Condos: scourge or boon? We’re divided
It seems a lot of people think condo construction takes up more public space than it is worth, but not everyone agrees.
After our Nov. 27 column about a portable outhouse plunked down on a sidewalk for condo construction workers, we asked readers to tell us how they feel about giving up public space to build overpriced shoeboxes.
Many readers agree that we cede far too much road and sidewalk space to developers, and that the trade-off is not worth it, since condos are not the answer to a shortage of affordable housing in Toronto. But some people say our views are repugnant — particularly Lisa Oppedisano, who sent us one of the most expressive notes we’ve ever received, saying we are “small-minded and pathetic.”
“Your elitist attitude is overbearing and extremely derogatory,” she said. “I resent that you are taking issue with the ‘scourge’ of condo building that has ‘infected’ our great city.
“If you are ‘sick and tired’ of condo building — two things, one — get a life — two — leave the city for fairer pastures,” she said. “I am convinced that you are so far removed from reality and that you sit in an ivory tower on an ivory throne while you stare down with disgust upon the masses.”
All true, especially our imperious gaze from the ivory throne. Other readers were less critical. Merlyn James said he’s lived at Church and Charles Sts. for 20 years, and that the past seven years “has been like a war zone, with buildings torn down and 80-storey condos going up.
“It has caused years of road closures, dangerous walking conditions, noise and a lot of stress.
One-bedroom condos that sell for $500,000 or more “do not address the price/availability and intensification issues,” Ken Straiton said. “The current crop of tiny apartments have the potential to become vertical slums in the future.”
“I completely agree with your statement about overpriced shoeboxes,” Maggie Lyons said. “They are only for a certain segment of society that have enough money to purchase one.
“Buildings are demolished that might have had rental units.”
Tony Reynolds said, “I too was struck, unfavourably, by your reference to condos as a ‘scourge.’ Toronto is going to have to get used to the idea of apartment living, as people in Manhattan have forever, as a normal way of life in a big city.”
Norm Rolfe said the Redpath Ave. area, has “condos everywhere, no green space, a concrete jungle. The neighbourhood has been ruined.
“It seems the developers are running the city.” Exactly.
We’ll be contacting Mayor John Tory to ask where he stands on this prickly issue. Stay tuned.