Issues: Bridlewood Mall Redevelopment

Mike Del Grande
Councillor Ward 39

Bridlewood Mall Redevelopment &

Finch/Warden Revitalization Study

The Bridlewood Mall Redevelopment is being decided on in Scarborough Community Council on August 17th, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Scarborough Civic Centre. We encourage all residents to come speak out concerning the project. Your voices are vital in informing the other nine Scarborough Councillors who will be voting on the matter. For more information, download the notice here.
If you would want to be heard, notify the City Clerk's office at the number below to schedule a time to speak. If you cannot attend in person, send a letter via mail, fax, or email.

    City Clerk's office
     Attention: Yvonne Davies, Administrator Scarborough Community Council
     10th floor 100 Queen Street West
     Toronto ON   M5H 2N2
     Tel: 416-396-7287
     Fax: 416-396-4301
     Email: scc@toronto.ca

     Your voices are important to support our community, and I hope to see you there.

     In 2007, I alerted you of a proposal which was brought forward to build eight buildings, totalling 1,370 units, on the Bridlewood Mall parking lot. Since that time, we have established a citizen’s Working Group from this Ward (39) and from residents south of Finch Avenue (Ward 40) to represent the community’s interests.
     After numerous meetings, we compiled a Finch-Warden Revitalization Study to map the type of future development the community would consider in our area.
     The developer, Malibu Inc., is now proposing eight buildings, totalling 975 units, with 25 storeys in the tallest building. They have also mentioned contributing $1,350 per unit towards community benefits. City Planning Staff is supportive of the development. The current library at Bridlewood Mall is undersized for our community and this amount of money would not be sufficient for the upgrades our community deserves.
     Both the community and I have indicated that the current infrastructure (Hydro, Transit, etc.) cannot accommodate this density. As mentioned in one meeting: this is a community on top of a community which makes the strain on the existing infrastructure even greater.
     In addition, our community is categorized as a priority neighbourhood. The name is misleading so I’d like to clarify: Priority neighbourhoods lack social infrastructure and have problems associated with them. Therefore, this currently proposed development will not benefit our community.
     The project is subject to up to 20% affordable units, which the community indicated would be needed for seniors. We can press for the affordable housing or the community benefit monies, but not for both options. I feel that at a minimum, we should have enough funding for a properly-sized library which will benefit the entire community – seniors, adults, youth and children.
     City Planning Staff is supportive of the development.
     City Staff has not yet made their recommendations on this proposal. Once they do, it will be a challenge to appeal or argue against the City’s position at the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board). Your comments are welcome.