One of London’s newest proposed downtown highrises has been sent back to the drawing board.
A 266-unit, 30-storey tower slated to rise at 131 King St. got preliminary support from a city council committee this week while its design is set for some adjustments, said a city hall planner, Mike Corby.
“The building was well designed but we are working to tweak it,” he said, adding talks are focused now on adding a parking structure to the development.
In addition, they are in talks on redesigning the east and west elevations of the structure to reduce the scale, he said.
The 102-metre-high tower to be built by York Developments will also offer main floor commercial space, as well as more than 300 parking spaces on three levels of underground parking with some surface spaces on what is now a parking lot between the Suki Salon Spa and Mendes law firm office.
City politicians at a recent meeting of council’s planning committee were happy the tower will rise on a surface parking lot, meaning no heritage buildings will have to come down to make way for the project.
“We are seeing confidence in London and the London economy, when you see this investment in the private sector. It’s an important project for downtown,” said Coun. Maureen Cassidy.
“Building on a surface lot is what we have been talking about for four years, it’s what we want to see happen downtown. I hope other developers are paying attention.”
Politicians voted to refer the matter back to staff for further talks, and that will go to city council at month’s end.
At the committee meeting, Bob Usher, chief executive of Covent Garden Market, voiced support for the tower but also concern that it will create traffic problems for the nearby market.
“We support the application, it’s a very positive step for downtown (but) we feel there will be a major traffic problem,” said Usher.
When cars are leaving the market parking garage – heavily used for events at Budweiser Gardens – vehicles exiting the tower lot “will never get out of the apartment complex,” he said.
In addition, the plan now will see a four-foot alley created between the highrise and an adjacent building, and that should be avoided, Usher said.
“We think these are very serious issues that need to be addressed.”
Greg Priamo, partner with private-sector planning firm Zelinka Priamo, also spoke to council’s planning committee as a representative of the owner of adjacent buildings, including 127 King St. He voiced support for the project but the “lane way” poses a problem for property owners, he said.
The tower will also be built along a main portion of London’s bus rapid transit system and there will be a hub for the $500-million transportation mega-project only a few blocks away.
“This is at the junction of two rapid transit lines, you can live here and work at Victoria hospital, LHSC (London Health Sciences Centre) or St Joe’s or Western University and you are just minutes away in dedicated (rapid transit) lanes. It is very promising,” Coun. Jesse Helmer said.
A public meeting on the proposal will likely be called in October.
“It’s really an exciting time to see the amount of confidence being invested in our rapid transit corridors,” said Coun. Tanya Park.
In a separate planning matter, politicians were told about a revised proposal across the street from Masonville Place mall. The proposal, which has been contentious, will call for an adjusted height of two proposed residential towers at 1631 and 1649 Richmond St., to seven storeys from six. The Richmond Street site is now a vacant lot.
“The community is interested in seeing the land developed. It’s a vacant lot and the community is supportive of the (height) amendments,” said Coun. Josh Morgan.