planning & development

AVENUE ROAD STUDY

At our recent board meeting, GYRA has agreed to the following:

From St. Clair to Dupont – Reduce number of vehicular lanes from 3 to 2 in each direction, except at St. Clair northbound where existing turning lanes need to be maintained. However, to facilitate the lane reduction, dedicated left turn lanes must be installed at all intersections to the various side streets. There should be no median down the centre of Avenue Rd. There should be no parking permitted on this section of Avenue Rd. since there are no retail or commercial businesses.

We support the bicycle paths from St. Clair Ave. to Dupont Rd. using Russell Hill Rd. and Poplar Plains Rd., and definitely not using Avenue Rd. This will provide ample room to widen sidewalks and/or provide a buffer.

Dupont to Bloor – There are 2 options for bicycle lanes that we are strongly recommending, and both eliminate the need for bicycle lanes on Avenue Rd. The first option heading south on Russell Hill Rd. is to turn left onto Davenport Rd. and then turn right onto Bedford Rd. which will take cyclists all the way down to Bloor St. The 2nd option is for cyclists to turn right on Dupont and travel a very short distance (half a block) to St. George St., which already has bicycle lanes all the way down to Bloor St. and in fact further south. Both options would remove bicycle lanes from Avenue Rd. and provide a safe north-south route for cyclists.

Without the requirement of bicycle lanes on Avenue Rd., 4 lanes of traffic (2 in each direction) can easily be retained. The long-term vision for this portion of Avenue Rd., particularly on the west side from Elgin St. to Davenport Rd., where the sidewalks are particularly narrow, would be wider sidewalks with room for street trees. All new developments should be setback to ensure that wider sidewalks with landscaping can be accommodated as has been done on many sections on the east side of Avenue Rd.

Parking on this section of Avenue Rd., is important to retain, especially in front of the many retail shops and commercial businesses. Parked cars also provide a buffer role between traffic lanes and the sidewalk.

There is a rumour, which we have not been able to confirm, that the flower shops will be leaving because of a plan to eliminate parking in front of their stores. If true, this would be a real loss for the neighbourhood as they have become iconic to the Greater Yorkville area.

A dedicated right turn lane south bound at Bloor St., Davenport Rd. and Dupont Rd. must be retained. Northbound, a dedicated right turn lane at Davenport Rd. must also be retained.

We think that implementing these changes will provide safe travelling for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Yours truly,

Alan Baker
President
GYRA – Greater Yorkville Residents’ Association


PLANETARIUM SITE UPDATE

GYRA is sensitive to the impacts of the increasing number of condominium developments, which will dramatically increase the Yorkville area residential population over the next number of years.  GYRA works closely with our Ward 11 Councillor, City planners, developers, and the Bloor-Yorkville Community to ensure our priorities are understood, and included in the City’s development application approval process.  Important priorities include privately owned publicly accessible green space, courtyards and other open spaces provided by the developer, wide sidewalks with trees and planters for pleasant pedestrian promenades in Yorkville’s “tourist designated area”, and dog amenities contained within each development.

GYRA is a strong advocate for the protection and preservation of Yorkville’s built heritage assets. We have witnessed the destruction of many Victorian houses and other edifices dating back to the late 19th and early 20th century, to make way for residential developments ranging from mid-rise to high-rise and, lately, dizzying sky-high towers.  At every opportunity, GYRA makes concerted efforts to prevent the wrecking ball from reducing Yorkville’s diminishing built heritage into piles of rubble.

The Planetarium Site

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GYRA is a founding and very active member of the Queen’s Park Heritage Precinct Coalition (QPHPC) that had been challenging the height, look and density of this site.  Against all odds and despite widespread pessimism, the University of Toronto’s plan to build a monster edifice on the site of the former Planetarium has been significantly modified. After many long but productive days of mediation and discussion between our Queen’s Park Heritage Precinct Coalition (QPHPC), City Planning with City Legal, and the University of Toronto, we finally reached a very favourable conclusion on this project.  The details have been approved by the QPHPC, University of Toronto, Toronto Preservation Board, Toronto and East York Community Council, City Council and finally LPAT. The revised plan was finalized on August 13th, 2021 at LPAT, which significantly minimizes the impact of this development to its neighbouring buildings and together creates this important heritage cultural precinct. The achieved highlights of the settlement from what the University had originally proposed are:  

  • The new building will be reduced in height and massing (heights will be similar to the existing ROM building), which will require the University’s architects to create a full re-design.

  • Further reduction of building height towards Flavelle House. 

  • No construction encroachment on Philosopher’s Walk.

  • We will have Input on the future building’s exterior materiality.

  • Improved streetscape.

  • Increased size (diameter) of the replacement trees.

  • Utilities to be underground.

We cannot overstate what a major win this was for not only our neighbourhood, but for the city as well.  A win that would never have been achieved without the thousands of volunteer hours and the significant legal and planning professional work that went into it. It was well worth the effort and cost and, on behalf of all the Greater Yorkville residents, our sincere thank-you to the many residents in our neighbourhood who donated towards the significant costs this work entailed.

 

City of Toronto Yorkville Planning Portal

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Everything that anyone wants to know about development in Yorkville can be found on this report.


YORKVILLE – EAST OF BAY PLANNING FRAMEWORK

In August 2014, City Council approved the Planning Framework for the area between Yonge Street and Bay Street, and from Bloor Street to Davenport Road.  The Framework provides built form criteria for current and future developments, and where tall buildings can be sited and designed to provide open space.  Two key mid-block pedestrian connections – north/south linear park and walkway systems will be created and named by their defining features – Town Hall Walkway and Clock Tower Walkway.   

City Staff Report click HERE

Planning Framework click HERE


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