Brock & Elgin highrise approved at double height/density

| May 23, 2011 | 3 Comments

Final vote May 24, 7pm, Council Chambers

Molinaro development at Brock and Elgin

How the Brock & Elgin block will look after the Molinaro tower (circled) is built.

A 14-storey highrise at the corner of Brock and Elgin streets that is double the height and density permitted in the Official Plan has been approved, over the objections of dozens of residents, by a 6-1 vote (I was the dissenting vote). The approval comes to a final vote at council May 24.

Dozens of residents objected at three public meetings held on this project. Further, the owner of the adjacent property at Brock and Elgin opposed the project saying the scale will orphan his property for reasonable development.

Adding this apartment on this site will create a create a forest of highrises with nary a blade of grass in site. The picture to the right says it all – and it doesn’t even include the remaining parcels which could be similarly developed.

There are already four apartments on this site at that height – surrounded by nothing but asphalt. It’s likely that the remaining single detached homes on this block will be torn down for more highrises, in addition to the Molinaro one. The question must be asked: is seven highrises on a small city block good planning? What about private greenspace for these residents to enjoy?

To add insult to injury, this project will be registered as a condo, but only offered as rental suites – a significant tax dodge since condos pay less property taxes than rental units.

My take: This is another example of a missed opportunity for balanced intensification in the downtown, one that respects the vision for growth articulated in the Official Plan. It is overintensification that ignores community input, creates a forest of highrises on a single block and provides no private greenspace for the residents who will move in. A seven storey building would have achieved intensification goals – this goes well beyond what is necessary here.

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  • Hildastark

    How did this ever get approved in the first place?  Highrises have been going up in our area for a long time dispite our objections, and no matter who was in city hall.  We as citizens simply have no say.  

  • Janet

    I am disgusted that this is going through.  Although I now live in South East Burlington, I use to live at Brock and Elgin and loved the area for the quaint older homes and the community feel.  This is getting ruined by all this development and I am really starting to dislike living in Burlington because of it.

  • Jason

    14 stories is lower than all the surrounding buildings and the houses being removed aren’t overly quaint.  I was more disappointed to see the parking lot cover over the green space across the road then this building moving forward.