Toronto Ellie Condos | 105.76m | 31s | G Group | Kirkor
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sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
Toronto councillor chastised for ‘going to bat’ for developer
By DAVID RIDERCity Hall Bureau Chief
Thu., June 21, 2018
Toronto’s economic development chair broke the city council’s code of conduct by “going to bat” for a longtime developer friend, the integrity commissioner ruled in a report released Thursday.
Valerie Jepson recommends Michael Thompson’s council colleagues reprimand him, officially note he broke the rules and tell him to cease providing assistance to Albert Gasparro, chief executive of G Group which has a condo/office development at 5220 Yonge St. in Willowdale.
Jepson found Gasparro, frustrated with what he felt was inadequate help from Willowdale Councillor John Filion in getting council approval for a zoning amendment, rental house demolition permit and more, turned to longtime friend Thompson, a Scarborough councillor, and Thompson’s staff.
Thompson then “quarterbacked” discussions with city staff on the application, Jepson found, noting that between September 2016 and March 2017 his office staff made at least 60 contacts with city staff regarding the application, and that Thompson raised it with Mayor John Tory’s office.
Gasparro has been friends with Thompson since 1984 and, in 2004, his son Vince and Thompson co-founded Project Engagement, a not-for-profit agency that gives Christmas hampers to needy families, the report states. Vince Gasparro is currently co-chairing Tory’s re-election campaign.
Thompson acted out of friendship and had no financial interest in the project, Jepson ruled.
But his actions breached the code of conduct’s protection against improper use of influence by councillors, she said, adding that while he told her he’d give the same help to anyone, the economic development chair crossed a line when he told city staff that Gasparro’s people were “good guys.”
“Regrettably, I have concluded that Councillor Thompson’s friendship with Mr. Gasparro clouded his judgment,” Jepson wrote. “He accepted everything that Mr. Gasparro told him without scrutiny, and ‘went to bat’ for him ...
“Mr. Gasparro believes that, but for the intervention of his friend, the project would be stalled. The fact that any city stakeholder has this belief is, on its face, damaging to the reputation of city council, and accordingly the City of Toronto,” she continued.
“Giving favours or ‘going to bat’ for a friend on a transaction is simply unacceptable conduct for an elected official in the modern age. Such behaviour perpetuates the most cynical stereotypes of elected officials, and must therefore be addressed seriously when it happens.”
Jepson also noted Thompson’s staff got passes to TIFF and Toronto Fashion Week for Albert Gasparro, and that the councillor invited both Gasparros to a “special dinner” in 2015 to honour former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres.
Thompson, who is running for re-election in Ward 40, categorically denies any wrongdoing, the report states. He declined to comment to the Star, saying he will have his say at next week’s council meeting.
Related story: Toronto councillor stayed in $900-a-night Chateau Marmont. He says it was money well spent
G Group bought the land, for which another developer had abandoned plans, in 2013 and tabled a revised application in 2015. Council approved it in 2017 with Filion’s support after “significant concession” on the plan by G Group.
When first approached by Gasparro, Filion worked with him and staff, the report says. But by 2016 Gasparro was unhappy with Filion referring him to planning staff, and requirements regarding an existing tenant. He approached Thompson, who formed the opinion Filion was “intentionally attempting to delay the progress of the file” and making unreasonable demands on city staff, the report states.
The integrity commissioner rejected that allegation, writing that Filion acted appropriately and was diligent in ensuring G Group complied with requirements to build office space as well as lucrative condo units.
Jepson also rejected allegations that Filion improperly suggested Gasparro use a particular consultant to help with the development. She noted the consultant had worked on the previous site owner’s application and found any suggestion from Filion was related to the consultant’s ability to help Gasparro move the revised project forward.
In 2017, Toronto’s auditor general asked the integrity commissioner to look into an anonymous letter suggesting Filion was involved in improperly referring matters to a particular development consultant. The resulting report, also released Thursday, “uncovered no evidence to support a finding that Councillor Filion has any business or referral relationship with the named consultant.”
