Went to the first community meeting tonight. As I anticipated, the crowd of 200-300 was about 97% Wasps over the age of 50, who predictably did nothing but whine and complain. I thought the plan looked brilliant in the application document, and upon seeing some great renders during the presentation (sorry, no pics), that opinion has only been strengthened. Some points that were discussed:
- The podiums will all be 2 storeys, with both floors dedicated to retail on all sides, and built right to the property line. Even the new Loblaws and LCBO will be enlarged 2 floor stores.
- There will be a big gym (hopefully Goodlife!)
- There will be a daycare facility.
- Two new streets will be created in order to make shorter blocks.
- Sidewalks will be widened to allow for large patio spaces for cafes and restaurants.
- All, or virtually all, parking will go underground in the nicest looking underground parking I've seen.
- All the podiums will have green roofs and the buildings will be LEED certified.
- The centre will become a versatile, programmable space - a type of town square.
- The loading area at the back of the shops on the west side will be hidden from view.
- Townhomes will line Lambert Street (where the ugly ass end of the plaza is now).
- The most interesting feature is something they dubbed the "Humberline" - a landscaped pedestrian walkway beginning at the western corner of the property with an intimate public plaza travelling eastward along the second floor of the podium, where stairs and an elevator will take you back down to grade at the Kingsway and then continue east along a beautifully landscaped pedestrian promenade to Royal York Road.
- The lady representing First Capital, who own the land, stated that they really wanted to develop a sophisticated, modern design that is built as pedestrian and cyclist oriented as possible. I was surprised by how strongly they emphasized how urban this plan is, and essentially dismissed any concessions to cars, which seemed to shock and annoy many people in the crowd.
- Perhaps the biggest news is that Tridel is the developer. They had representatives there as well, but they did not speak.
- The local city councillor, Gloria Lindsay Luby, was also there, and she once again confirmed why I dislike her politics. She's the type of slimy politician that will say whatever people want to hear in order to cement votes. She was asked directly whether she supported the project and she postured angrily how she thought it was out of scale and out of character for the neighbourhood, too much this, too much that, blah blah blah BS to roaring applause. I do admire her political savvy - she knows exactly how to work a gullible crowd by expressing her outrage even though she has no power to influence or stop this proposal from going through, and essentially admitted as much when directly confronted about it.
- As for the concerns voiced by the "citizens", they were pathetic, myopic, and selfish to say the least. I can't wait for this to be built.
