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Mixed reviews for huge Lawrence Heights plan
Some residents to challenge project’s size at OMB
by Michelle Ervin and Anna Sajecki
Concerned residents are planning to go to the OMB over the density of the Lawrence Heights redevelopment plan recently approved by city council. The 20-year vision for the area bound by Lawrence Avenue to Highway 401 and Bathurst Street to Dufferin Street allows for up to 6,300 new residential units, on top of the 1,208 social housing units that will be replaced.
Jack Goldhar, who belongs to a residents’ group called Save Our Streets, said he’s worried about the consequences of moving forward on a project he doesn’t believe the existing infrastructure can handle. He cited traffic, sewage and electricity among his concerns.
“This is a very large mega-project that doesn’t seem to have any reasonable boundaries here,” said Goldhar. “We’re not trying to stop it, we’re trying to reduce it.”
He questioned whether improved infrastructure could even build the capacity to support the development.
Coun. Howard Moscoe said that density has already been reduced by about 35 per cent and that some of it needs to be retained.
“If you want a quality project, you have to raise enough money to make it so,” he said. “We’re building a community, not just housing.”
Coun. Moscoe pointed to studies that have already been done on areas such as traffic and sewage, which he said will lead to improvements during the development process.
Marian Mohamud, a long-time Lawrence Heights resident, said she is thrilled about the plans to revitalize her neighbourhood. Her hope is that those who are against the plans will come around once they get to see the actual changes.
“This is not going to change homes, this is going to change lives,” she said.
The plan will be implemented in stages. An application for phase one has already been submitted to North York Community Council.
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Reader Comments:
What this city is planning will hurt everyone in the area, whether in Lawrence Heights or the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Increasing density to 6 times current density is a revenue generating measure (as Councillor Moscoe openly admits) and will hurt everyone living in this area.
The huge increase in traffic that will be generated will destroy surrounding neighbourhoods, and make it even more difficult to travel on the Allen Expressway, Lawrence, Bathurst and Dufferin. It will be a nightmare for residents and drivers.
Surrounding neighbourhoods will be hurt as parks are closed (e.g. two parks at Ranee and the Allen are slated to be developed as housing and retail).
The City says it is putting major density by the subway, but it is also building tall buildings in areas close to existing neighbourhoods, which will result in opening of roads and the destruction of those neighbourhoods as quiet stable neighbourhoods.
The City did not consult residents south of Lawrence on this plan (except those within 120 metres as required by law).