Quarry Lands Tower Proposal

Hi Everyone,

Its been awhile since our last post, and there was recent story that's been circulating. There are some links attached that will help explain and give further details to this on-going issue. 

In regards to the Conservatory ’s lands, the situation remains the same; the fact that they can build at any time.  In regards to there 33 story proposal it is just a proposal. (see link: https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2020/08/32-storey-condo-tower-proposed-gerrard-east-victoria-park?fbclid=IwAR2DXGkcRxtP5f_vNlGbNf9zJexLx88nhCF5vyYOMSLqyFXWMSJ9jEHvtAo)

It hasn’t been activated.  The question is; is the Conservatory Group going to or not going  to obtains a permit.  The feeling, at this point, is that they aren’t going to build.  By putting forth the proposal they are keeping their right to build active.  So, if the Conservatory group decides to build they can obtain the permit at any time they want.  Of course, this is known information.  

Our concern now is the 33 story building that they are proposing to build.  Unfortunately, there is nothing to stop them from building that high.  The city won’t contest it because that is what the city want the developers to do on their lands.  The logic is that more open space on the land will be created.  The tower’s footprint will be less than the two tower pedestal that they were proposing to build previously.  The only stipulation that they have to adhere to is that the tower has to have the same number of units or less than the previous proposal.

If the Conservatory Group goes ahead and gets the permit, the planning department would take about 6 months to review it before the Conservatory Group could begin building. 

(see a follow-up story here: http://www.birchcliffnews.com/quarry-towers-one-step-closer-to-reality/)

Be well & stay safe.

Best Regards, 

CCQLD Board of Directors

QUARRY LANDS COMMUNITY MEETING DECEMBER 9TH

Our City Councillor Gary Crawford has sent out the attached mailer to Birchcliff Residents. We will be attendance and hope to see many of you there.

To summarize the information:

I invite you to join me on December 9th for a community update meeting on the redevelopment of 411 Victoria Park and 2510 Gerrard St. East.

On September 23rd, CreateTO introduced Diamond Kilmer to the community as its development partner. At the meeting, the group presented a conceptual framework for the development of the Quarry Lands. 

Building upon the feedback received and information gathered since the last meeting, Diamond Kilmer is looking forward to sharing the latest designs prior to moving forward with its submissions to the City. 

Join the Councillor at the latest presentation that will serve as the basis for Diamond

Kilmer's development application. We hope you will take the opportunity to sign-up for the Working Group to provide ongoing input into the revitalization of the Birchcliff Quarry Lands.

CreateTO, City Staff and Diamond Kilmer will be on hand to answer any questions. Everyone is welcome. 

Time and Date: 6-8 pm, Monday December 9, 2019

Location: Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Rd (Warden & Kingston) 

Qaurry Lands Update - 411 Victoria Park Ave., 2510 & 2530 Gerrard St. East

Our City Councillor Gary Crawford has sent out the attached mailer to Birchcliff Residents. We will be attendance and hope to see many of you there.

To summarize the information:

Following a competitive process led by the City’s real estate development agency, CreateTO (formerly Build TO), a development partner has been selected for this site. Through the proc3ess, a new plan has now emerged that will keep approximately 4.4 acres of land in city ownership for a new park on the property. This builds on the feedback received from the community over the past few years.

Join us in learning more about the proposed plan for moving forward with the revitalization of the Birchcliff Quarry Lands. This meeting will be an opportunity to:

·       Introduce the selected development partner

·       Learn about the proposed framework for redevelopment of the lands, and particularly a new 4.5 –acre park on the lands.

·       Receive feedback from the community in advance of any development applications

·       Begin an ongoing dialogue between the development partner and the community

CreateTO, City staff and the selected development partner will be on hand presenting concepts and questions. Everyone is welcome.

Time and Date: 6-8 pm, Monday September 23, 2019

Location: Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Rd (Warden & Kingston) 

Dear Community Member:

We are, once again, sending you this update in Lieu of a 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM).  There has been no activity of note on the Conservatory Group’s Quarry Lands in the past 12 months . We value your time and commitment and did not want to convene a meeting unless there was value in it for you and our cause.  We have decided not hold AGM at this time.

