Please consider signing this petition to add your voice in support of preserving 1354-1356 and 1358-1360 Queen Street West and preventing their demolition as part of a 9-storey mixed use (primarily condominium) building that was proposed for the site in September 2020. The existing buildings are important, historic buildings linked to Parkdale’s history. It would be a loss both for Parkdale and the City of Toronto to allow these buildings to be demolished. The Sunnyside Historical Society / Parkdale Village Historical Society has started this petition in opposition of the demolition of 1354-1356 Queen Street West. The Sunnyside Historical Society / Parkdale Village Historical Society asserts the importance of preserving both 1354-1356 Queen Street West and 1358-1360 Queen Street West.

In September 2020, an application was submitted by the developer KingSett Capital for a 9-storey mixed-use (primarily condominium) building at the northwest corner of Brock Avenue and Queen Street West in Toronto.  This application proposes the demolition of the 3-storey corner building at 1354-1356 Queen Street West and the retention and restoration of the 2-storey adjacent building at 1358-1360 Queen Street West.  KingSett Capital - the multibillion-dollar Developer – and ERA Architects alleged in their Heritage Impact Assessment – that the stucco exterior of 1354-1356 Queen Street West – installed post-1996 – renders the building too difficult to restore. As such, only 1358-1360 Queen Street West is proposed for restoration in the redevelopment.  The Sunnyside Historical Society / Parkdale Village Historical Society opposes the demolition of 1354-1356 Queen Street West and asserts the importance of preserving both 1354-1356 Queen Street West and 1358-1360 Queen Street West.

Brock Avenue (originally the Brockton Road) was constructed in 1850 at the commission of landowner Lucy Brock as an important road connecting Parkdale’s Queen Street (now Queen Street West) and the Dundas highway (now Dundas Street West). Brock Avenue bypassed a large swamp that historically existed on Dufferin Street just north of Queen Street West. Parkdale’s original Town Hall was also at the intersection of Brock Avenue and Queen Street West – where the Parkdale Library’s parking lot now is – although the town hall burned down in the 1960s.

Around 1954/1955, Sheldon and Beverly Fainer opened the Central Bargain House at 1360 Queen Street West. The Central Bargain House later became known as Designer Fabrics. This business expanded and eventually consolidated the storefronts and buildings at 1354-1360 Queen Street West. After an amazing 64 years in business in Parkdale, the Fainers retired in 2018. 

1354-1356 Queen Street West was recently listed on the City of Toronto Heritage Register in late 2020 and is currently part of the presently under study Parkdale Main Street Heritage Conservation District, but the local community is concerned that this historic main street building will be demolished before it is given full heritage protection. 

The historic character of Parkdale’s main street is an important element to the evolution of the neighbourhood, providing the streetscape with interesting character and texture, as well as shopfronts for small local businesses.

We are calling for the retention, restoration and integration of both 1354-1356 Queen Street West and 1358-1360 Queen Street West into the development designs to celebrate the fine grain texture, consistent street rhythm, and historic character of Parkdale’s main street. Please consider signing this petition to add your voice in support of preserving 1354-1356 and 1358-1360 Queen Street West. These are important, historic buildings linked to Parkdale’s history. It would be a loss both for Parkdale and the City of Toronto to allow these buildings to be demolished.