Albert Gasparro did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Star.
Vince Gasparro said: “In terms of the report that was released today, I have never had involvement in the business and had no involvement in the matter outlined in the report. I can confirm that I co-founded a not-for-profit with the councillor a number of years ago, where we have assisted a large number of families from across Toronto.”
Tory spokesman Don Peat said Thompson “did make the mayor’s office aware of the concerns around Councillor Filion’s conduct in regard to this particular development. The office took no action and had no further involvement in the matter.”
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_h...council-code-of-conduct-report-concludes.html
First Centrium developer/lawyer fraud, then G-Group converting hotel to OfficeCondo, Provincial Liberal tanking foreign ownership market (OfficeCondo!), a powerful Scarborough Councillor “going to bat” for a NorthYork development,..... This site is like a SoapOpera!
By DAVID RIDERCity Hall Bureau Chief
Thu., June 21, 2018
Toronto’s economic development chair broke the city council’s code of conduct by “going to bat” for a longtime developer friend, the integrity commissioner ruled in a report released Thursday.
Valerie Jepson recommends Michael Thompson’s council colleagues reprimand him, officially note he broke the rules and tell him to cease providing assistance to Albert Gasparro, chief executive of G Group which has a condo/office development at 5220 Yonge St. in Willowdale.
Jepson found Gasparro, frustrated with what he felt was inadequate help from Willowdale Councillor John Filion in getting council approval for a zoning amendment, rental house demolition permit and more, turned to longtime friend Thompson, a Scarborough councillor, and Thompson’s staff.
Thompson then “quarterbacked” discussions with city staff on the application, Jepson found, noting that between September 2016 and March 2017 his office staff made at least 60 contacts with city staff regarding the application, and that Thompson raised it with Mayor John Tory’s office.
Gasparro has been friends with Thompson since 1984 and, in 2004, his son Vince and Thompson co-founded Project Engagement, a not-for-profit agency that gives Christmas hampers to needy families, the report states. Vince Gasparro is currently co-chairing Tory’s re-election campaign.
Thompson acted out of friendship and had no financial interest in the project, Jepson ruled.
But his actions breached the code of conduct’s protection against improper use of influence by councillors, she said, adding that while he told her he’d give the same help to anyone, the economic development chair crossed a line when he told city staff that Gasparro’s people were “good guys.”
“Regrettably, I have concluded that Councillor Thompson’s friendship with Mr. Gasparro clouded his judgment,” Jepson wrote. “He accepted everything that Mr. Gasparro told him without scrutiny, and ‘went to bat’ for him ...
“Mr. Gasparro believes that, but for the intervention of his friend, the project would be stalled. The fact that any city stakeholder has this belief is, on its face, damaging to the reputation of city council, and accordingly the City of Toronto,” she continued.
“Giving favours or ‘going to bat’ for a friend on a transaction is simply unacceptable conduct for an elected official in the modern age. Such behaviour perpetuates the most cynical stereotypes of elected officials, and must therefore be addressed seriously when it happens.”
Jepson also noted Thompson’s staff got passes to TIFF and Toronto Fashion Week for Albert Gasparro, and that the councillor invited both Gasparros to a “special dinner” in 2015 to honour former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres.
Thompson, who is running for re-election in Ward 40, categorically denies any wrongdoing, the report states. He declined to comment to the Star, saying he will have his say at next week’s council meeting.
Related story: Toronto councillor stayed in $900-a-night Chateau Marmont. He says it was money well spent
G Group bought the land, for which another developer had abandoned plans, in 2013 and tabled a revised application in 2015. Council approved it in 2017 with Filion’s support after “significant concession” on the plan by G Group.
