THE TORONTO STAR

Neighbourhoods are changing, but not for the better

Toronto's condo explosion is just getting started: A record 100 towers could go up every year - and these neighbourhoods will be most impacted,  "Some neighbourhoods will never be the same" is simply an understatement.

I am a resident at Yonge and St. Clair. Many of us sold our houses and moved here for the beautiful views and the convenience of being able to walk to "everything" However, with the passage of only a few years, we have lost our local hardware store, card shops, small restaurants, some family owned grocery stores and a pet store. But worse than these is the slated demolition of the Balmoral Medical Arts Building. This existing facility has been in existence for more than 30 years and houses some 62 doctors offices, a foot clinic, urine and blood lab, X-ray and ultra sound facility as well as a pharmacy.

A question: if this building is demolished, where will these people go for help? I hope the powers that be realize the loss of Balmoral would be monu-mental. Once it's gone, it's gone forever and that neighbour-hood would never be the same.

Alan Trufal, Toronto