Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Toronto condo boom: how heritage is at risk as old Toronto is transformed by the new

The prime King St. E. area where the Albany Club has stood proudly for decades has undergone many changes since it was built back in the 1840s.

But none compare to what’s about to hit the historic block — a 47-storey condo tower.

The private club, as well as a handful of other landlords of Nos. 71 to 95 King St. E., have proposed redeveloping the ragtag block of buildings into 355 condos with a four-storey podium and underground parking.

What’s not clear is what, exactly, that will mean for the collection of Georgian-style buildings designed by the once-prominent 19-century Toronto architect John Howard.

It’s a story playing out quietly in many other parts of the downtown as Toronto’s condo boom continues at a frantic pace and developers scour the streets for the dwindling number of sites within walking distance of transit and office towers.

Increasingly, that means the old is having to make way for the new. And some — including the Albany Club block — risk undergoing demolition or drastic redevelopment because they have yet to be designated as historic properties in need of protection.

Just a few months ago, locals were shocked when a historic house on Wellesley St., just east of Church St., was demolished. No redevelopment plans have yet been filed, but it’s expected to become a condo site.

“We’re so fortunate to have so much development under way and to have this condo boom, but there is intense pressure on the city right now to change and to accept the Toronto that is coming,” says heritage architect Scott Weir of E.R.A. Architects.

“Change is not bad. It can be good. But it needs to be managed.”

While changes to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005 gave cities the power for the first time to stop demolition of significant properties, they have to be listed as having heritage value. Some old properties face demolition because developers won approvals before 2005 and are just now launching projects.

“What we’re still seeing is somewhat spotty protection,” says Weir, part of a team of 40 at E.R.A. who work with homeowners, landlords and developers to restore heritage buildings or, increasingly, help condo developers meld the old with sleek new glass and steel towers.

Most, like developer Gary Switzer, get the importance of preserving the city’s past, and actually see heritage properties as adding cache to condo towers that can otherwise look a lot alike.

His MOD Developments now has two major historic restorations under way on Yonge St. as part of condo projects: Restoration of a derelict 1905 bank building on Yonge St. across from the Eaton Centre that will be the grand new entrance to a 60-storey condo tower, and restoration of storefronts just south of Bloor St. that will front a condo project.

“Unfortunately, our heritage laws basically suck,” says Switzer. “It seems like anyone can do almost whatever they want if they wait long enough,” or a building is allowed to decay until it’s beyond saving.

The city currently has a heritage inventory of 9,600 buildings and 20 districts, such as Cabbagetown. It works closely with city planners to review proposed redevelopments, says Mary MacDonald, the acting manager of heritage preservation for the City of Toronto’s planning department.

Demolitions are still happening, she acknowledges, but most developers are far more committed than in the past to protecting local landmarks, and beyond just their facades.

Her biggest fear is land and property values have escalated so wildly in the downtown over the last decade, owners of heritage properties may be forced into redevelopments because they can’t afford the bigger tax bills.

“It’s not like there is a villain here,” says developer Switzer. “Developers look at a block and say, ‘Well, none of these buildings are listed.’ And then the city says, ‘Wait a minute. We do like these buildings.’

“I think a lot more work needs to be done to identify what are considered significant buildings. I think the best developers are the ones who respect heritage because we all want a city that is multilayered and preserves the best of the past.”

Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Susan Pigg

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