When tearing down a neighbourhood icon hurts a project: lessons from Sneaky Dee’s

The useful part

Sneaky Dee's/Facebook) The fight to save Toronto's Sneaky Dee's bar shows that some developers may be off base if their proposals threaten cultural institutions and the character of a neighbourhood. A 16-storey mixed-use residential building was proposed for the site at College St. The proposal was killed because an RBC branch next to the bar was included in the plans, but the bank said it had not approved the site's use.

How it works

• That can be crushing to other art spaces, she said, and shows the city encourages big buildings to get built rather than preserving smaller, historic arts centres.
• Sometimes it does take the efforts of residents to keep cultural institutions around, she said, and it shows that they really care about having them around.
• Local real estate agent Ralph Fox, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years, told REM that Sneaky Dee's has been around a long time and Torontonians have a real connection to it.
• he said some see the punk, graffiti-adorned venue as an eyesore and are not a fan of the litter and noise that can be a result of its patrons on the weekend.
• He said character and authenticity are important factors for homebuyers when considering moving into a neighbourhood.

What to take from it

Those were created back when investors bought up real estate with little consideration for the floor plan because the demand was so high. Now that that is no longer the case, Fox said developers are being more careful to create liveable spaces and communities. Developers are also moving toward building purpose-built rentals rather than condos, so they have more of an investment in the neighbourhoods because they will be the landlords.

Example or evidence

• Fox said it is understandable for some to be wary of new developments given Toronto's bad track record of building soulless condo towers, which are now not so appealing to buyers.
• "Once one of these buildings gets torn down, it's not coming back." Lea admitted that it can be very difficult to preserve cultural spaces in cities like Vancouver.
• She said her property taxes are based on the "highest and best use" of the building, so she pays about $70,000 a year.
• Dundas recently shut its doors to make way for a 21-storey TMU student residence, and Honest Ed's at Bloor and Bathurst shut down and has been replaced by a large complex.

Details worth keeping

Developer Goldberg Group subsequently withdrew its application. "People have mixed feelings towards it," Fox said. A shift toward liveable, purpose-built communities He pointed to the new Mirvish Village that has begun to open with businesses such as Pizzeria Badiali, saying the shop is "breathing a lot of life" back into the area.

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