Thread by @alexbozikovic

I write often about the need to add big new buildings in central Toronto. Why? Because privileged neighbourhoods like @HarbordVillage fight new growth relentlessly and shamelessly. 1/ #Topoli

This development would take an existing building, add on top, and create seven homes. Missing Middle.
Neighbours are fighting it like hell. 2/

This is part of a district ("University") that has 3,000 fewer people now than it did in 1971. Houses now sell there for $2-million. It will become a thinly populated gated community for rich people. 3/

The neighbours organizing this campaign oppose "luxury rental." Meanwhile a humble heritage Victorian, after a complete reno, now looks like this. Beautiful single family, worth perhaps $3-million. 4/

The only large development anywhere near here, at Mirvish Village, got beaten down from 1100 homes to 800. @HarbordVillage leader Sue Dexter wanted it to "fit in the neighbourhood." Technically, it's not even *in* their neighbourhood. 5/ cbc.ca/news/canada/to…

To spell this out: Toronto will likely add a million people in the next generation. There is no empty land for them to occupy. As many of them as possible should live in walking distance of the downtown core. For the climate, equity, economic development. 6/

Meanwhile their neighbours have a climate plan! @PalmerstonARA were adamant in stopping 300 households from coming into their central, walkable (and also shrinking) neighbourhood. 7/

https://twitter.com/PalmerstonARA/status/1358863320783200259

I'm sure all the Harbord Village folks think of themselves as progressive. (Hi friends!) But on this type of thing, they are consistently *not* progressive. 8/

And this is why Missing Middle housing, which I love in theory, is not a meaningful response in a fast-growing city with a housing crisis. The neighbours will go to war. Every time. And planning has given them the weapons. 9/

This thread (and column) by @ezraklein is awfully relevant

https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/1359924294730452996?s=20

Nearby: a nice little sixplex, middle of the block, c 1920? This is the neighbourhood character.

Update: the @HarbordVillage association won’t take a public position, but very much dislikes being called out on that. (My request for an interview was ignored.)

@HarbordVillage These private citizens don't like being named as opponents of development - but in fact they are, consistently. They have quasi-governmental power, and basically no accountability. harbordvillage.com/development-is…

@HarbordVillage .@HarbordVillage won't accept any responsibility for neighbours' bogus arguments - "We are very populated as is" - but it also won't refute them.

Update: One of the loudest opponents to this development owns, right across the street, a 3 1/2 storey apartment building that protrudes significantly into their neighbours’ backyard.

One block away is @CentralTech, once the largest high school in the country, taller and much more imposing than the proposed development. It was built in 1915.

Four blocks away, 5 1/2 storey apartment building that goes to the lot line. Built 1903.