‘It’s too big’

ROMFrom

clude a pedestrian overpass connecting Queen’s Park and Philosopher’s Walk.

“ Hopefully we’ll get a yes for this and it will be great,” Thorsell said. But Councillor Olivia Chow, who represents the area, said the tower faces major obstacles.

“ It’s about the same height as the Toronto- Dominion Centre. It is much higher than anything around it,” Chow said yesterday.

Residents who viewed the proposal at a meeting this week “ were quite taken aback by the size,” said Chow ( Ward 20, TrinitySpadina). Meanwhile, Councillor Kyle Rae, who represents the ward to the east, called the project “ an interesting proposition.”

“ The ROM has shown they’re taking leadership on urban design with their new expansion on the north,” Rae said. “ They’ve got a site to the south that’s a perfect location for a high- end condo very similar to what the Museum of Modern Art has done in New York City, where there’s a condo right beside it.” But ratepayers groups aren’t so sure. Sue Dexter of the Harbord Village Residents’ Association said there is “ a lot of opposition in the community.”

“ This is selling off assets to afford things we can’t afford to do,” Dexter said. Instead, the ROM should wait until it has the money, she said.

David Powell, president of the Huron- Sussex Residents’ Organization, said it doesn’t fit into the neighbourhood.

“ It’s just over the top, it’s too big, it’s so tall.”