By Pepper Parr
February 26, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It became evident early in the development of the Alton community that it was going to be different. Many who now live in the new community see it as the “new” Burlington where people made it on their own.
Hayden high school opened last September with the library following that by weeks and the Haber Recreation Centre opened shortly after that. All three share the same structure which the city calls the Alton Campus. The Norton skate park across the street from the campus make the place a very active part of town.
A city Standing Committee held the required public meeting to review an application for a zoning by-law amendment submitted by Emery Investments for 4853 Palladium Way. The intention of the developer is to build two five storey towers attached to each other with a two storey atrium.
Two towers in phase 1 – finished project is projected to result in 1280 professional jobs,
The property is at the intersection of Appleby Line and Palladium Way in the Alton community where Urban Design Study and Guidelines for the Alton Central East Community are in place.
It is a two-phase project with phase 1 being the construction of the office towers and phase 2 the construction of three industrial buildings. The 5.2 hectares property is currently vacant.
The two five-story structures will be joined b a two storey atrium.
The developer is seeking approximately 24,964m2 in the office towers and, in Phase 2 to create three industrial buildings, with a combined total of approximately 12,245m2.
The Burlington Economic development Corporation (BEDC) estimates this development will create about 1,280 professional jobs.
Blair Lancaster, the ward councilor determined that a neighbourhood meeting would not be required. Public notice of the statutory public meeting and recommendation report were provided 14 days in advance.
The Standing Community approved the application unanimously; that recommendation goes to city council March 17th.
Once approved the developer appears to want to get shovels into the ground quickly. They will lay down the two levels of underground parking and get the first tower up – they’ve yet to decide when they will put up the second tower. The market for quality space is tight in Burlington – this project might move very quickly.
The development will be done in two phases.
The developers are building the project as a speculative development. It is the first decent office development project the city has seen in some time. While the Economic Development Corporation beavers away at producing reports and working towards whatever shape and purpose it is going to have in the near future – this development came to the city on its own – and it isn’t within any one of the “prosperity nodes” the economists created.
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The bigger question is why didnt Blair want a meeting? Responding to the wishes of the community or at LEAST listening to them is what being a Councillor is all about.
Didnt she get the memo?
Community engagement at its finest …………..I say not Alton is crowded enough without commercial towers going up
While I am not opposed to the development I certainly question the approval process. Once again a development takes place with no input as to how we are to move people to and from the jobs. Somehow it will just happen?
This is 1950’s planning that is difficult to overcome. I would have more faith in developers etc. if the City planning and transit departments were involved from the beginning to see if it fits into the overall planning vision that there is an attempt to create. The City, and developers should be taking the more difficult route and participate in OVERALL, complete transit planning for the future.
Amen to Monte’s post!