Keele and Dundas Canadian Tire Site

[tishbet]

A couple of months ago there were posters up around the Junction neighbourhood for a public meeting regarding the Canadian Tire site at Keele and Dundas West but unfortunately I only saw the posters after the meeting had taken place. A new developer called Options for Homes who are out of Quebec has apparently purchased it to build affordable housing, but I haven't seen or heard anything since. Does anyone know about this or have information they could share?

[salvius]

^ I haven't heard anything about it, but ANYTHING is better than that ill-placed box.

[valantino]

option for homes builds some of the ugliest developments you will find in the city

[KGB]

" but ANYTHING is better than that ill-placed box."


Are you sure you are thinking of the right project?

This project by Nexxt was to be three towers with a three storey podium, plus townhouses. It also included new retail along the street where that parking lot and gas station was. The buildings were quite nice, as was the linear park they were going to build.

But...the NIMBYs wore the developers down, meeting after meeting after meeting, until they finally said fuck it. The Junction really needed this project, and they blew it. Whatever Options For Homes build will not even be a fraction of what Nexxt was going to put up. What a shame.

I thought the area residents had finally come out of their comas when they voted to finally repeal that idiotic "dry" bylaw after a hundred years. Wow...what do ya know...actual restaurants started opening. But by pissing away this development, I guess the Junction being one of those hot new nabes is becoming a lot less likely.





http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7586/innerkeeler2c1gl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)






KGB

[thryve]

That is one of the first credible examples of NIMBYism on SSC that REALLY messed everything up for a neighbourhood/project.

Shame :( That project looks pretty nice, even though I'm not familiar with it at all.

-thryve

[tishbet]

Actually the majority of residents in the area were in favour of the project, especially as a park area was being included as a "buffer" but some of the heavy industry "heavies" in the area made it difficult, one being NRI (National Rubber). My understanding is that they opposed a residential development being built so close to one of their plants, as they would likely have to deal with new residents about odour issues. I believe Nexxt were going to great lengths to work around it but I'm guessing it just simply became too costly and convoluted. I agree, it's a huge shame that the Nexxt project folded, and can only hope that some good will come of the next proposed development. I'm not sure which is the lesser of two evils, an ugly, litter-filled, empty concrete block, or a potentially ugly new development.
I walk pass this spot with my dog on a daily basis, and man, something HAS to be done.
There are constant cries about shortage of land, yet this can remain empty for so long.
Sad, very sad.

[InTheBeach]

I have had some dealings with NR, and I can tell you that they are bastards.

I would not surprise me if this is more than rumour.

Still, the Junction has a positive future without this particular development. Just delayed a bit.

Not so sure about NR's future though! ; )

[salvius]

" but ANYTHING is better than that ill-placed box."


Are you sure you are thinking of the right project?

This project by Nexxt was to be three towers with a three storey podium, plus townhouses. It also included new retail along the street where that parking lot and gas station was. The buildings were quite nice, as was the linear park they were going to build.

But...the NIMBYs wore the developers down, meeting after meeting after meeting, until they finally said fuck it. The Junction really needed this project, and they blew it. Whatever Options For Homes build will not even be a fraction of what Nexxt was going to put up. What a shame.

I thought the area residents had finally come out of their comas when they voted to finally repeal that idiotic "dry" bylaw after a hundred years. Wow...what do ya know...actual restaurants started opening. But by pissing away this development, I guess the Junction being one of those hot new nabes is becoming a lot less likely.





http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7586/innerkeeler2c1gl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)






KGB

Oh, no... I had no idea about this project... I was actually talking about the formed Canadian Tire site, not any future project. Shame that deal felt through, the Junction sure could have used it.

[KGB]

"Actually the majority of residents in the area were in favour of the project"

Yes, but it only takes a noisy small minority to stir the shit up. Most people used the same excuse about increased traffic. They wanted it developed, but just some simple townhouses like the ones directly to the east of the site. The traffic excuse is stupid of course, as studies showed this project would have an un-noticeable effect on local traffic. Also, this project would generate a lot less traffic on the local streets (such as Heintzman) that lead directly to the condos than the amount of traffic generated by the Cdn Tire store that operated there for decades. Nobody complained about traffic then.

I agree, other influences were at play as well...not just National Rubber...any time you build next to the rail line, the railways kick up a big stink and do everything in their power to kill it...and they have significant resources to do so...including old existing city bylaws which affect land use within a certain proximity to rail lines. The city does change this, but you can imagine the red tape.

I lived on Heintzman St (right in front of the site) in the 80's, and then recently a couple of years ago for a while (an old friend of mine owns a house there).

