Huge victory at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) for Church-Wellesley Village & everyone who supports planning policies that maintain Church Street’s mid-rise character! The OLT have dismissed an appeal by developer Kingsett/2606545 Ontario Inc. who wanted to build a 28-storey highrise tower at 68 to 78A Wellesley Street East.
The OLT upheld local site- and area-specific Official Plan policies that recognize Church Street between Charles and Wood as a special character area. It also uphelded policies related to shadows on Barbara Hall Park, and the angular plan policy that reinforces the midrise character of this section of Church Street.
This won’t be the last fight we have at the OLT against developers who seek overly-aggressive redevelopment in the Village. In 2026, the OLT will decide on a proposed redevelopment for a 48-storey tower on the Crews and Tangos site at 506-516 Church Street.
As the OLT doesn’t use their own decisions as precedents when they consider future appeals, we must continue to push back against applications that seek to disrupt the character of the Village.
I want to thank City staff, including Jessica Braun, Rachel Godley, Joseph Luk, Kevin Friedrich and Jeremy Humphry. The Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association supported the City’s refusal of this application, and I want to thank Ian Flett and Dr. Gary Davidson for their legal and professional assistance.
The City is doing a survey of the Church Street Pedestrianization Project that my office and the Church-Wellesley Village BIA is operating on Church Street between Wellesley Street East and Alexander Street until August 21. Your feedback will help inform the City's response to future street closures here and across the City. If your a resident who has been to Church Street, take the survey! And if you haven't yet been, come see what you're missing then take the survey! The survey closes September 7, 2026.
The City of Toronto’s Identify ‘N Impact community grant helps promote youth engagement and community safety by providing up to $17K for youth-led (15-29) initiatives that help with violence prevention, mental health and well-being, skills development, arts and youth-friendly spaces. Applications are now open until September 15 at 12:00pm.
Opened last year, Biidaasige Park is expanding with 10 more acres of public waterfront space at 238 Cherry Street on Ookwemin Minising. With new places to walk, cycle, paddle, gather, enjoy public art and take in skyline views, residents and visitors are invited to come celebrate during opening weekend on July 25 and 26. See what’s happening this weekend and beyond, including free guided kayak tours, walking tours and art-making workshops.