According to the City Plan, "the stability of our Neighbourhoods’ physical character is one of the keys to Toronto’s success." The proposed condominium for 2779-2781 Yonge Street and 15-17, 19-21 Strathgowan Avenue violates this key tenet, jeopardizing the safety, character, and stability of the surrounding neighbourhoods.

The proposed building would be nearly double the zoning by-law for height. The developer plans to replace the current 28 residential units on the site with 130 units. In addition, the entrance and exit to the underground parking, as well as the loading dock, would be located on Strathgowan Avenue, a narrow and already congested side street which comes to a dead end at the ravine. Finally, the avant-garde design of the building, with a “tabletop” reminiscent of Alsop’s Sharp Centre for Design at OCAD, in no way respects the dominant aesthetic of the Uptown Yonge Character Area.

While redevelopment and densification are necessary for the vitality and sustainability of our city, they must be done with sensivitity to and an appreciation for the existing urban landscape.