March 8, 2000

City Clerk

Attention: Mary Casini

Etobicoke Civic Centre

399 The West Mall

Etobicoke, Ontario

M9C 2Y2

Comments to the Etobicoke Community Council Re: File No. Z-2305

I wish to make sure that Council notes that the proposed development of this property will put additional strain on the surrounding existing commercial and retail properties. The current state of the commercial real estate along Lake Shore Boulevard is poor. The vacancy rate is far too high and this proposed development will only worsen this situation. Many of the existing businesses are struggling to survive and that struggle will be made even more difficult for those that compete directly with the new food store.

If this development is approved there will be new vacancies in the strip of commercial property along the lakeshore. Council must continue to rezone current commercial property as residential along Lake Shore Boulevard. The new development on the southwest corner of Thirty Third Street and Lake Shore Boulevard is a perfect example of the bold steps that the City must continue to take. The community must be brought back to Lake Shore Boulevard in Long Branch, New Toronto and Mimico. New rezoned residential development must continue.

While a grocery store is in the lakeshore neighbourhood is needed and will be beneficial to the community, more vacant commercial and retail properties are not needed and will continue to be detrimental to the future prospects of this potentially great place to live.

Thank you for your time.

David Mills-Hughes

80 Thirty Sixth Street

Etobicoke, Ontario M8W 3L2

201-0470