Proposed 35-storey tower at Oxford and Richmond rolls through planning committee

A proposal to build a 35-storey mixed-use tower at the intersection of Oxford and Richmond streets has received the go-ahead from members of a city council committee.

Toronto-based Fitzrovia Real Estate is hoping to construct the tower at the southwest corner of the busy intersection, with 512 apartments geared mainly to students and young professionals and two floors of commercial space.

During Tuesday's meeting of the planning and environment committee, city politicians voted 4-1 in support of Official Plan and zoning amendments recommended by city staff to facilitate construction.

Staff also requested certain design issues be considered during the site plan process, including additional short-term bicycle parking spaces.

The recommendations still require approval of full council at its June 24 meeting.

If built, the project would be Fitzrovia's first purpose-built rental outside the Greater Toronto Area. Demolition on the existing property is expected to begin late this year, Greg Gilbert, vice president of planning for Fitzrovia, said.

Some councillors present voiced concern about the number of planned parking spaces, an issue brought up by two neighbouring business owners during the public participation portion.

Most building residents won't have a parking spot, and the proposal suggests three levels of underground parking with 77 vehicle spaces, about 0.15 spaces per unit.

"Seventy-seven spots for 512 units doesn't seem nearly enough to me," Michael Jaremchenko, a partner at Famme & Co., told the committee.

"We have a lot of parking issues already. Our building across the road has 15 parking spots. People are regularly poaching our spots from our staff."

Josephine Pepe, owner of Old North Optometry, echoed Jaremchenko's, saying her office's limited spots are often poached by students.

"I'm excited about the development. I just think it could have some improvements as far as having more parking."

Ward 7 Coun. Corrine Rahman told the committee she was "struggling with 77 spots," and agreed with Jaremchenko and Pepe's concerns.

Rahman, who isn't a voting member of the committee but sat in on the meeting, added she hoped the developers would work with the Downtown BIA and potentially identify other parking opportunities.

The building will also have 270 bicycle parking spaces, according to the proposal.

"I do see that you are targeting a demographic, that you're asking of that demographic to consider using less cars and having less access to them," Rahman said.

For its part, city staff cited the building's location along transit routes, and its walking distance from commercial spaces and offices, in its decision to approve the limited parking.

The revival of the western leg of the bus rapid transit network is also a possibility, according to details of the city's draft mobility master plan.

"You do see the questions about the 77 parking spots ... but at the same time, I think that's a pretty good indication of how this development will integrate into our transit system," said Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira, who represents the downtown and who is also not a member of the committee.

Given how many motorists use Oxford Street, the building's design and location could also uplift the image of the core.

"People who aren't even visiting downtown are transiting through on Oxford seeing that," he said. "That is a very good indication of where downtown is headed right now, and that's on the up and up."

Some councillors also expressed concern about the removal of a lay-by along Oxford Street included in the original application.

City staff explained the lay-by was removed after the director of transportation deemed it unsafe due to its proximity to the intersection.

While the building proposal includes a laneway off Oxford leading to a pick-up and drop-off zone, Ward 2 Coun. Shawn Lewis was unconvinced delivery drivers and ride-share drivers would use it.

"I'm concerned that, notwithstanding concerns from the director of transportation, we're not just going to have vehicles putting on their four-ways and stopping and blocking a lane of roadway," he said.