Whitby residents are speaking out against a proposed seven-storey condo building just north of the downtown core.
Several residents appeared at a public meeting at Town Hall Jan. 13 to express concern about the plan. Under current zoning, buildings in this area of Whitby can only be a maximum of three storeys.
Whitby Brock Estates Inc. wants to build the condo on the east side of Brock Street North, just south of Chestnut Street East.
The building would have 119 residential units and 164 parking spaces in a two-level underground parking lot and 10 visitor parking spaces on the outside of the building.
John Dolstra, a former Whitby councillor who lives a few blocks away on Regency Crescent, says “we don’t need this kind of development.”
The proposed building would be in close proximity to the Durham Full Gospel Church. If approved, the construction would bring some huge changes to the street.
Residents fear, if this project is approved, it would ultimately allow more of these apartment buildings to be built in the area.
The property in question would require four of the five houses between the adjacent plaza and the church to be demolished.
Wendall Perry of 123 Chestnut Street East says the building is too much for the area.
“Whitby can’t handle what they are asking for,” he says.
Another concern of the residents is how traffic patterns will be affected in the area.
Perry added if the building is approved, privacy would be impacted for residents.
“We are going to lose our privacy, they are going to look down on us,” he says.
Another concern of area residents is the local impact on healthcare.
Tina Powers, who has lived at 110 Chestnut Street East for 40 years says “there are very few walk-in clinics in Whitby. The impact on them because of this building is going to be major.”
No plans have been approved by the Town as of today. All comments will be considered by the Town as part of its review and it will be brought back to the councillors and mayor at an unknown future date.
