site and they are subject to the city’s tree by-laws.

All six are proposed to be removed during the development.

The applicant’s removal plan will be reviewed by local urban forestry staff. But does removal mean preservation or does it simply mean removal. And then what?

City planner Stea confirmed that the developer would like to remove the six existing trees in the public right of way and plant another 13 trees, again in the public right of way.

Everything is at a very preliminary stage and is subject to the city’s Urban Forestry department granting a permit.