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SAVE YORKVILLE HERITAGE ASSOCIATION and the ABC RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
416 920-2589 www.saveyorkville.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17 July 2003
TORONTO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES JOIN THE CITY OF TORONTO TO FIGHT PROPOSAL THAT TREATENS THE VILLAGE OF YORKVILLE
Today the Ontario Municipal Board heard preliminary arguments outlining issues surrounding the first of two proposed controversial developments in the Village of Yorkville. The hearing today dealt with a York Row proposal for a 33-metre high hotel/condominium at 116-134 Yorkville Avenue (at Hazelton).
The Village of Yorkville is one of the human-scale, vibrant, and historic neighbourhoods that make our city so liveable for residents and so attractive to tourists, said Robin Korthals, former president of the TD Bank. Once historic communities are destroyed they can never be replaced. It is particularly ironic that in this year of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Yorkville, we find the Village in crisis. It is imperative that we work together to preserve the future viability of this unique oasis in our downtown core.
Brook McIllroy Planning and Urban Design (authors of the Bloor-Yorkville Urban Design Guidelines) state that this proposal in its current density would overwhelm the area and set a dangerous precedent in the very heart of the village the building would be significantly out of step with the character of the area.
SAVE Yorkville and the ABC Residents Association are raising funds for legal and expert witness services to present a strong representation before the Ontario Municipal Board. Hearings are planned for two developments threatening the Village of Yorkville. The first hearing, concerning the York Row proposal, is scheduled for 25th 27th August and 2nd 12th September. The second, concerning the proposal for a development which includes an 18-storey highrise on the site of the old Mt. Sinai hospital on Yorkville Avenue at Bellair, will also be scheduled in the fall.
People willing to donate time or funds to the preservation of the character of the Village of Yorkville should contact the Save Yorkville at 416 920-2589 or e-mail saveyorkvillenow@hotmail.com .
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Media contacts:
Robin Korthals ( 416 982-8341, robinko@pathcom.com )
Linda Chu ( 416 203-6636 [w], 416 716-1218 [cell] linda@lindachu.ca )
John Caliendo ( 416 924-8471[h], 416 597-1234 [w], jcaliendo@rogers.com )
Judy Matthews ( 416 920-1545, judy.matthews@utoronto.ca )
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