The contractor building the Monaco condominium complex at the corner of Hume and Hurontario Streets is asking the town for permission to close the sidewalks around the site until next spring.
YYZed, the project manager, sent the request to the town. The application noted crews will need the sidewalk space to put up the staging necessary for working on the building’s facade. Rather than close the sidewalks on-and-off as work required, the contractor would like to close the sidewalks until the facade work is done.
According to a town staff report, the closure would “may enable” the contractor to move up the timing of streetscape improvements in the project schedule, which could lead to earlier permanent reopening of the sidewalks.
“They want to close the sidewalks because they’re about to begin to erect the facade, and by closing the sidewalks they’ll have more staging space and be able to erect the facade more quickly,” said Director of Planning Adam Farr, noting the sidewalk closure would give the workers more space on the site. “They said closing the sidewalks is a measure that will deal with public safety.”
Staff recommended council support the request.
According to the plans released by the developer Stonebrook thus far, the first storey of the Monaco development will house retail shops and the other five storeys will be condominiums ranging from single to three-bedroom units from 650 to 1,400 square feet.
The building is an L-shape fronting on Hume and Hurontario Streets with 100 above-ground guest parking spots behind the building and more parking underneath the building. The Monaco development is located within the town's heritage district, and is on the former Admiral school site.
The sidewalk closures would impact pedestrian walkways along Hume and Hurontario at the borders of the building site.
“I should note that we have emphasized to them we don’t want to get stuck with sidewalks that are blocked for a lengthy period of time, and there’s provisions in the agreement that would allow us to compel them to remove the obstruction ... within 30 days,” said Farr.
Since the sidewalks would be closed through the winter, the town will require the contractor to leave a half-metre setback from the curb to allow for snow storage for the street.
Farr said it is staff’s intent to make sure pedestrians are aware the sidewalk is blocked off and traffic is rerouted.
The director of planning noted staff did ask the contractor about options to leave the sidewalk open and cover it so crews could work above, but that solution wouldn't allow the contractor the space they need to work on the side of the building.
Council’s development and operations committee supported the contractor’s request, and it will be forwarded to council on July 27 for a vote.
