Last week Markus Alliksaar, a former member of the board of directors of Estonian House, wrote about the lack of a substantive parking analysis that would support the usage model of the proposed International Estonian Centre. In fact this week, planning consultants from Bousfields filed a waiver on behalf of the International Estonian Centre to ask the City of Toronto to approve the development application for the "Keskus" even though it will include no parking spaces (zero). The City's regulations require the proposed usage for the 9 and 11 Madison site offer a minimum of 19 parking spaces. (As reported by EWR)
While the International Estonian Centre awaits a decision from the City on its waiver requests, the Annex will also be contending with the loss of 65 more public parking spots at 19 Spadina Road. Changes to that site were part of motion moved by Councillor Mike Layton and the City's "Housing Now" initiative. Councillor Layton's motion stated:
"That City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the Chief Planner and Executive Director to add the existing Green "P" parking lot site located at 19 Spadina Road to the list of Housing Now sites outlined in Appendix 4 to the report (January 11, 2019) from the City Manager, and prioritize the development of affordable rental housing and parks at the site."
