The Ontario Municipal Board has approved Reserved Properties’ 109OZ condos. Residents and the city fought the development at 109 Ossington Avenue for being too high at 6 storeys. Failing to get the city’s approval, the developer appealed to the OMB.
The OMB has found that the proposed height of 20 metres (excluding the mechanical penthouse) is compatible with surrounding built forms on both sides of Ossington. The developer had reduced the height from 21.5 metres as a concession.
109OZ will have 87 units ranging from one to two bedrooms. It replaces an auto-repair centre and fills a gap in Ossington’s streetwall. Ossington Avenue between Queen and Dundas streets has become one of the city’s most vibrant places, lined with trendy bars.
The façade by RAW Design is an animated design broken up into separate articulated volumes. Units will have floor-to-ceiling glass. The building will have many recessed balconies, whose sidewalls will be painted bright colours to accentuate the black façade. 109OZ will feature amenities such as a concierge, lounge, dining area with kitchen, and an outdoor terrace with a barbeque, communal dining table and seating overlooking Ossington Avenue.
The building will house high-ceiling storefronts that will be fully glazed. Retail units will be capped at 500 square metres. The cap is meant to preserve the Ossington strip’s character of small independent businesses in small storefronts.The OMB’s decision contradicts the city’s planning regulations, which allowed a maximum of five storeys. It opens the door to more development along Ossington up to 109OZ’s height of 6 storeys.
Developers must tread lightly in compact low-rise neighbourhoods and not propose buildings that will overwhelm surrounding properties with long shadows and heavy loads on local infrastructure like public lanes.
According to the OMB, in compact city neighbourhoods like Ossington, “some overlook, noise and shadow impacts are to be expected…these are urban conditions that exist as part of living within a compact urban environment.” Developments that minimize these effects will be approved, even if the adverse effects aren’t completely eliminated.
109OZ looks to be a well-designed and livable building in an area where independent businesses thrive amidst colourful Victorian blocks. The neighbourhood is vibrant into the evenings with many social businesses like bars. Those who enjoy well-designed living spaces in areas with active nightlife will find an alluring option in 109OZ.
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