Councillor will push approval of Tivoli condo project
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/55...condo-project/
Downtown Councillor Jason Farr will ask his colleagues to approve a 22-storey condo tower at the Tivoli theatre site, despite the objections of staff.
He says he understands the concerns of city planners who say the proposal is too high and dense to fit the neighbourhood, but Farr believes the pluses of restoring the theatre and bringing residents to the street far outweigh the negatives.
"I consider this a heritage project with a secondary use of condo units," said Farr. He says saving the Tivoli is such a unique opportunity that it deserves granting an exemption on height limits.
"People fear precedence here, but show me another old vaudeville heritage property anywhere else along there. I don't want a wall of towers along the street either."
Farr says he'll propose a motion at Tuesday's meeting he hopes can satisfy everyone.
Tuesday is also the city's deadline to offer a decision on the application. If it takes longer, the developer can take the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board for non-decision.
Farr requested the planning committee's decision Tuesday be ratified at a special council meeting already scheduled for immediately afterwards. The matter was deferred at Farr's request from the March 3 planning meeting because he wanted to see more meetings with staff and neighbours.
"It's been delayed enough. April 8 is the next council meeting. I've heard from the proponents that they are eager to move forward."
If the height allowance is not granted, developer Domenic Diamante vows to appeal to the OMB.
"I won't drop it," he said. "I see it as a sore wound on the street. I want to see this street go in the right direction."
Diamante says the project brings people to live in a neighbourhood of galleries, restaurants and shops that need customers beyond a monthly art crawl.
"They won't be able to survive unless people are here all the time. Right now, after 5 or 6 p.m., there aren't many here," he said. "It would be part of a changing downtown."
But Diamante says there is no business case for restoring the theatre or remediating the site without building all 22 storeys and 106 units.
"We've looked at the numbers very carefully. It's risky as it is. It's touch and go, but I believe in it."
The proposal includes a "front of house" for the historic theatre with a lobby, washrooms, ticket kiosks, a café and a restaurant. That would cost somewhere between $3 million and $4 million.
The restoration of the heritage-protected theatre to working performance space and fundraising for it is to be handled by a non-profit group.
Jason Thorne, general manager of planning and economic development, says staff evaluated the proposal based on city policies and the context of the street. Tall buildings belong in some settings but not in all, he said.
"I hear that people want to see more people living in the area, but it's a question of the form it should take," he said, pointing out the 30-storey Connolly development a few kilometres south was endorsed by staff because it fits with what's around it.
"The restoration of the theatre is a very high priority and council will take that into account as well," said Thorne.
Public consultations on the proposal have generated plenty of positive response, but it's far from unanimous. James Street North property owner Dan Di Rocco says the development would "overwhelm" the street and "open the door to radical change" and "stand out like a sore thumb," he wrote to council.
The project's planning consultant Brenda Khes says there are unfounded rumours circulating that once the developer gets approval, he will tear down the theatre and build another condo tower behind it.
"That's just simply not true. This whole development is premised on saving the Tivoli. That's the whole reason for doing any of it. The Diamantes have a very, very soft spot in their hearts for the Tivoli."
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