Toronto residents raise concerns over empty section of Yonge Street, awaiting demolition since spring
A block of storefronts along a major Toronto road has been sitting empty, covered in black paint and awaiting demolition, since the spring.
"It sort of degrades the area," Michael Snider, the former owner of Snider Music, told CTV News Toronto. "When we moved here in 1986, there was every kind of business in the world."
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Snider's family business is situated right across the street from the empty block, located on Yonge Street near Lawrence Avenue.
"I'm worried about when the construction [begins] and the fact that nobody knows when it's coming," he said.
The land is owned by a developer with plans to build condos on the block, featuring mixed-use retail space on street level.
The local business association has no problem with the plans, but members say they were never consulted on the "black hole" occupying their street.
CTV News reached out to the developer, Montcrest Asset Management, but did not receive a response before the stated deadline.
Several business owners in the area said the black paint began appearing in the spring and it's remained ever since.
People can be seen walking down a block of Yonge Street in Toronto, currently awaiting development. (Allison Hurst)
Beverly Don, the treasurer for the Yonge and Lawrence BIA, said the latest meeting with representatives for developers was in October.
"I said, ‘Can you please change that colour?’” she explained. "And he said, 'Well, we'll see' and he was supposed to get back to me but he did not."
According to the city, the delays in development are spurred by a lack of permits.
“While the demolition permits were applied for in March of this year, they could not be issued as [developers] are not in compliance with applicable law,” a spokesperson said.
"Residential properties cannot be demolished without the issuance of a replacement building permit. There is no replacement building permit applied for at this time,” they continued.
Ted Butler, member of the Bedford Park Residents Organization (BPRO), told CTV News Toronto he’s “disappointed” in the project thus far.
“But it's my understanding it's not the developers' fault at this point," Butler said. "They were on target to start demolition sometime in the summer, but they still have a couple of people living there. And I think they're going through the eviction process with it."
Butler said ultimately BPRO is pleased with the plans for the neighbourhood, they'd just like to see it get underway.
"It's going to be a two-year process to get there and this has just slowed it down," he said.
"There's nothing malicious about this. Unfortunately, it looks like this. We love our neighborhood, and the people that live up here. You know, a lot of pride in the neighborhood. This is just, I guess, part of the growing pains of change."
Don, with the BIA, also said she fully supports the plans for the space, but wishes they could have better communication with developers.
"I don't feel they have made any legitimate effort to reach out to us as the BIA," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Alberta RCMP officer charged with 2 counts of sexual assault
Const. Bridget Morla, a Leduc RCMP officer, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident that happened two years ago.
Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice
A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches.
Ontario dad removes hockey rink at heart of neighbour dispute
A Markham dad who drew the ire of neighbours and the city after installing a hockey rink in his backyard says the rink has now been taken down.
Kingston, Ont. doctor in 'disbelief' after being ordered to repay $600K for pandemic vaccination payments
An Ontario health tribunal has ordered a Kingston, Ont. doctor to repay over $600,000 to the Ontario government for improperly billing thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations at the height of the pandemic.
Trump demands immediate release of Oct. 7 hostages, says otherwise there will be 'HELL TO PAY'
President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office there will be “HELL TO PAY."
Motivated by obsession: Canadians accused in botched California murder plot in police custody
Two Canadians are in police custody in Monterey County, California, after a triple stabbing police say was motivated by a B.C. man's obsession with a woman he played video games with online.
AC/DC reveals 2025 North American tour. This Canadian city is the only one to make the cut
Big news for AC/DC fans as the heavy metal bigwigs announced Monday they will hit the road next spring. But as of now, there’s only one Canadian show on the docket.
Belly fat linked to signs of Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms begin, study says
As the size of a person’s belly grows, the memory centre of their brain shrinks and beta amyloid and tau may appear — all of this occurring as early as a person’s 40s and 50s, well before any cognitive decline is apparent, according to new research.
More RCMP and CBSA ‘human resources’ destined for border, Public Safety Minister LeBlanc says
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government will 'absolutely' be adding more Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP ‘human resources’ at the border.