Stackt Market was originally promoted to our community as a vibrant, shared space. A pop-up style public market where local businesses could open shops, artists could exhibit their work, and neighbours could gather in a supportive, inclusive environment.

But what we got is something very different.

Over time, Stackt has transformed into a near daily entertainment venue. It now hosts loud, high-capacity concerts, raves, and DJ events, often with music blasting well into the night. The noise is so extreme that it penetrates residential units even with windows fully closed. The bass is so intense that it causes blinds, walls, and floors to vibrate, often until after midnight and sometimes as late as 2 a.m.

This isn’t the occasional festival or community celebration. This is a constant disruption.

To be clear, this is not typical downtown noise. Residents who chose to live in this area fully expected the sound of cars, trains, sirens, and city life. What no one expected was a commercial venue operating like a nightclub just meters away from their homes, with nightly bass-heavy music that sounds identical inside as it does outside. This is not urban vibrancy. It is unregulated, unacceptable, and deeply disruptive.

Many of us bought homes here long before Stackt was created. In fact, the land Stackt now occupies was originally slated to become a public park. That was part of the vision that sold people on this neighbourhood: green space, community, livability. But instead of a park, the City leased the space to a private operator. That operator now runs a business that prioritizes ticketed nightlife over community harmony. Residents feel deceived and abandoned by a process that never consulted or protected them.

Residents in the Fort York and Niagara neighbourhoods have been raising complaints for 2 years. We have contacted 311 countless times, reached out to Councillor Malik’s office, sent video evidence, filed reports, and yet the disturbances continue unchecked. Stackt is repeatedly granted noise exemptions, and even when events proceed without permits, no consequences follow.

Many residents have had no choice but to break their leases or sell their homes just to escape the constant disruption. Families with young children, elderly neighbours, shift workers, and professionals working remotely have all had their quality of life significantly impacted by Stackt’s operations.

This is not about shutting Stackt down.

We support local businesses, artists, and community space. But we believe Stackt must be held accountable to the community it exists within. This means:

• Stop granting automatic noise exemptions for events that repeatedly violate residential peace
• Enforce permit rules consistently
• Restore Stackt’s original community-focused purpose, not a commercial nightlife venue disguised as a market
• Ensure the site is managed with respect for the hundreds of residents living directly beside it

City planning should protect the people who live here, not just accommodate businesses at any cost. We are calling on Councillor Malik, the City of Toronto, and relevant municipal departments to act now and stop putting neighbourhood vibrancy and livability in conflict.