We would like to add our voice to what we hope is an avalanche of letters, rejecting the proposal by Abode Varsity Living, for 2 high rise towers (supposedly to house students) on the site of 716 Gordon St. These massive structures would butt up against the backyards of one of Guelph’s most beautiful residential areas, south of the U. of G., prime real estate, thereby beginning the erosion of said community and the devaluing of our homes.
To propose to house 1500 students in this way is a bad idea as Toronto learned in the “60s from the building of Rochdale College on Bloor St. That much touted “student residence’ was a money maker for the developer, and others who bought up units to make a quick buck, on the backs of students, in an environment away from the jurisdiction of the University of Toronto, that led to rent gouging and it becoming a haven for drugs and a thorn in the side of “Toronto’s finest”.
Chris Clark’s Tribune article. Jan.13/ 11, p.6, says it well.
Ghettoizing “a huge batch of students under two towering roofs” is “contrary to sound urban planning” and will keep the police busy.We understand the University doesn’t see the need for more student housing according to Nancy Sullivan, V.P. Finance & Administration
(Tribune article 224755) and their projections for years ahead. the
University is Guelph’s claim to fame and is a gem. It’s campus buildings and those along Stone are midrise and situated well back from the road, with green landscaping and trees. Lovely! All the buildings along Stone Rd. West – are also compatible with the whole area, residential and institutional , as will be the proposed welcoming entrance to the University. With all the amendments to current city by-laws requested by AVL, their highrise will be anything but compatible for numerous reasons.Before the City gets too excited about a seeming solution to quick density to satisfy Place to Grow,please find out WHO is behind AVL, what their track record is, and what they have built to date. their website doesn’t tell much and seems a dead end.
We appreciate that it will not be an easy task for City Council to meet the aims of “Places to Grow” but we urge those in the planning and decision making to be creative and reasonable in their thinking,
to seek out and listen to what the people of Guelph are saying.
Midrise buildings on transit arteries near existing communities with ready made facilities would be more attractive to live in than what AVL proposes here. Must neighbourhoods be ruined to accommodate the intensification of our city? We moved to Guelph for what it was and still is – NOT Toronto – but a thriving city with a small town feeling; a university town which meant youth on the go, which is energizing, and the ability to get anywhere to fit your needs in under ten minutes.Guelph CAN reach its target for intensification but lets avoid transgressing on the rights of others and attempting to drastically alter existing zoning codes in the process. Guelph CAN stay beautiful with the anticipated growth the Provincial government envisions, but it will take concerted effort and planning and consideration fro all involved.LR