A proposed 10-storey residential-commercial development in Peterborough’s East City, to be located west of Mark Street United Church at 90 Hunter Street East, has grown by another seven stories.
Toronto-based developer TVM Group, the company behind two other nearby East City developments — East City Condos and the St. Joseph’s Hospital redevelopment — is now proposing a 17-storey building be constructed at the location, according to a notice posted in the current development applications section of the City of Peterborough’s website.
Last year, TVM Group proposed a 10-storey, mixed-use building with commercial space on the ground floor, a parking garage on parts of the first and second floor, and 156 apartment units on the remaining seven floors. There would be with parking for 121 motor vehicles underground as well as at the rear of the ground floor and on the second floor.
The new proposal for a 17-storey mixed-use building would have four levels of structured parking (one partially underground) and 205 units — 66 one-bedroom units, 110 two-bedroom units, and 29 three-bedroom units — on floors three to 17. There would be 205 motor vehicle parking spaces and 206 bicycle parking spaces.
As with the original proposal, the original church building would remain.
According to a 2024 report from the East Central Ontario Regional Council of the United Church of Canada, the board of trustees of Mark Street United Church entered into an agreement with TVM Group to exchange the church property for rental condominium units in the East City Condos development valued at $2 million, as well as the construction of a new hall on the north side of the church building at no cost to Mark Street United Church.
Last June, TVM Group held an open house for area residents on the originally proposed 10-storey building.
During that meeting, former Peterborough mayor Daryl Bennett, the chair of the church’s board of trustees and its property development team, said a “couple” of area residents were “were worried that the sunlight they’re expecting in their backyard might not be as good as it should be.”
“Yes, it’s a big development,” Bennett added. “Yes, it’s a lot of new people coming into East City. Is that a good thing or is that a bad thing? From my standpoint, the city is deficient in buildings of this nature. It’s going to be a spectacular addition.”
Also present at the June 2024 meeting was TVM Group president and CEO Amit Sofer.
“This is step one, where we are displaying to the community what we propose to bring to the city,” he said. “We are seeking comment from community members — maybe some suggestions of things that we have overlooked. We will go back, absorb some of those comments, make some adjustments and then, next month, we’re hoping to submit for a rezoning application from the city.”
Contrary to Sofer’s comment last June, the addition of seven storeys is a significant change rather than an adjustment to the original proposal presented during the open house, which was also attended by Ashburnham Ward city councillors Gary Baldwin and Keith Riel.
“I like to think we’re dealing with a reputable developer,” Baldwin said at that meeting. “They’re going to listen to the people. The project may change a little bit (or) it may not, but the fact they’re having this (open house), meeting with and hearing directly from people and answer their questions, is a good process.”
According to the City of Peterborough’s website, the city is currently reviewing an application from TVM Mark Street Inc. for a zoning by-law amendment for the proposed 17-storey building development.
A public meeting under the Planning Act on the proposed zoning by-law amendment will be held at an upcoming meeting of city council’s general committee, when members of the public will be able to make delegations.
With files from Paul Rellinger. This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.
