To: Councillor Gord Perks, The Junction BIA, City of Toronto Planning, and McDonald's Canada

For decades, The Junction has thrived as one of Toronto’s most vibrant, independent-minded communities. Our main street along Dundas Street West is defined by locally owned bakeries, artisanal craft breweries, independent cafes, and small businesses that make our neighborhood feel like home.

The news that corporate giant McDonald's plans to occupy the prominent heritage space at 2876 Dundas St. W. (formerly Indie Alehouse, at the corner of Dundas and Keele) threatens the fundamental character and livability of our community.

While we recognize that commercial spaces change hands, placing a high-volume, 24-hour fast-food chain at this key intersection creates serious long-term concerns for our neighborhood:

1. Erosion of Local Business & Neighborhood Character
The Junction’s economic identity is built on small business entrepreneurship. Anchor storefronts on major corners set the tone for the entire commercial strip. Replacing a cherished local gathering spot with a global fast-food brand signals a shift toward generic commercial gentrification that undermines our independent shops and restaurants.

2. Traffic Congestion & Delivery Gridlock
Dundas & Keele is already a heavily congested, high-density intersection with narrow lanes, high pedestrian traffic, and key TTC bus routes. A high-turnover fast-food restaurant will inevitably bring a constant stream of delivery drivers (UberEats, DoorDash, courier bikes) and short-term parking double-parking, creating gridlock and serious safety hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.

3. Litter, Noise, and Late-Night Disruption
Fast-food operations generate substantial single-use packaging waste, late-night foot traffic, and idling vehicles. Our main street lacks the infrastructure to absorb the extra litter, noise pollution, and waste management demands of a high-volume corporate fast-food outlet without degrading the quality of life for surrounding residential streets.

4. Heritage Streetscape Integrity
The historic building at Dundas and Keele deserves a tenant that respects the architectural heritage and visual identity of The Junction's main street—not generic corporate branding and illuminated signage that disrupts the streetscape.

Our Demand:
We, the undersigned residents, business owners, and supporters of The Junction, call upon:

McDonald’s Canada to listen to the local community and reconsider opening a location at 2876 Dundas Street West.

Councillor Gord Perks and the City of Toronto to actively engage with residents, rigorously review all building permit, signage, patio, and loading applications for this site, and enforce strict community standards.

The Junction BIA to advocate firmly for design restrictions, delivery vehicle controls, strict operating hours, and litter mitigation to protect nearby local merchants.

Keep The Junction local. Sign and share this petition today!