That said, we do continue to hold regular Board meetings and we are in regular contact with City staff and elected officials to ensure that the communities interests are represented.  No new issues regarding the Conservatory lands have come forth, but we must remain vigilant and be ready to oppose any towers on the Quarry lands at a moment’s notice. We will advise as necessary.

We would also like to post a final public farewell to long time community activist and CCQLD board member Ed Treadway who died recently.  Ed was one of the early voices for responsible development in West Scarborough and helped shape the Coalport Drive development in the 1970s. We were grateful when Ed offered to lend us his experience and counsel for several years as a member of the CCQLD board. He is missed.

We would also like to note the recent passing of another long time community activist. Maurice Weaver was one of the founders of  the Birch Cliff Concerned Citizens and regularly attended CCQLD AGMs until a few years ago.

The torch has been passed. We need new, younger blood to step up and speak out on behalf of their community.

Sincerely,

Tim Weber

President

CCQLD

Dear CCQLD Members and Supporters

As President of the Concerned Citizens for Quarry Land Development, I would like to thank you for your continued support.  Our united opposition to the construction of high rise condominium towers in the eastern portion of the Quarry Lands remains as firm as ever, an example of what communities can achieve when they speak with one, firm voice. The land owned by mega developer GCD remains undisturbed. 

Our critics would like to paint us as anti-development, but in fact we have consistently advocated for ‘responsible community building’.  The construction of 25 story towers in a community which consists of single family dwellings and a scattering of low rise condominiums could not be considered responsible.

GCD has clearly signaled to us that it intends to ignore the wishes of the community and will at some point go ahead with construction of the condominium towers, with the approval of the Ontario Municipal Board.  Our job is to make their job as difficult as possible.  GCD’s timeline for construction is known only to them. The company has refused to negotiate a resolution to this issue and could at any moment, apply for a building permit. At that point, we will have to agree on a course of action and we will have to act quickly. Our political leaders are clear on what we expect and we will hold them accountable.  

Normally I would be writing to you at this time of the year to advise on the date and time of our Annual General Meeting. The CCQLD Board of Directors has decided to postpone our traditional spring AGM and reschedule in the fall.  The status of the GCD development remains unchanged since our last meeting, and we feel it does not make a great deal of sense to spend our limited funds on a meeting which would be little more than a restatement of last year’s discussion.

The Board will continue to monitor developments in the eastern portion of the Quarry Lands and will report to you as necessary. Thank you for your continued interest and support and vigilance on behalf of your community.

Sincerely,

Tim Weber

President, CCQLD

Hello CCQLD members,

Here is just a quick update on what's happening with Quarry Lands right now. We received this notice from the city, which is really nothing new. This was expected to happen in preparation for the new development going in on the City owned lands.  Look for a letter to our members next month from our President.

CCQLD AGM APRIL 13,2016

 Hello Everyone.

  We have set the date for the Annual General Meeting of the Concerned Citizens for Quarry Land Development and we are urging all interested parties to attend.  Change is inevitable and how we manage that change as a community will affect our quality of life in the Upper Beaches and Birch Cliff for years to come. The threat from Gerrard Clonmore Developments and its plan to build a massive high rise condominium complex on the eastern portion of the Quarry Lands has not subsided, in fact we are hearing increasingly ominous sounds from both the company and our friends at the city of Toronto.

Come to the meeting and stand with your neighbours against this threat to our community. Councillor Gary Crawford will be there to answer questions and provide some clarity about where we are in the process and what we can do to keep the towers out of the Quarry Lands.

Please make plans to come out, ask questions, get involved and of course renew your membership, ($10.) on Wednesday, April 13th at 7:30 pm at the Birch Cliff Bluffs United Church, 33 East Road (Warden and Kingston Road).

Sincerely,

Tim Weber

President CCQLD