Patrick Devine on condo development in Toronto
July 9 2008 - Toronto
Toronto has the most active and mature condo market on the continent. For developers, the bulk of the work is done before the public begins to see the building go up. Often this includes an appearance before the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to resolve development changes. Some developers appreciate the OMB's influence while others say it only adds to the politics of the process.
"The OMB is a very convenient scapegoat for politicians who don't want to put themselves on the firing line," says Patrick Devine, head of FMC's Municipal and Property Development in Toronto. "Very good projects get turned down for political reasons. Unfortunately, other than the mayor, there's no one elected to city council who has the mandate to look broader than their own individual ward."
Susan Down quotes Patrick in her article, "Worst Things First: For condo developers, the hard work is done before the ground is broken" (National Post, June 28, 2008, PH6)
To access the full article, visit the National Post website.
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