Decision on South Niagara tower deferred to August

Dennis Hanagan –

When a developer proposed two residential towers for the South Niagara neighbourhood residents there said they wanted artists in a heritage building on the site to stay where they are.

The community made it clear they didn’t want to lose the building or the artists who live in it, councillor Mike Layton told Toronto and East York community council in June.

“They didn’t want to lose those artists. We want to make sure they can remain on the site because they’re part of the community,” Layton said.

He also called the 5-storey heritage building at 89-109 Niagara St.—known locally as the Coffin Factory—“probably the most beautiful” structure in the area.

When the proposal goes to city council in July, Layton will ask that it be deferred to council’s Aug. 26 meeting. That’s because he wants council to consider the proposal in context with the South Niagara Planning Study which TEYCC will deal with at its Aug. 12 meeting.

City planners worked with the developer to scale down the towers’ heights to 12 and 14 storeys from the original 15 and 19 storeys. The proposal calls for 367 residential units, 265 parking spaces and about 1,000 square metres of commercial space.

It requires a zoning amendment and includes the retention and reuse of the heritage building. Just under a third of the units will have two bedrooms and a tenth will have three.

Under Section 37 of the Planning Act the developer will provide 21 live-work rental units. A total of $150,000 will be set aside to improve local affordable housing in the community and another $100,000 to improve the ward’s parks.

City planners came to a settlement with the developer to ward off the possibility of the applicant going to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and getting approval for the original taller buildings.

“A negotiated settlement is always more desirable than a gamble at the Ontario Municipal Board,” Layton told constituents in a letter.

A constituent’s letter to the TEYCC complained the towers will block the little bit of skyline the community has. Another said Section 37 funds should go toward a heritage conservation study for the Niagara neighbourhood.