A proposal to replace eight houses with a large student rental building on the “front step” of Fanshawe College is getting a frosty reception at city hall.

The properties are on a future rapid transit line, with another apartment building next door, but the 24-storey proposal is double what’s allowed for the site under city policies.

Ward 9 Coun. Anna Hopkins, who chairs council’s planning committee, said she’s weighing up the proposed development.

“We want housing, we want to develop, build in and up on that transit corridor. All of those things support intensification, but this is pretty high,” she said.

“You have to be able to look at our policies, see where it makes sense, understand how it fits.”

City hall staff recommend politicians refuse the rezoning request from Red Maple Properties for 1453 to 1459 Oxford St. E. and 648 to 656 Ayreswood Ave., saying it’s too intense for the area.

Eight single-detached houses at the corner of Oxford Street and Ayreswood Avenue were purchased to create the site for the proposed 259-unit tower in what the company’s consultant describes as a long-term play by an owner looking to make his first foray into the student rental business.

It started as an 18-storey development, proposed last year. But after some feedback on the “boxy” design, the developer came back with an even taller application.

“Fanshawe continues to grow. It’s a large college. They have limited residences on their campuses,” said Casey Kulchycki, a senior planner with Zelinka Priamo that is representing the builder.

“As their population continues to grow, that’s going to put the pressure on the surrounding communities to absorb that population. This is an excellent response to help house this growing population.”

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