Residents state “no vacancy” for hotel site plan

By Michael Schwarz –

Plans for low-rise residential accommodation at 620 Church St. have added to the existing controversy over the future of land surrounding Toronto’s Town Inn Suites hotel. Weeks after permission was secured for the expansion of the apartment block at 66 Isabella St.—at the expense of adjacent green land—Church Isabella Properties changed the plan to include 3-storey accommodation in a new block fronting onto Church St.

Alex Texeira, the city planner assigned to the application, chaired a meeting of visibly uneasy local residents on April 24 at St Paul’s Church on Bloor St. E.

The residents’ primary objection was to the design of the new building. Architect Gary Stein’s design was criticized for its excessive use of glass and concrete. For one Church St. resident—Mrs Ward—the proposal reminded her of the 1960s buildings now being pulled down in her native UK because of their sheer ugliness: here they were again, being seriously considered for “modern Toronto!” She added, “We should not have the feeling we have to turn up constantly to keep tabs on the architects.”

One resident of 66 Gloucester St. welcomed the low-rise aspect of the design, before promptly labeling it as “early 1960s” and “adding nothing.”

Another objection queried the need for the new block to conform to the design of the Town Inn Suites. Stein, some attendees felt, should literally return to the drawing-board.

Accessibility problems within the new block were highlighted by Charles St. E. resident Greg Kolesar: “This is not just about the old and the infirm. If someone breaks a leg, then the second and third floors are inaccessible. Bridges from the existing buildings could provide access into the new development.”

Accessibility by elevator was discussed by Lorelei Jones of planning firm Macaulay, Shiomi, Howson, who represented the applicant. Jones stated numerous elevators would become a prohibitive cost issue.

The final contribution to the meeting came from Ward 27 Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam who declared that while she “never tired of great architecture that takes into account public feelings,” she urged residents to “write in and let us know your views and opinions.”