18.APPLICATION FOR DEMOLITION APPROVAL

450 GILBERT AVENUE, Ward 28, York-Eglinton.

 Commissioner of Development Services, York Civic Service Centre

(July 6, 1998)

 Purpose:

 Under the City of York Act 1994 (Bill PR147), Council of the former City of York enacted special demolition control legislation for the purpose of securing beautification measures on the lands and abutting municipal boulevard as a condition of the issuance of demolition permits. Bylaw 3102-95 was subsequently passed designating the entire City (York) as an area of demolition control pursuant to the City of York Act, 1994.

 The owner has applied for a demolition permit to remove the building located on the subject lands. Community Council approval for the release of the permit is being sought.

 Source of Funds:

 No funding required.

 Recommendations:

 That the approval to demolish the building shown on the attached site plan as Appendix "B" to this report be approved pursuant to Bylaw 3102-95 with no conditions of approval related to beautification.

 Background:

 The property owner, Dreamcoast Homes Inc., through their agent Georgian Equipment Ltd., has applied to the City for a demolition permit. The owner wishes to demolish the warehouse building located at 450 Gilbert Avenue and complete the environmental remediation of the site. The property is designated Mixed Use in the Official Plan and zoned PE .

 Discussion:

 Further to circulation of this application, the following are the responses from various departments:

 Toronto Hydro-Electric Commission:

Hydro has no concerns with respect to the demolition of the building but requests that the owner of the building make the appropriate arrangements with Hydro staff for the final water and hydro metre readings, and for the recovery of service cables and metres.

 Operations Services:

"We have no concerns in regard to the proposed demolition ".

 Health Unit:

"A review of our files indicates no concerns over the demolition of the subject building "

 Community Services:

"No city owned trees at the subject location".

 Fire Department:

"Our concern with respect to this proposed demolition is that it occurs as soon as possible. The water supply to the building has been severed and the sprinkler system is presently out of service."

 Development Services, Development Review:

"The property is designated Employment in the Official Plan and zoned PE - Prestige Employment zone. The site was previously used as a furniture manufacturing operation.

 In view of the site's location within an area characterized by a mix of residential and employment uses which has been experiencing new single and semi-detached redevelopment activity and in view of the site's proximity to the shops and services on Eglinton Avenue West, it has strong potential for immediate rezoning and redevelopment for residential use. A few preliminary development inquiries from prospective purchasers support the site's high potential for residential development. If a residential development does not materialize, the site could readily be redeveloped under the PE zoning which permits a wide range of employment uses. The Development Review Division has no objection to the approval of the demolition permit application and requires no conditions of approval relating to beautification.

 The Development Review Division suggests that the applicant be advised that Site Plan Control will apply to the development of the site, subject to the provisions of the City of York Site Plan Control By-law."

 Local Historical Committees have been notified regarding the demolition permit application.

 City Wide Issues:

 None

 Conclusions:

 The owner of the lands has had a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and a Phase II ESA completed on the property. The owner wishes to proceed with the remediation of the property. In order to complete this work, it is necessary to obtain a demolition permit for the building. Although there are no current permit applications for construction on the property, it is anticipated that the owner will move quickly for development of the site. Approval of the recommendation will allow this department to release the demolition permit and promote the development of the site in the current year.

Contact Name:

 Bruce Ashton

Director of Buildings and Chief Building Official

(Copies of the Appendices: Location map for 450 Gilbert Avenue, (former City of York) and Site Plan referred to in the foregoing report, were forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the York Community Council meeting of July 22, 1998, and copies thereof are on file in the Clerk's Department, York Civic Service Centre.)