Neighbour Art Osborne derided it as "twin sore thumbs sticking into the sky," but city councillors tonight voted unanimously to grant zoning approval to a 230-unit residential project at 22 MacDonald Ave.
Builder Sam Biasucci said he hopes to start work on the site in mid to late summer, well before next winter.
The pair of T-shaped nine-storey buildings are to be built on property owned by Joe Ruscio's Bellex Corp.
The land is the former Sault Collegiate Institute sports fields at the corner of MacDonald and Gladstone.
"Pardon the metaphor, but these two sore thumbs sticking into the sky are in the middle of a primarily single-detached-home neighbourhood area established about 125 years ago and adjacent to two city-designated heritage areas," said Osborne, who's lived in the neighbourhood for more than four decades.
"This massive complex should not be built here. Most will admit, it doesn’t fit," Osborne said.
He warned that tonight's approval, by councillors meeting as the city's planning committee, can be taken as a signal that the Sault has a new building policy.
"Call it Triple A," Osborne said. "Any development. Anywhere. Anytime."
"Citizens in every neighbourhood should be watchful for something like this coming their way."
"The planning committee has now set a precedent that it’s okay to build a nine-floor building right next to a lot with a single-family dwelling.”
The new housing project will not have bachelor apartments, but 70 of its 230 housing units will have rents no higher than $900.
The development is being promoted as a "comfortable age-at-home community" designed to let an aging population live independently as long as possible.
The closest bus stop is six minutes away, but Sault Transit is willing to consider extending a nearby route to better service the area.
The two main buildings will be linked by a four-storey amenity building.
Each apartment will have its own balcony.
Communal outdoor amenity spaces will include a picnic and playground area, pickleball and basketball courts and other recreational areas, located on the west portion of the property.
There will also be rooftop amenity spaces.
Primary entrances to the buildings will be on the south side facing MacDonald Avenue.
A vehicle roundabout on the west side of the parking area will allow access by larger vehicles like a parabus.