First it was a shelter, now New Toronto residents may have a multi-storey rental apartment being built on a prime piece of commercial property.

A new proposal is underway to turn a failed and controversial shelter site into a nine-story apartment.

Documents have been filed before a Local Planning Appeal Tribunal by 2950 Lakeshore GP Inc., to request to amend the official zoning plan to permit a nine-storey mixed use building to allow 95 new rental units and retail use at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

“The Council of the City of Toronto has not made a decision with respect to the application within the time frame prescribed in the Planning Act,” according to the application. “In order to facilitate the final decision, the applicant has appealed the applications to the tribunal.”

The .15 hectare site, which has a frontage of 45.72 metres along a prime Lake Shore Blvd. W. strip, is occupied by a four-storey commercial office building and a two floor retailer Bi Way, which is in the process of winding down the iconic business.

The proposed site will have a total gross floor area of 8,683 square metres, which includes 485 square metres for commercial and 8,198 square metres for residential use.

It will have 32 below grade parking spaces and seven spots for bicycles

No date has been set for a hearing.

There was a heated controversy surrounding the site last year when the City of Toronto expressed an interest in purchasing the property for use as a homeless shelter, but that plan fell apart.

There was a noisy protest in September, with residents taking a stand by talking to their neighbours.

Community residents also took their fight online, and in petitions, or flyers, to oppose the proposed shelter, which was cancelled after a review.

News of a proposed rental apartment has triggered a new round of complaints from residents on social media.

“No more affordable housing,” wrote Candy Kathleen.

Lucy Kroumova says “that’s a lot of units on nine floors.”

“I have been looking for a place going on four years and on a waiting list as well,” states Kitty Cca.

“Are they building government housing,” Zori Iordan asked. “Because that whole area is government building.”