Rev Debra Schneider, Josh Matlow and SERRA pres. Geoffrey Jones cut 50th year cake
The South Eglinton Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (SERRA) held its 50th Annual General Meeting Thursday night at Manor Road United Church, 204 Manor Road. Attendance was good with residents and interested parties taking nearly all the chairs in the church’s large upstairs Great Hall. There was a cake-cutting to mark the occasion and later Reverend Debra Schneider spoke briefly, saying that this was also Manor Road’s 90th anniversary. She invited all to attend a service Sunday, April 26, 2015 affirming the church’s progressive status (LGBTQ) and attend a lunch and reception following.
Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22) was the keynote speaker and reviewed matters. He called the compromise on the height of the Art Shoppe condominiums an important precedent for Yonge St development. The plan was reduced from two towers of 38 and 29 storeys to 28 and 12 stories. The south side mid-rise level was a vital tool “going south” on the east side of Yonge down to Davisville. This area is ripe for development and it was the sense of the councillor’s remarks that the heights might now be kept to mid-rise levels. He spoke disparagingly of other developments in the streets south of Eglinton. He said the “egregious” development at 33 Holly-44 Dunfield planned to give condominium owners access to pools and similar amenities but renters would be denied access.
Matlow touched on the Brown Group proposal for Bayview Ave between Soudan Ave. and Hillsdale Ave. saying that nine storeys, as proposed, was too high and that there would be no approval at that height. “We do not want to set a precedent along Bayview,” he said. The Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club stand-off (our word) was a long-term project. The Councillor suggested that if the land can be had for a price that is reasonable it will become parkland. It appears the present “owner” is looking for more. The transaction by which certain board members took possession of the land and sold it remains a difficult matter in logic. (Bulldog)
