435 Reynolds
April 12 - Update Public Information Meeting
Batory Management, along with the building owners, held their Public Information Meeting to outline their plans for re-development of 435 Reynolds St. on the evening of April 6 by Webex.
The group presented their plans to build an 8-storey residential building with 19 units and two levels of underground parking with 33 parking spaces (conceptual image above). The group confirmed the site was not zoned for this type of project and would need significant changes to the City’s Zoning By-Laws and represented a departure from the City’s current Official Plan.
Most alarming about the proposal was the proposed height of the building at 26.4 meters. If completed the building would tower over the adjacent residential properties, some of them with heritage designation, on both sides of Reynolds, Pine, and the north side of Spruce with a significant loss of privacy and sunlight for the homes impacted.
The group made many references to the site as a “transition” property leaning on the province’s desire to increase density around Go Stations and citing the planned development in the area the City calls “Midtown”, on the North side of Cornwall, to justify their proposal.
A total of 56 residents attended the call and were given the opportunity to provide feedback. The comments from residents illustrated unanimous and vocal opposition to the proposal citing numerous negative impacts to the neighbourhood as follows:
· Loss of privacy for many homes surrounding the proposed building
· Loss of sunlight for many surrounding homes
· Significant loss in property values, particularly for adjacent homes
· Increased traffic in the neighbourhood
· Significant disruption during construction including traffic congestion and large trucks staging near homes given the challenges of constructing an 8-storey building on a very small building site,
· Dramatic change in the neighbourhood south of Cornwall and West of Trafalgar which today is predominantly residential with a few low rise commercial buildings
· Establishing a precedent that would lead to the development of other nearby commercial properties with even taller buildings.
The group has not submitted an official proposal to the City and no date is set for next steps. For more information and to connect with concerned neighbours feel free to contact Bob French at french.robert@ymail.com
435 Reynolds
27 March 2021
Call to Action from neighbour Bob French at 425 Reynolds
From:
Bob French
Home Owner
425 Reynolds St.
Dear Neighbor:
I am writing to you about the recent letter we received from Batory Urban Planning regarding a proposed development at 435 Reynolds. (See below)
The existing property at 435 Reynolds is a 3-storey commercial building. The proposed development is an 8-storey 26.4 metre apartment building meaning it will be two storeys taller then the old apartment building at 392 Pine just west of Watson.
Any home within a block of this proposed structure will lose their privacy, as many units will be looking down on our properties. Beyond the loss of privacy, there are obvious implications to neighborhood density and traffic that will impact us all.
As per the letter from Batory Urban Planning they are holding a Public Information Meeting on Tuesday April 6.
I strongly encourage you to attend that session to voice your concerns.
Beyond the call on April 6 I am hoping to organize further activities and initiatives to voice our collective opposition to this proposed development. If you would like to participate please email me at french.robert@ymail.com I can also send you an electronic copy of the invitation for the April 6 meeting.
The Trafalgar-Chartwell Resident’s Association is aware of the proposed development and is planning to join the effort to oppose the development including attending the April 6 session.
Sincerely
Bob French
416-346-7758