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On Thursday an Ontario court rejected the Province's attempt to appeal an OMB decision to allow for the redevelopment of the existing Fours Seasons Hotel location at 21 Avenue Road. The developer of the project, Menkes Developments, wants to tear down the 31 storey building and replace it with a 48 and 44 storey pair of condo towers. The Province was responding to concerns that putting such tall towers at that location would ruin the University Avenue view of Queen's Park. With the appeal lost it took little time for other developers to propose their own projects. This is what the view will look like in 2015 when everything is built out.
You have to admire progress. Heck, we'll even getting some palm trees for our troubles. Active discussion of the issue can be found here.
Queen’s Park has lost its fight to preserve one of Toronto’s most prized heritage vistas. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario has been blocked from launching a court challenge to a controversial plan to build two condominium towers that will dramatically alter the postcard image of the historic building that houses the provincial government. In a ruling released on Thursday, an Ontario court rejected the legislature’s request to appeal a decision by the Ontario Municipal Board giving the green light to the project. The OMB declared in its decision last March that replacing the Four Seasons Hotel on Avenue Road with 48- and 44-storey condo towers was consistent with provincial and city planning policies and rejected arguments that the project will undermine the views of the legislature.
Post by UrbanToronto member Traynor explaining the image:
While I agree one building behind a landmark may throw the whole view off, however I would have preferred several towering structures to build a skyline behind such buildings as Queen's Park and City Hall. That way those landmarks could stand like a citadel or guardhouse commanding a great presence with towering monoliths at their back, as if an imposing army ready to strike. It would lend a stronger sense of power and importance to the structures as some feel those buildings represent. (Please excuse the palm trees... I borrowed Dubai for my example.)
author:maestro
posted:2011-01-17 15:50:25
