Ok, after reading your posts of empty retail spaces, overcrowding and congestion, greedy developers asking for more density with heights unheard of, and no possibility of any future public transportation for 30 or more years ,,
I wonder if there is anything good about living in North York??
..cause you make it seem like its all "doom and gloom" and a bunch of chaos up there
Great, now I have to deal with the guy from South Parkdale with the odd complex that causes him to scream for higher height and density at every single development proposal and constantly complaining that every single tower wasn't built high enough.
Anyways,... the good thing about living in North York Centre area is we don't have to deal with the high number of drug, prostitution, crime, homeless people, crack addicts, drunks, halfway homes for pedephiles, prisoners & ex-cons, and mental health issues that plague other areas,... like South Parkdale! Automation Gallery, I do get your point and understand how you can see North York Centre as some type of heaven on Earth,.... when it's compared to that South Parkdale cockroach and rat infested (including the 2 legged type too!) hell-hole you live in. But let's try to compare the urbanization of North York Centre against other urban centres of the modern world.
First of all, I would be absolutely shocked if this development proposal goes ahead with the height and density being proposed.
While urbanization is a welcome part of modern life; it must be planned appropriately so that everyone (existing residents and new residents) can enjoy living in a livable community.
Take this 5959 Yonge development; it in the area of City Planning's North Yonge Study,... where City Planning has been studying for the last 5 years or so how to properly urbanize the Yonge corridor between Finch Hydro corridor to Steeles,... and they were planning for this urbanization in 30 years when they would expect the North Yonge subway extension to be completed,... yes, 30 years is their Very Conservative estimate,... me, I'd be surprised given the pace and prioritization.
Anyways,.. with the NewtonBrook plaza redevelopment domino falling last Fall, this 5959 Yonge proposal expansion isn't a surprise. The problem is these development proposal are occurring like there already is a Cummer Subway Station at the corner,... but it won't be there for at least 30 years! Meanwhile this 5959 Yonge development and the Newtonbrook development will likely be completed in about 5 years,... then these new residents will have to wait at least 25 years for the Cummer subway station,... promised by their developer! In the meantime, do you really expect them to walk 1km to Finch subway station??? Hint: These are luxury condo buyers,... with luxury cars in their parking spaces!
And that's the problem,... the city have never been able to provide the infrastructure needed to accommodate these high density developments in a timely fashion or not at all! The city is happy to look the other way and stack property tax payers on top of each other and thus collecting about 40-50 times as much property tax revenue for that same land but most of that money goes outside the local area and local infrastructure never keeps up with development.
Case in point look to the south at the North York Secondary Plan area,... Yonge Corridor between Highway 401 and Finch Hydro Corridor,... where everybody and their grandmother can't believe how much has been allowed to develop within the last few decades,.... but it's only 2/3 full with 50% more density to go,... but already,...
- Most condo kids are being bused out for schooling because all the local schools are packed full
- Section 37 community benefits should provide more park space but this area now has the lowest park space per capita in the city!
- Worst gridlock traffic in Toronto
- Only 1 public library in this ward to service 95,000 residents! The ward has 2 bookmobile stop (to service under-serviced areas) and 4 just outside the ward
- Flooding and sewage issues because the local infrastructure can't handle it and wasn't upgraded in time
Now start adding on 50% more density here from more developments within the North York Secondary Plan,.... then double it or so for the North Yonge Study,.... then add in the 905 developments along Yonge north of Steeles and along Steeles as well,.... where's all the infrastructure to support that growth????
Look at this 5959 Yonge development and the Newtonbrook plaza redevelopment,... where's the office component? This development is on Yonge Street near a proposed Cummer/Drewry subway station! So where are all these folks supposed to work and how do they get there??? Driving in what is already the worst gridlock traffic congestion in Toronto or take the over capacity Yonge subway line? Right now, if you're trying to get on southbound Yonge subway train at any subway station south of Eglinton station during morning rush hour, you should expect to wait as multiple train pass by packed with commuters. And just wait and see what happens when Eglinton Crosstown opens in a few years,... So what's the solution? To keep on extending Yonge subway further north to pack in more people onto an already over capacity subway line????
Look along Eglinton,... high density residential development going in mainly at the cost of office space,... and without adequate infrastructure to accomodate all the new residents. They're just starting to complain about the lack of school space,... and they don't have any service roads to protect existing neighbourhoods,... again, it's the lack of infrastructure to accommodate the high density developments.
Automation Gallery, you can mindlessly cheer for higher height and more density all you want,... but all you're really doing is cheering for the city to fail more,... simply because the city can't adequately provide the infrastructure required for these high density developments.
