Development
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Development is an ongoing concern in our community, and we are living through a period of major transformation. For details on specific property development projects:
- check out our Interactive Map - see the Development Watch feature at the bottom of our homepage Will our city infrastructure keep up with the pace? How are our elected officials and city planning department responding to this unprecedented densification? As the voice of the community, the CWNA is committed to ensuring that the Church Wellesley neighbourhood remains healthy, vibrant and sustainable. The CWNA Development Committee keeps on top of building development applications. We meet with developers, city planners and elected officials to help guide responsible development in our neighbourhood. We take part in hearings of the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and the Ontario Municipal Board) to represent the interests of our community. Many of the urban planning ideals of the CWNA have been encoded by the City's adoption of the North Downtown Yonge Urban Design Guidelines by the North Downtown Yonge Area Plan. The guidelines now must be considered in the evaluation of all development proposals. [More about the North Downtown Yonge Area Plan, which has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.] |
View looking west to ONE Development's proposed 37-storey tower at NW corner of Church and Wellesley.
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Responsible Development
Responsible development is about understanding and nurturing our neighbourhood’s potential. It looks beyond short-term profits. Responsible development not only creates new buildings of lasting value, it enriches and renews what we already have.
Protecting our Church Wellesley Village
Responsible development should recognize and contribute to our distinctive urban village. Church Street is our village main street and independent small businesses shape its unique character. Trees shade its sidestreets and green spaces dot the area. Our neighbourhood is open and welcoming to all.
Responsible development should:
• protect our open sky and keep our green space free from shadow;
• preserve all low-rise blocks on our streets;
• retain the small-scale retail that defines our village main street;
• transform our laneways into affordable, attractive outlets;
• provide places to live and work for people at all stages of life;
• respect LGBTQ people and their families and support cultural openness;
• identify and enhance the places that are important in our neighbourhood;
• ensure that cars, bikes and pedestrians can safely share streets.
Responsible development should:
• protect our open sky and keep our green space free from shadow;
• preserve all low-rise blocks on our streets;
• retain the small-scale retail that defines our village main street;
• transform our laneways into affordable, attractive outlets;
• provide places to live and work for people at all stages of life;
• respect LGBTQ people and their families and support cultural openness;
• identify and enhance the places that are important in our neighbourhood;
• ensure that cars, bikes and pedestrians can safely share streets.
Moving toward a Great Yonge Street
Responsible development should build on what makes Yonge Street important for so many Torontonians. It should protect and restore the 19th-century buildings that line the street. Cabbagetown, the Distillery District and the St. Lawrence neighbourhood have found ways to use their heritage for the benefit of all. Now is our chance to build Great Yonge Street between Dundas and Yorkville.
We should make sure:
• heritage buildings are protected and renewed;
• tall buildings are set back so they don't loom over pedestrians or block out the sky;
• tower podiums follow the height of their 19th-century neighbours;
• high-quality details on new and old buildings engage the eye;
• a rich variety of merchants is encouraged along the streets and laneways;
• patio and sidewalk space is preserved and expanded;
• public art and green accents are built into designs;
• public areas remain open and well-lit to keep them safe.
We should make sure:
• heritage buildings are protected and renewed;
• tall buildings are set back so they don't loom over pedestrians or block out the sky;
• tower podiums follow the height of their 19th-century neighbours;
• high-quality details on new and old buildings engage the eye;
• a rich variety of merchants is encouraged along the streets and laneways;
• patio and sidewalk space is preserved and expanded;
• public art and green accents are built into designs;
• public areas remain open and well-lit to keep them safe.
As a part of the YongeTOmorrow project, the City has completed an Environmental Assessment of Yonge Street, between Dundas and Carlton Streets. The CWNA is a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group which has provide advice, feedback and guidance during the Environmental Assessment study process.
The CWNA is always working to assure that the needs of the community are taken into consideration within the City planning and development approval process.
Interactive Map
Our interactive map, created with Google Maps, will help you keep up with the many development projects in our neighbourhood, both those under construction and those in various stages of the approval process.