Speakers Corner: People want answers after condo development they paid for is never built

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This week, we were asked about a senior living centre that was proposed five years ago but never built. Several people put down tens of thousands of dollars in deposits which still hasn’t been returned.

The project in question is called Trinity Ravine Towers on Markham Road in Scarborough. Plans for the 55+ community were unveiled in 2016.

That’s when James Azizieh’s parents signed on.

“At first it fit the bill for what they were looking for,” Azizieh said. “They wanted to downsize and move into a 55+ condo community.”

His parents paid $70,000 to secure a condo in the development but since then, there has been no construction on site and Azizieh says answers about getting his parent’s money back have been hard to come by.

“I’ve called numerous times and I’m constantly bounced to someone else who never calls back.” Azizieh said. “At this point, we just want the money we paid back.”

A CHRISTIAN LIVING COMMUNITY

When it was unveiled in 2016, Trinity Ravine Towers called itself a Christian living facility. It was the brainchild of Global Kingdom Ministries, a church which owns the parking lot where the development was to be built.

“My parents belong to the Christian faith so that was another selling point,” Azizieh said.

The project’s C.E.O. is Kern Kalideen, who was a pastor at the church.

In promotional material, Trinity Ravine Towers promised to offer 500+ condos that were sold as part of a life lease program. The lease being used at Trinity Ravine Towers had no termination date and could’ve been passed to a resident’s family upon death. It was to have an in-house catered dining room, courtyard, library, beauty salon, fitness centre and several other amenities.

According to the contract the Aziziehs signed five years ago, the project was to be ready for move in no later than March, 2019.

Today, the site is an empty parking lot with no signs of construction.

“Literally nothing has been built.” Azizieh said. “There was a fence put up five years ago but that’s it.”

LIFE PLANS RUINED

The Aziziehs were in their mid 80’s when they agreed to buy into the project. Now nearing 90, their downsizing plan has been ruined.

“They are no longer physically able to move so we had to adjust their care and help out at their home,” their son said.

James, who once lived on his own, had to move in with his parents to help because of the delay.

“Our lives have been disrupted by this, completely,” he said.

More frustrating for the Aziziehs is the lack of answers as to when they’ll get their deposits back.

“They told us we’d hear something in October, 2020. That never happened. Then we were told January, then February, then March. Still nothing.”

TRINITY RAVINE RESPONDS

CityNews spoke with Kalideen about the concerns. He initially agreed to meet us on site for an on-camera interview but an hour before, declined and instead issued the following statement:

“The Trinity Ravine Towers Life Lease project is not proceeding as originally envisioned. We are currently evaluating a few proposals and options which we hope will enable us to move forward with a housing alternative as the Trinity Ravine Community.  We expect to announce new plans which will allow purchasers to either move forward with a new option, or withdraw their deposits with interest from the project. The process has taken longer than we had anticipated and we understand all concerns. We expect to be able to share detailed go-forward plans in late April 2021.”

While happy to finally get some answers, the Aziziehs, don’t want to wait another day for their money, saying they’ve waited long enough.

“It’s been really emotionally taxing on everybody. The anxiety of the whole situation,” Azizieh said.

“You cannot take advantage of these people, who go into these projects honestly and all you’re doing is confusing them and dragging them along. It’s not right and it’s not fair.”

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