chedoke browlands

Chedoke brow lands plan targets retirees – Developer’s proposal expected to be considered by council early next year

Active, wealthy retirees who don’t want to do much cooking are part of the focus in the final plans for development of Chedoke brow lands that were submitted to the city late last month

“We are looking at an adult lifestyle community, which basically means retirement (living),” said Ron Starr, president of development at Deanlee Management.

The Mississauga developer purchased the 9.6 hectare (24 acres) brow lands along Sanatorium Road north of Scenic Drive from the Chedoke Health Corporation nearly three years ago and has been working on their development plans since then.

Starr said Deanlee has teamed up with Origin Evergreen, a company that specializes in building communities for active retirees.

“It’s a change recognizing that the demographics are changing in North America,” said Starr, who noted as many as half of the approximately 650 available condominium and townhouse units they are looking to build will be aimed at retirees, with prices starting at about $250,000 and up.

The new proposal, now being reviewed by city planners, is slightly smaller than the original plan, about 800,000 square feet compared to one million square feet previously and about 100 fewer units. It includes 11 buildings.

About 80 three-storey townhouse units are to be built in three blocks on the northwest side along Scenic Drive.

Next to the townhouses will be a cluster of four two- to five-storey buildings with smaller condos geared to retirees complete with dining, exercise and activity areas.

Three eight-storey buildings are planned for the area near Sanatorium and Scenic — two on the east side of Sanatorium and one on the west side.
The tallest proposed building is 10 storeys, located close to the middle of the site on the east side of Sanatorium.

Niagara Escarpment Commission officials had raised concerns about the vista along the edge of the escarpment being disturbed by the project. Starr noted they’ve had three visualization studies done and none of the buildings will be seen from as far as six kilometres back from the base of the escarpment.

“We think we have met the (NEC) requirements,” said Starr.

He said the project will add as much as $20 million in development fees to city coffers and about $3 million annually in taxes.

All the of the existing buildings on the site, with the exception of the Long and Bisby building, will be torn down as part of the development.

Starr said his company looked at saving part of the two-storey brow building, or East Pavilion, that dates back to 1917, but it’s not possible.

“We were just in there (last week) with an expert and it doesn’t look like it’s feasible,” he said.

The large wood lot on the east side of the site, which has been deemed an environmentally sensitive area where development is prohibited, will remain with the condo corporation that manages the new community.

Public foot and bicycle access will continue along the lip of the escarpment from the west side as that strip of land remains city property.
Many neighbours in the area have objected to development saying it will add a lot more traffic the area.

Barry Colbert, who lives near the brow lands, said he has concerns about adding another 1,500 residents to the area.

He supports a mix of development and green space for the brow lands and wants to see how the new development will function as a community before he can say if he supports the plan or opposes it.

“How integrated is it as a community?” he questioned.

“I would like to see something happening there, it’s getting run-down.”

Starr called the plan a good compromise for the community, noting the development will also feature a shared car program so all of the residents won’t necessarily need to have a vehicle.

Most of the parking on the site will be underground, Starr said.

Brenda Khes, senior project manager with the city’s planning division, said staff is reviewing the proposal and it’s too early to determine whether they will recommend the project to members of economic development and planning committee.

Khes said the proposal will likely go before the committee early in the New Year.

Starr said he feels Deanlee had addressed all of the planning department’s concerns and hopes city planners will recommend the proposal to the councillors.

“There’s been significant changes and compromises on our behalf,” he said.

“We certainly don’t want to go to the (Ontario Municipal Board).”
If approved by city council early next year, construction on phase one of the project on the west side of the site could begin in the spring with occupancy by the end of 2011.

Starr said Deanlee is also considering a residential development in downtown Hamilton in the future.