“Leaside has a growing collection of empty sites waiting for development.” That was the introduction to my May 2024 article about the demolition of Sunnybrook Plaza, as well as reflecting on other demolitions on Laird Drive north and south of Stickney (126-132, 134 Laird Drive), and on Millwood Road at Randolph (922 Millwood). Since then, attempts by developers to demolish buildings on the sites of approved projects have continued.
Bayview and Broadway is seeing lots of activity
The five single family houses at Bayview and Broadway (1837-1845 Bayview), the site approved for a 25-storey condo, were demolished, following first a refusal, then an approval at North York Community Council.
But the application to demolish the five semi-detached homes at 2-20 Glazebrook was refused, and that decision has stuck.
Now the developer of the 35-storey tower overbuild at the Leaside LRT Station (1779-1787 Bayview) is requesting permission from the City to demolish the two “quads” south of the station, while confirming their commitment to preserve the heritage façade of 1783-1785 Bayview (which would be removed and stored off site) as required by the mediated agreement involving the applicant, the City, and the Leaside Residents Association.
A future development site still in the application stage (the former Mercedes Benz showroom at 849 Eglinton Ave. East) is bucking the trend to demolition. As reported in Leaside Life’s June issue, Fairgrounds, a trendy sports and social club, has converted the building and grounds to pickleball and padel courts as an interim use in the heart of the new Leaside East neighbourhood.
Why not demolish and construct?
What’s wrong with this approach? Nothing…if it actually happened that way, but in the current market the chances of a project moving forward with timely construction appear low. The developer of the Leaside station overbuild told me he thought that their project was different, its location making it especially attractive. Maybe, but in the meantime, he says they are concerned about site and building security and people breaking into the two former rental buildings.
Both at Bayview and Broadway, and at Glazebrook, the developer claimed they needed to have the buildings demolished in order to do borehole tests for suitability for geothermal energy systems. However, others told us that was false, that there was room on-site to do the tests without the need to demolish.
Why should developers demolish? One reason: reduced property taxes, which, if you figure it will take a while to move forward, could become significant. The opposing view says that security should not be an issue, that there is a cost, but the buildings can be kept secure.
For me the question that needs to be asked is: why can’t the buildings continue to be used for housing? Continued active use is always the best way of ensuring a building is preserved, and we certainly need the housing; even eight units in two quads, at least for a few years? Maybe the developer does not want to become a landlord.
I expect we will shortly see a request to demolish 1779-1781 and 1783-1785 Bayview on the agenda at North York Community Council. Stay tuned!
