Council backs five-storey apartment building for George Street downtown
A proposed new five-storey apartment building on George Street downtown got preliminary approvals from city councillors on Monday night.
The plan is to replace a derelict dollar store at 385 George St. N. with a five-storey apartment building. GTA-based developer Richard Summers is planning the redevelopment, according to a design by Toronto architect Joel Gerber.
Councillors gave the plan a preliminary rezoning and Official Plan amendment on Monday (which would need a ratification vote at a forthcoming city council meeting before the plan would be made final).
But Coun. Keith Riel, the city’s housing co-chair, said he hoped to see 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the units be offered as rentgeared-to-income.
“I’m hopeful the developer is listening tonight: there’s an absolute need for rent-geared-toincome,” Riel said.
City planner Caroline Kimble told councillors the city cannot require the inclusion of lowerrent apartments — just offer incentives, which staff has done.
Summers told The Examiner recently he might be interested in reducing the rent for some of the apartments, his plans weren’t clear.
Meanwhile, councillors also agreed with a city staff recommendation to require the developer to meet certain requirements prior to construction, such as providing the city with samples of the exterior materials they propose to use.
Coun. Lesley Parnell asked about the look of the building, which the city’s architectural advisory committee has said would not fit into the heritage downtown.
The Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (PACAC) advises city council on matters related to the city’s architectural heritage and will be consulted on the design before construction happens.
Parnell said that while the development plan is “fantastic” for the downtown, there are clearly some concerns.
“Is that the final look?” Parnell asked, regarding the rendering of the facade. “We want it new and accessible — but we want it to look old.”
Kimble said the look may still change. “We are still working with the development team on what that’s going to look like,” she said.
Coun. Gary Baldwin also asked about a plan to potentially lease parking spots in the nearby Simcoe Street parking garage for tenants.
Coun. Dean Pappas did not participate in the discussion or vote, since he operates the family-owned Pappas Billiards nearby on George Street.