Article content
Amid the housing crisis, city politicians have changed their tune on the so-called Towers of Spite.
During Tuesday’s meeting of council’s planning committee, politicians unanimously voted to endorse adding more buildings to the lot at 2-4 Audrey Ave. and 186-188 Huron St., where four buildings now stand.
The four tall, narrow rental buildings near Western University, dubbed the Towers of Spite, have become urban legends for their lack of esthetic appeal.
Article content
“This requires too many variances . . . in order to fit it in there, it’s too much, it needs to be scaled back” said Marie Blosh of the Broughdale Community Association. “Send this back and say ‘No, it’s too much.’”
In the latest proposal, three of the existing towers, offering 15 bedrooms for rent, will remain and one will be torn down to make way for 11 units to be built adding 55 more bedrooms, for a total of 70 bedrooms in 14 buildings, geared toward student rentals.
Proposed are two, three-storey blocks of back-to-back cluster townhouses with 11 new residential units, five bedrooms in each. Each bedroom now rents for about $900 a month.
There are four buildings on 0.17 hectares, and the building at 2 Audrey Ave. would be torn down.
“The requested amendment aligns with council’s direction for residential intensification in near-campus neighbourhoods,” a staff report states. Council recently approved as many as five bedrooms in residences in near-campus neighbourhoods and this proposal is in line with that.
The Towers of Spite were built in 2006 and 2007 after city politicians refused a larger development on the site that was opposed by a neighbourhood group worried about intensification. KAP Holdings initially wanted to build two duplexes and two triplexes on the site in the early 2000s. It took the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board and to the courts.
Article content
Long-time resident Stephen Pitel said he bought his home because the neighbourhood was largely comprised of single-family homes, rentals or not.
“There are no buildings at all like what is being proposed today, and that’s why I’m so concerned,” he said. “The precedent that is being set here is an alarming one. It’s not one that the citizens of London should welcome.”
While residents also raised concerns about the students who would likely live in the buildings, politicians were steadfast in their support.
Being in a primary transit area, and being near campus . . . I do think that, at this time, it’s difficult not to move forward with this application,” said Coun. Corrine Rahman. “However, I do feel like it is intense in the neighbourhood.”
All five members of council’s planning committee backed the plan: Rahman, Steve Lehman, Skylar Franke, Shawn Lewis and Steve Hillier. The proposal will make its way to council for final approval on Sept. 24.
Recommended from Editorial
Share this article in your social network
