89 - 101 Niagara Street- redevelopment

The owners of 89 -101 Niagara Street, otherwise known as the National Casket Company or more fondly, the Coffin Factory, have forwarded an application for the redevelopment of the property into a residential condominium, this restoration to be funded by the building of two large towers in the back parking lot of the building of 19 and 15 storeys respectively with underground parking for 250 cars. A new access road has been suggested that would run from Bathurst through to the new development replacing the current alleyway at the back of the Victorian rowhouses on Niagara. The NNNow steering committee has met with Councillor Leyton and the developer several times, prior to the plans being forwarded to processing. Alan Shimmerman of Shimcor also came face to face with tenants of the building at a community meeting held early in the year. Plans have either been lodged with planning or are about to be lodged with planning (we await word), however, action is already been taken by tenants in support of the building remaining in its current use.

This petition can be found at:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-redevelopment-of-89-109-niagara-street.html

While the restoration of the facade of the heritage building has merit there are many other issues that arise from this proposed development that will impact local residents and the neighbourhood in general and these will be discussed further once plans become available to us for distribution. One sentiment worth considering is what makes a neighbourhood - a building, or the friendly warm-hearted connectedness of the community.

You can follow what the development community think of this here:

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthread.php/18577-89-109-Niagara-St.-%2819s-15s%29

Please note that Niagara Neighbourhood Now has a Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Niagara-Neighbourhood-Now-NNNow/125908167507647