Student residence at Church and McGill contravenes official plan

Dennis Hanagan –

Two towers are proposed for Downtown’s east side, one in Church Street Village and the other near Corktown.

A 32-storey privately-run student residence with 119 units containing 532 beds is proposed for 412 Church at McGill St. A 21-storey tower with 446 residential units is proposed for half a block bounded by Parliament, Adelaide St. E. and Power St.

Planning staff have issues with both. Preliminary reports about the two—each requiring a zoning amendment application—went to community council in May.

Regarding the Church proposal from applicant Planning Alliance, staff note a privately-run student residence “is not a defined use” within Toronto’s zoning bylaw. “The zoning by-law requires student residences to be owned and operated by universities,” the staff report says.

The site is currently a surface parking lot. Staff are concerned about the proposed tower’s relationship to a heritage building at 416 Church on the site’s north side.

The proposal “does not comply with a number of policies” in the city’s official plan, according to staff. “The current proposal is not in the public interest (and) does not constitute good planning,” say staff.

The proposal for Parliament-Adelaide-Power would require the demolition of 12 rental units for which applicant Great Gulf Ltd. is seeking a permit under the municipal code. The units would be replaced in the new building.

Among other things staff have issues with the building’s height, the number of family-sized units and the need to widen Parliament, Power and Adelaide streets for pedestrian use.