Back when the CDN Tire was a going concern, it was a lively street...the Picadilly fish'n chip place at the end of the street was great...people sat out on their front porches...neighbours chatted.

Now it's pretty pathetic to say the least. The ironic part is that the real estate values on that street have increased quite a bit.









"I walk pass this spot with my dog on a daily basis, and man, something HAS to be done."


Yes...a LOT of people walk their dogs there....because it's the local dog toilet. Since it's just a forlorn, messy abandoned parking lot, people don't feel obligated to pick up after their pet.

This also attracts a lot of other unsavoury behavior that goes on there. This little section of The Junction was no trendy area before, but it's certainly a lesson in how far an area can fall in a short period of time. The city, by not acting more responsibly, is mostly to blame for this. It was in their power to do something to improve the area...now it is about as slummy as anywhere in the city...it has an American decay situation written all over it.

Funny story (in a sad kinda way)....a russian hooker has set a brothel at the end of Heintzman St for a few years now. It's non-stop clientel in and out all day...everybody on the street knows it and watches them come and go. Sometimes the "clients" knock on neighbours doors and actually ask which house the "massage place" is.

Oh well, at least that old Polish Hall is a Buddhist Temple now...back in the 80's, it was used as an after hours Jamaican club....booming music till the wee hours and drunks pissing on your front lawn.






KGB

[tishbet]

Yes...a LOT of people walk their dogs there....because it's the local dog toilet. Since it's just a forlorn, messy abandoned parking lot, people don't feel obligated to pick up after their pet.
KGB


Just for the record, please note I stated I walk PAST this spot.
I do not walk IN or ON it.
I also clean up after my dog regardless of where he poops.http://skyscrapercity.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=9850567#
bash
http://skyscrapercity.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=9850567#
Smilie

[lakeshore]

There are banners at the site now. I think this is what will be built there.
http://www.optionsforhomes.ca/content.php?parentID=30&childID=19&childType=content

[InTheBeach]

There was an article about this in one of our fine dailys a few weeks ago.

From what I read, it is selling quite well.

[zerokarma]

The old canadian tire location is kind of in a difficult spot, the traffic is already pretty bad at Keele and Dundas there, adding this condo development is just going to make it a lot worse.

[KGB]

the traffic is already pretty bad at Keele and Dundas there, adding this condo development is just going to make it a lot worse.


Won't make a speck of difference. That arguement has already been put to bed regarding that issue way back when Next was wanting to build there. They studied the amount of cars that go through the intersection per day, and the number of potential cars in this development...and it was so neglageble as to make no difference.

That arguement is always not much of an arguement anyway, as a very small percentage of the traffic at any major street intersections originate from the immediate vicinity anyway. Also, intensifying inner-city areas with higher density residential developments encourages more use of transit, as well as attracting suburban residents or preventing them from moving to the suburbs...all of which decrease traffic on the roads. So any arguement for increasing residential density as adding to street traffic is a washout, if not actually in favour of reducing traffic.





KGB

[urban 2.0]

- ignore -

[urban 2.0]

The old canadian tire location is kind of in a difficult spot, the traffic is already pretty bad at Keele and Dundas there, adding this condo development is just going to make it a lot worse.

... well don't buy a condo at CityPlace, I've heard the traffic is bad there!

Get over it, the future of movement in Toronto is going to be by public transit. We should design developments to cater to people like yourself who think the only way to go from point A to point B is in your SUV.

[noob(but not really)]

This will shed light on the situation:

http://www.urbanstrategies.com/images/uploads/12-30-2006-TorontoStar-OptionsForHomes.pdf

[ggaleazz]

That's where the options for homes building is going!!! :O That's nowhere near High Park! I hate when developers mislead people in their ads. Anyway theres a development I'm no longer considering

[noob(but not really)]

Basically, the locals were worried that if they built condos, the [better off]residents would drive to other locations instead of supporting local businesses. The Junction could sure use some help, so I'm glad this proposal won out.

LOL, 'High Park'.

[lakeshore]

It will take about a 30 minute walk to get to High Park from there; but it is a better marketing strategy than "The Junction". I actually like the junction area. It has a lot of character (urbanity).:)

[TamLin]

It will take about a 30 minute walk to get to High Park from there; but it is a better marketing strategy than "The Junction". I actually like the junction area. It has a lot of character (urbanity).:)
It's more like a 12 minute walk for me. And there are two frequent service bus routes along Keele. Nonetheless, I agree that the name is misleading (though the site is very close to the north end of High Park, the neighbourhood, where I live now).

I mostly ignored the Junction at first, despite living next to it. But it's been rapidly growing on me; I've even read a book about the Junction's history.

[kettal]

They should market it as Forest Hill, after all it's only like a 90 minute walk to Forest Hill right?