Proposed Casino Includes Canada's Tallest Buildings
A proposal for the construction of a downtown casino includes a couple of residential and commercial towers that could become Canada's tallest skyscrapers.
These two structures would be 92ft taller than the First Canadian Place, which, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, is the tallest building in Canada.
Casino Project Requires Approval
Each tower would have 40 stories for commercial establishments and 30 stories for apartments, making it 70 stories. Oxford Properties Group Executive Vice President Michael Kit said that the residential aspect of the proposal could be cancelled if the demand isn't high enough.
He said, "We want office as part of this project, and we're committed to the office component of this project. The residential on top of the office, that's something that we're debating."
Besides, Oxford Properties Group has proposed the construction of two hotels?an 836-ft hotel that would be the sixth tallest building in Canada and a smaller 605-ft hotel. However, Kitt says these figures might change when a hotel company is found for this project.
Further, he said that Oxford might abandon the entire $3 billion project if the council does not approve the casino aspect of it or approves the casino, but demands a change of location.
Parking a Potential Problem in Casino Project Bid
Called the Front St. W. project, it has a number of opponents too. Adam Vaughan, casino opponent and local councilor, said that there will be traffic congestion and parking calamities if this proposal is accepted. Vaughan feels that the figure of 4,000 parking spaces for the office, residences, casino, and convention centre will be "radically deficient."
Vaughan said, "They claim that the rest of the downtown parking can absorb it. But parking is already subscribed to by the Rogers Centre, the Ripley's Believe It or Not (aquarium), which also has no parking and is using existing parking in the vicinity; the Air Canada Centre; Mirvish theatres, Roy Thomson Hall. So it's double- and triple-subscribed already, and they're going to add to that subscription list."
Begging to differ, Kitt cites a study commissioned by the Oxford Group, which states that there is ample parking space downtown. Moreover, people would visit the casino component only on holidays, weekends, and evenings when the downtown parking lots are almost empty. Oxford could also build access from off-street bus parking spots and subways.