When first approached by Gasparro, Filion worked with him and staff, the report says. But by 2016 Gasparro was unhappy with Filion referring him to planning staff, and requirements regarding an existing tenant. He approached Thompson, who formed the opinion Filion was “intentionally attempting to delay the progress of the file” and making unreasonable demands on city staff, the report states.
The integrity commissioner rejected that allegation, writing that Filion acted appropriately and was diligent in ensuring G Group complied with requirements to build office space as well as lucrative condo units.
Jepson also rejected allegations that Filion improperly suggested Gasparro use a particular consultant to help with the development. She noted the consultant had worked on the previous site owner’s application and found any suggestion from Filion was related to the consultant’s ability to help Gasparro move the revised project forward.
In 2017, Toronto’s auditor general asked the integrity commissioner to look into an anonymous letter suggesting Filion was involved in improperly referring matters to a particular development consultant. The resulting report, also released Thursday, “uncovered no evidence to support a finding that Councillor Filion has any business or referral relationship with the named consultant.”
Albert Gasparro did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Star.
Vince Gasparro said: “In terms of the report that was released today, I have never had involvement in the business and had no involvement in the matter outlined in the report. I can confirm that I co-founded a not-for-profit with the councillor a number of years ago, where we have assisted a large number of families from across Toronto.”
Tory spokesman Don Peat said Thompson “did make the mayor’s office aware of the concerns around Councillor Filion’s conduct in regard to this particular development. The office took no action and had no further involvement in the matter.”
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_h...council-code-of-conduct-report-concludes.html
First Centrium developer/lawyer fraud, then G-Group converting hotel to OfficeCondo, Provincial Liberal tanking foreign ownership market (OfficeCondo!), a powerful Scarborough Councillor “going to bat” for a NorthYork development,..... This site is like a SoapOpera!
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sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
City’s Integrity Commissioner Report on conduct of Councillor Michael Thompson in relation to personal friend at G-Group:
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-117213.pdf
This explains why G-Group’s EllieCondo was stalled for so long, issues kept on coming up like getting assurance that the former Centrium Hotel tower would actually become Commercial Office Tower (vs another residential condo tower), City land sale required (maybe the old Wilkes Creek) and new Engineering issue (maybe related to all that underground water testing)
City’s Integrity Commissioner Report on conduct of Councillor John Filion:
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-117174.pdf
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-117213.pdf
This explains why G-Group’s EllieCondo was stalled for so long, issues kept on coming up like getting assurance that the former Centrium Hotel tower would actually become Commercial Office Tower (vs another residential condo tower), City land sale required (maybe the old Wilkes Creek) and new Engineering issue (maybe related to all that underground water testing)
City’s Integrity Commissioner Report on conduct of Councillor John Filion:
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-117174.pdf
moon2n
Active Member
G Group is a big liar: Ellie residents will enjoy in-ground access to transit....in ground subway access to North York Centre subway on his ad
where is the tunnel??
where is the tunnel??
sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
G Group is a big liar: Ellie residents will enjoy in-ground access to transit....in ground subway access to North York Centre subway on his ad
I already replied to this in Real Estate thread,...
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/ellie-condos-g-group-real-estate.10043/page-19#post-1348888
At best, G-Group/Lula/whoever will have an indirect connection with 3 other properties in between via their Parking level connections. Since this is not a direct Subway connection with public entrance (ie: on top of station); City can’t make it part of Section 37 Community Benefits (thus, City has no leverage in making sure it gets built).
The problem here is Developer can charge 10-15% premium for subway connection and then just not build it,.... a-la Emerald City (Sheppard & DonMills).
sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
I’ll answer this query here since it’s not really a RealEstate question,....
