A proposed 17-storey mixed-use building on Crescent Street behind the Art Gallery of Peterborough could climb to 20 storeys according to a city staff report that will be presented during city council’s general committee meeting on Monday (January 26).
During that meeting, which will also serve as a public meeting under the Planning Act for official plan and zoning by-law amendments for the proposed development, councillors will consider a report from Blair Nelson, the city’s commissioner of infrastructure, planning, and growth management.
Ashburnham Realty originally announced in 2018 that it was planning a 12-storey development of luxury condos and rental apartments on Crescent Street, after purchasing a number of properties along Crescent Street and Lake Street.
In 2024, that plan changed to a proposed 15-storey apartment building with 218 units and 218 parking spaces in a parking structure and then, in October 2025, to a 17-storey building with up to 225 units and at least 465 square metre commercial floor space.
Nine existing properties located along Crescent Street, Lake Street, and George Street would be included in the development: 195, 199, 203, 215, and 223 Crescent Street, 131 and 137 Lake Street, and 362 George Street South.
The originally proposed design for the 17-storey building included a portion of the second and third floor that could potentially be used as a new location for the Art Gallery of Peterborough, although city council subsequently decided not to pursue that option.
According to Nelson’s report to general committee, city staff have recommended changes to the latest submitted concept plan after working with Ashburnham Realty.
The changes include reducing massing of the tower portion, reducing the height of the podium portion from 10 storeys to eight storeys with a stepback above the fourth storey, and providing an adequate setback to abutting properties that are not part of the development to ensure that adequate grading, landscaping, and stormwater management can be implemented as part of the final design.
“Staff recommend an increased building setback of 3.0m to the parking structure to accommodate landscaping, a reduced tower floor plate area of 1,000 square metres, and flexibility for a maximum building height of 20 storeys to facilitate the tower reduced floor plate and improve compatibility with the adjacent neighbourhood,” the report states.
“The applicant has advised that they believe these changes can be accommodated,” the report adds.
The staff-recommended changes are similar to those for TVM Group’s proposed 17-storey high-rise in East City. That building was originally going to be 10 storeys but increased to 17 storeys to address concerns including the height of the podium and to increase setbacks.
“Compared to the initial 10-storey building that was contemplated by the applicant, the current 17-storey building provides greater building setbacks from the adjacent low-rise residential properties to the north allowing for greater landscaping opportunities,” stated a report from Nelson presented to general committee last August 25 during a five-hour public meeting on a zoning by-law amendment application for the TVM Group development.
“Further, the revised proposal removes massing (i.e. building height) from the rear of the building and moves it towards the street. This reduces the visual impact to the adjacent low-rise residential uses while also reducing the effect of shadowing on the closest neighbours — the shadow of a taller and narrower building moves across the ground faster than one of a shorter and wider building.”
General committee voted 7-4 in support of the zoning by-law amendment for the TVM Group development. Then, after a six-hour council meeting last September 3, council voted again 7-4 to endorse the general committee recommendation, with the same split as the general committee vote, with Mayor Jeff Leal and councillors Kevin Duguay, Lesley Parnell, Matt Crowley, Don Vassiliadis, Andrew Beamer, and Dave Haacke voting in favour and councillors Keith Riel, Gary Baldwin, Joy Lachica, and Alex Bierk voting against.
“It’s coming to other neighbourhoods,” said Northcrest resident Gavin Muir during a public delegation at that meeting, raising concerns about the precedent that approving the 17-storey building would set for the entire city. “This is going to change everything … It starts here, but it doesn’t end here.”
As for the proposed Ashburnham Realty development, Blair’s report makes similar claims about how increasing the height of the 17-storey building will be beneficial to neighbouring properties.
“These changes will help reduce the visual impact of the development to adjacent low-rise residential uses while also reducing the effect of shadowing on the closest neighbours, creating a taller tower on a smaller footprint will result in less shadow impact on adjacent properties by allowing the shadow to pass by faster.”
As for public consultation on the 17-storey version of the proposed Ashburnham Realty development, an in-person neighbourhood meeting was hosted by EcoVue Consulting Services Inc. last September 23 at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. That version of the development included the potential inclusion of the gallery in the new building.
Public concerns from that consultation echoed those of the East City development, including housing affordability, traffic impacts and parking, capacity of municipal services, and that the building height is too tall and should be reduced to 10 storeys
As with the staff report on the TVM Group development, the report on the proposed Ashburnham Realty development states the revenue that would be generated for the city, including around $9.7 million in city-wide development charges, around $400,000 in education development charges, and around $342,000 in water utility development charges.
However, the report notes the Ashburnham Realty development may be eligible for exemption from city-wide development charges as it is located in the central area, and may also be eligible for other exemptions to development charges if affordable units are included in the development.
“The construction of an intensified residential development will also increase the assessed value of the property and in turn also increase the city’s tax revenue,” the report adds, although it notes that the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) “is unable to publicly share an initial estimate of that increase.”
Those who wish to speak to council during the public meeting must register no later than 11 a.m. on Monday. To register, complete the online application at www.peterborough.ca/delegations or call 705-742-7777 ext. 1820.
