April 17, 2020 To Whom It…

April 17, 2020

To Whom It May Concern. Re: EBR3 019/1406.Community Benefits vs Minto & GWL proposals.

Ironic that at a time of pandemic and fear of contagion, citizens are supposed to lie low, self-isolate, while allowing Minto’s and GWL’s ill-thought-out proposals to ruin our air, green spaces, sunlight and health. Where is the community benefit from having five more towers in an already stressed and over-loaded neighbourhood?

Where do the developers and city planners live? In congested areas with wind tunnels, air pollution and threatened health? Or are they safe in the Caledon Hills, Rosedale and other low density neighbourhoods, glad of the profits they have made from inflicting social and physical pain on others?
In the year 2000, Minto was already using and, one might say, abusing the idea of community benefits. It promised to provide Section 37 benefits for increased height and density. Those community benefits are not noticed by residents of Minto’s Monstrocity at Yonge and Eglinton. Jane Jacobs once made the point “Among those responsible for cities, at the top, there is much ignorance.” Still is...

I would add also re Section 37, there is no clarity, consistency or transparency either. Gladko Associates noted that lack of transparency and limited benefit to the community in its report on Section 37 in 2014. Nothing has changed since then. Arrogant developers and their political supporters plan only for profit and not for community benefit.

Who could ever think that squeezing five more towers into a neighbourhood where transit, schools, hospitals, all infrastructure, fresh air, and green spaces, are already stressed, would be a good idea? Only ignorant, greedy people who have never considered the research available on the social and physical effects of high density. Only willfully blind people believe in high density these days.

Now we know too, that higher rates of coronavirus occur where people are crammed together. Look at the numbers available from Canada Housing Corp. and Statistics Canada quoted in The Globe & Mail article, April 17, 2020 by Kerry Gold. I am also happy to provide a list of sources on the troubles caused by high density, sources that city planners, developers and politicians seem not to know about.

People are hoping for a constructive upheaval of social attitudes post-COVID-19. Maybe that upheaval will help end the construction upheaval planned for High Park North.