Politicians endorse three projects that will add 1,150 new London homes

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Politicians endorse three projects that will add 1,150 new London homes.

Despite concerns from both local residents and city staff, city politicians pushed ahead on Tuesday with several housing projects that will add more than 1,000 new homes.

At Tuesday’s meeting of city council’s planning committee, politicians unanimously endorsed 1,150 homes across three projects that span the housing spectrum, from highrise towers to townhomes. Here are the details:

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Staff quell sewer concerns for York Street towers

Bell Ridge Capital, which owns the downtown mall now called CitiPlaza, has applied to build 40- and 45-storey towers at 267 York St. in a parking lot on the southwest corner of York and Wellington streets, just south of the mall.

The project would add 1,067 apartments downtown, replacing what is now a parking lot along the Wellington bus rapid transit line, ticking several boxes for councillors.

“Very, very exciting to see these developments coming along. We’re finally seeing more and more intensification,” said Ward 8 Coun. Steve Lehman. “We’re changing the skyline of London – we’re a big city.”

Tucked into the staff report is a recommendation to hold off development until the city catches up on sewer capacity, which politicians raised as a potential concern. But staff reassured sewer upgrades that would service the downtown are underway and due to be complete by the end of 2025.

Downtown councillor David Ferreira, who isn’t a member of the committee, also pointed to a sewage collection line that’s due to be built in 2025 under the fork of the Thames, which staff say will add 17,000 housing units of capacity.

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Controversial apartment building draws no political resistance

The most controversial item of the meeting was a proposal from South London Developments Inc. to replace two homes at 539 and 543 Topping Lane with a four-storey, 55 unit apartment building with 47 parking spots.

The project required rezoning to allow for the greater intensity, but developers sought further exemptions for density, yard depth, and height on the land, which is located in a residential area near London’s Berkshire Village neighbourhood.

Local resident Kim Benke presented a petition opposed to the project that garnered more than 60 signatures.

“We understand the need for housing in our city, and we were ready to welcome new neighbours. We fully expected more townhomes might be built,” she told politicians. “Do you really want to set this precedent, allowing four-storey apartment buildings at the sidewalk throughout our neighbourhoods?”

Another resident pointed out that the building would be double the height of surrounding properties, and likened the number of people living into the building to an out-of-control house party.

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Coun. Skylar Franke acknowledged the concerns of neighbours but said halting infill in her own ward while voting for it in others would be hypocritical. “We have a desperate need for rental units.”

New townhomes won’t affect flooding

Also on the table Tuesday were 28 townhomes proposed to be built at 553 and 557 Upper Queen St., just south of Commissioners Road.

The neighbourhood was hit hard by the massive storm on July 16. It dropped up to 75 millimetres of rain in only two hours in some areas, overwhelming stormwater and sewer systems and flooding and low-lying areas.

Coun. Elizabeth Peloza, who’s home in the neighbourhood was also flooded, asked staff how flooding will be controlled, as “we would potentially welcome 28 new residents to the neighbourhood, (and) them potentially being flooded themselves.”

Staff said stormwater would be controlled and contained on-site and directed underground and to Upper Queens, and that engineering standards would ensure neighbours aren’t affected.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

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