Church St. residents win temporary reprieve from development fight

By Duncan McAllister –

The Church St. community may have scored a temporary win in their fight against the Gloucester Mansions development at 580-596 Church St. and 67-71 Gloucester St.

In a letter to city hall, lawyers for the developer (Church 18 Holdings Inc.) requested that the rezoning application, which had originally been filed March 30, 2010, be put on hold.

According to the letter, the developer “is in the process of considering the future direction for this application, including potential revisions.”

As reported previously in The Bulletin, community activists, Ward 27 councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and the Church-Wellesley Neighbourhood Association (CWNA) have adamantly objected to plans to build a 25-storey condominium development at the site.

Attempts to designate the properties have been met with frustration. “Each month we expect the intention to designate 580 Church Gloucester Mansions be moved at Toronto Preservation Services Board, but it hasn’t happened,” says CWNA member Paul Farrelly. “Citizen engagement in the heritage process is defunct in Toronto East York. The municipal code provides that each community council district has a community preservation panel but TEYC panel has not met in years and the agenda is set by the councillor and the staff without a citizen voice.”

At press time, Church 18 Holdings had decided not to file an appeal of their rezoning application with the OMB