Committee backs downtown tower with 435 unit— none are affordable housing

A skyline-stretching high rise proposal breezed through the Planning and Environment Committee, but also reignited debate about requiring developers to designate some of their units for affordable housing.

A skyline-stretching high rise proposal breezed through the Planning and Environment Committee, but also reignited debate about requiring developers to designate some of their units for affordable housing.

On Tuesday, Holloway Lodging, the owner of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, was in front of the Planning and Environment Committee seeking permission to build a 35 storey, 435 unit, mixed use residential building at 300-320 King St.

The new tower would replace the existing parking garage at the northwest corner of King and Waterloo streets.

Coun. David Ferreira praised the infill development but noted that none of the units have affordable housing agreements.

“Is there any possibility of some type of negotiation to bring in some type of affordable housing for this building?” Ferreira asked a consultant representing the developer.

Matt Campbell of Zelinka Priamo Land Use Planning responded that his client would be open to having a discussion with staff and Ferreira.

Provincial policies that permitted so-called “bonus zoning” expired in September, 2022