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Current Developments

One of YMHRA’s focus is reviewing significant development proposals that could potentially have an adverse affect on our members. Two developments we are currently involved with include:

Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School’s Renovations and Additions

Overview

Loretto Abbey, at the north end of Mason Boulevard, has applied to demolish the adjacent infirmary and add a significant extension to the north end of the current building, including a new gymnasium.

 

The new main entrance of the school will be part of that extension, to be accessed by vehicle from the extreme north end of Mason. The plans include more grid parking and a sizeable ‘turnaround’ with herringbone parking to facilitate parents dropping off pupils by car on the school property, as opposed to all along Mason, Dunster, and McGlashan.  

The extension will allow a small expansion of the pupil numbers to 1,100.

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YMHRA’s Position

The Toronto Catholic District School Board has held several virtual information sessions to keep neighbours informed, and answer questions on the plans.  YMHRA board members are participating in this process, to raise these concerns:

  • Increased traffic to Mason Boulevard, which is already congested with illegally parked cars during the school drop off and pick up hours.

  • The new main entrance may encourage parents to also park along De Vere Gardens as well.

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Latest News on the Development

We have been tracking progress on the plans and timing for renovation work, influencing some of the planning decisions, where ever possible. As of June 5, 2024, a revised site plan has not been submitted to the City of Toronto Planning department, but is expected soon.

 

YMHRA's President, Andy Stephenson, has learnt site plans go through many stages of submission and gradually is refined to become compliant with the City of Toronto's planning and various city service departments such as traffic operations, fire and emergency services, and utility services (e.g. water and sewers).

 

While YMHRA is a very interested party, we don’t have any power to control what is decided. The hope is to provide guidance that helps improve the neighbourhood and quality of life for residents.

 

Recently, we learnt the following through a call with representatives from the TCDSB:

  • A revised site plan was expected to be submitted to City of Toronto planning by approximately May 31st, 2024.

  • Summer work will focus on moving existing services from the north side, where the infirmary is joined to the older part of the building. 

  • The Infirmary section at the north end of the building, which is where the new main school entrance will be located, will be demolished during the summer of 2024 – June to October 2024 after the above services have been moved.

  • The older part of the school building has had some water infiltration issues and work is also planned for summer 2024 to rectify this flooding – the work area would be along the south side of the building on McGlashan and would include replacement of retaining walls/stairs/sidewalks and foundation waterproofing.

  • Construction of the new north section of the school, where the infirmary currently sits, is expected to begin in late 2024 or early 2025 once all approvals are given and is planned to continue until September 2026.

  • A new sidewalk on the north side of where Mason meets DeVere will be constructed to lead students to the new main school entrance.

  • A new sidewalk on the east side of Mason will be built from McGlashan  to the new school driveway entrance – four feet in width and abutting the existing curb.

  • For a copy of the site map (published January 2022) refer to Loretto Abbey's presentation (slide 15). A revised map has not been released publicly yet. 

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A July 2024 update indicates the demolition of the infirmary and the relocation of the building's utility services is expected to begin starting with a site takeover in late July 2024.

 

The TCDSB advised in August 2024 that some of the work has been delayed into summer 2025, but still expect the infirmary demolition to happen in the fall. Starting Monday, September 16, 2024 the parking lot of the school will be off limits as contractors work on relocating utility services. Temporary parking spots, on the school field, will be constructed until the parking lot is available again in late November/early December 2024.

 

Refer to a letter that's been sent out by the TCDSB, which includes further contact information for questions. 

 

Refer to Loretto Abbey’s construction site for meeting materials, FAQs, and latest updates.

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4050 Yonge Street Condo Development at Wilson and Yonge

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Overview

The Gupta Group proposed the development of two towers of 35 and 21 stories in the NW corner of Yonge and Wilson, the current location of a parking lot. At the outset, we knew the local and provincial governments had deemed the area at Yonge and York Mills a “transit hub”, which implies the area is available to be developed with increased density under the planning act.

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YMHRA’s Position

We submitted a position statement to the City of Toronto in August 2020 over our concerns of the proposed density of the towers along with parking, traffic, and environmental concerns as the property abuts the Don Valley Golf Course and is in the Don River ravine system.

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Along with five other associations in the area, we retained a land use lawyer to represent us at the community consultation meeting held in January 2021. Both YMHRA and the York Mills Valley Association (YMVA) obtained party status at the hearings giving us prescribed rights and obligations with the Ontario Land Tribunal.

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Latest News on the Development

 

In October 2024, we learned that despite a settlement agreement signed with the owner (details below), they reapplied for an increase of the West Tower (from 28 to 32) and a small increase for the east tower. We previously negotiated a reduction of the tower from 35 to 28.

 

The Committee of Adjustment for the City of Toronto approved the new site plan and the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) endorsed this decision. As a result, YMHRA and the York Mills Valley Association had our land use planning lawyer wrote to the OLT, Committee of Adjustment, the City’s legal department, and the developer’s lawyer voicing our disagreement with the change and placed on record the need for proper notice of all future proceedings with the property.

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Negotiated Settlement

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After a series of revised applications were submitted, the two towers have been reduced by seven stories and will be developed as 28 and 14 stories. While we are aware of the precedent that will be set for this intersection, due to it being situated on a “transit hub” we feel the outcome was satisfactory.

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Additional concessions made were:

  • A 45-degree tiering of the tower closest to Yonge Street to reduce the impact on the streetscape.

  • Increased setbacks from Yonge Street and Wilson Avenue.

  • Setting up a $1M community benefit fund.

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Refer to our 2022 Newsletter for further details.

 

Other useful links:

Toronto City Council approvals and materials

Yonge City Square website

General information

YMHRA will also support members with understanding the basics of the Committee of Adjustment process. Although, we will not provide site specific advice or take a position in disputes between neighbours.

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A proposed development will only be sent to the Committee of Adjustment for review if it requires variances from the applicable city bylaws. All neighbours within 60 feet of the property in question will be notified and has the right to speak at the Committee of Adjustment hearing.

 

Below are some helpful resources: 

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Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

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