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JUST SAY “NO”
TO COUNCILOR PAM McCONNELL’S OUTDATED PLAN FOR A NEW NORTH MARKET BUILDING THAT WOULD INCLUDE PROVINCIAL TRAFFIC COURTS AND THAT WOULD BRING UP TO 1000 ADDITIONAL POLLUTION SPEWING VEHICLES INTO OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBOURHOOD EACH DAY.
The plan was created more than five years ago and approved in principle by City Council in 2004. It was never implemented and, since that time, the St Lawrence Neighbourhood has fulfilled its promise by evolving into a booming residential and pedestrian centre that is now one of Toronto’s most prestigious, must-visit, historic, living, shopping, cultural and tourist areas.
The outdated Court plan, which includes parking for 250 cars, threatens to add vehicular congestion upwards of 1000 more vehicles per day, pouring into already traffic-jammed King, Jarvis and Front Streets, spewing pollution, endangering pedestrians and slowing down public transit. McConnell’s plan uses traffic studies which are years-out-of-date, and City-Planner’s illustrations that pretend there would be no vehicular traffic, as she tries to promote a scheme that is now totally at odds with the environmental realities of 2008, and with the needs of the community. It threatens the future development of the Neighbourhood as a vehicle-free pedestrian park and shopping destination. Incredibly, some aspects of the plan have suggested using Market Lane Park as a garage ramp that would pose a danger to the families of shoppers using the Lane for market and antiques shopping on weekends.
Private developers, more attuned to the historic nature of the Neighbourhood, have expressed strong interest in harmonious redevelopment that preserves and enhances current uses of the North Market while seeking to create a world-class development, fully respectful of the Neighbourhood Development Guidelines.
We ask that you just say ‘NO’ to this outdated plan and call upon City Council to withhold final approval and to show respect for our historic St. Lawrence Neighbourhood by encouraging consideration and development of alternative and more compatible North Market plans. Please voice your concern to:
Councillor McConnell - (416) 392-7916 - councillor_mcconnell@toronto.ca
Mayor David Miller - (416) 397-2489 - mayor_miller@toronto.ca
Thank you.
Richard J. Anobile, Media Consultant - Paul Reuber, Architect OAA FRAIC
Co-Chairs, Residents at Market Square Committee
Contact: sayno@marketsquarecondo.com
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