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/ellie-condos-g-group-real-estate.10043/page-19#post-1349966
Yes, North York City Centre with direct connection to TTC North York Center Subway Station has tunnel connection to Menkes GibsonSquare; it opened last year - about 3 years after GibsonSquare opened - tunneling under city street was done under a separate project
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...es-rafael-bigauskas.4157/page-30#post-1199542
Menkes GibsonSquare’s Final Report included a possible link to Sorbara Beacon condo; here, tunneling will have to be done under the driveway between the two condo towers, thus, I don’t expect this to be done until a couple years after Beacon opens,... both condo board/developers have to come to agreement and compensation here,.....
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...m-35s-sorbara-wallman-architects.13050/page-7
Last image shows part of Beacon’s P1 tunnel link to Menkes GibsonSquare
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...wallman-architects.13050/page-13#post-1276717
Link between Sorbara Beacon and EllieCondo is easy since their underground Parking Levels are wall to wall against each other so no tunnelling required,... just breakout wall. They have single door in P1 level. Again, 2 developers/condo boards will have to come to agreement,...
http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentAp...on=viewSupportingDocPdf&attachmentRsn=6698979
If it all gets built, then it becomes a question of who as access; public or condo residents only. I’m hearing Menkes GibsonSquare tunnel is now condo resident access only; just like Menkes Ultimate condo P1 level in North York Centre underground “PATH” system
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/ellie-condos-g-group-real-estate.10043/page-19#post-1349966
Yes, North York City Centre with direct connection to TTC North York Center Subway Station has tunnel connection to Menkes GibsonSquare; it opened last year - about 3 years after GibsonSquare opened - tunneling under city street was done under a separate project
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...es-rafael-bigauskas.4157/page-30#post-1199542
Menkes GibsonSquare’s Final Report included a possible link to Sorbara Beacon condo; here, tunneling will have to be done under the driveway between the two condo towers, thus, I don’t expect this to be done until a couple years after Beacon opens,... both condo board/developers have to come to agreement and compensation here,.....
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...m-35s-sorbara-wallman-architects.13050/page-7
Last image shows part of Beacon’s P1 tunnel link to Menkes GibsonSquare
https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...wallman-architects.13050/page-13#post-1276717
Link between Sorbara Beacon and EllieCondo is easy since their underground Parking Levels are wall to wall against each other so no tunnelling required,... just breakout wall. They have single door in P1 level. Again, 2 developers/condo boards will have to come to agreement,...
http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentAp...on=viewSupportingDocPdf&attachmentRsn=6698979
If it all gets built, then it becomes a question of who as access; public or condo residents only. I’m hearing Menkes GibsonSquare tunnel is now condo resident access only; just like Menkes Ultimate condo P1 level in North York Centre underground “PATH” system
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fatty
New Member
The Gibson Square tunnel is open to the public. The tunnel leads to P1 which is public parking operated by Impark, therefore the tunnel will always be open to the public (except for a few hours overnight when the doors are locked for everyone).
sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
Cool, thanks for the clarification Fatty.
BTW, first 3 floors of North York Central Library finally re-opens Thursday July 5th at 12:30pm
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/northyorkcentral/
UrbanAffair
Senior Member
Site still for sale last I looked...
sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
2 years ago, G-group applied for demolition & building permits to renovate part of those older buildings into temporary on-site sales office. They’re still in issuance pending status (none in refusal); likely held up by integrity commissioner issue (mentioned earlier) which is resolved now. Thus, I suspect they’re getting ready to set up their on-site temporary sales office.
The parking lot on Yonge seems to be used for parking by trades worker of Beacon condo. The smaller parking lot recently closed off on Churchill will likely be for Ellie-Condo sales office.
The parking lot on Yonge seems to be used for parking by trades worker of Beacon condo. The smaller parking lot recently closed off on Churchill will likely be for Ellie-Condo sales office.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
there aren't any permits filed here.
sunnyraytoronto
Senior Member
You’re likely looking at 5200-5220 Yonge. Same site includes old buildings at 5250-5254 Yonge which are supposed to be renovated to become on-site temporary sales office.
They are cutting trees on the west side of the property. They have a permit posted on site that allows them to take down healthy trees.