The owners of 318 and 320 Indian Rd have advertised their properties on the Internet, as a potential development site for 6-10 townhouses.
This proposed development would involve the building of a new access laneway adjacent to the current lane behind the church, and/or a new laneway to run alongside 316 Indian Rd.
Indian Rd is an old established area of High Park, with an enviable tree scape, featuring century old homes, including the Heritage Toronto recognized Eden Smith House.
This area south of Bloor St is of historical significance. Indian Rd, Indian Trail, Indian Grove, Indian Valley Cres & Indian Mound Traffic Island (burial ground) are all named after the indigenous peoples of this place, and their use of these ancient trails for hunting and gathering food. We must try and preserve its heritage and the significant tree canopy of this area.
The approval of a 6-10 townhouse development in this area would set a precedent for future developers and irreparably damage the historical streetscape. If approved by the City of Toronto, this will open the floodgates for similar developments to be allowed, thereby changing the entire character of the High Park area South of Bloor St W.
We already have traffic congestion issues on Indian Rd, with a police car regularly stationed at the Bloor St W entrance, ticketing illegal turners who try to use Indian Rd as a short cut during rush hour. Cars are already driving too fast along our road, and the development, if approved, would make traffic congestion worse. This poses a danger to the children living in the area, which commute to and from school on foot, and play on the side streets.
Furthermore, being an older part of Toronto, There is not the Water, Hydro and sewerage infrastructure available on Indian Rd to cope with a 6-10 townhouse development, without a major upgrade of all utilities.
