Does anyone know anything about the construction site at Rusholme Road and College? They're tearing out the gas station, but there is no indication of what will be replacing it. I really hope that it is not going to be something dreadful as we already have those townhomes on the south side breaking up the gradual spread of prosperous business on that bit of College. It seems that there might still be some hope of getting involved as a neighbourhood.

So what's happening at Rusholme and College? There's a big "Bell" sign on the side of the shack on the road ... and I heard two store-owners talking and they are a bit put out that no one has communicated with them.

Any news?

Best, Emily and Bernard

Hello All,

I phoned City Hall a couple of weeks ago to see what I could discover. The only permit that had been granted at that time was for demolition. I then spoke with the planner for the area and she said that there have been no applications or discussions (with her) in regard to the site. She also told me that the zoning for this site is very liberal and allows for many different uses. I then checked with the Land Registry office to see if the property had changed hands since the service station left and discovered that it hasn't (it has been owned by a numbered company since 1990 - maybe Esso?)

My guess (and it really is a guess at this point) is that we are going to see a "Quick Stop" style variety store/self serve gas station go up there in the near future.

I'm not sure how that would impact our neighbourhood. Any thoughts on this?

Arthur Irwin

Yeah I was wondering about that place. They had big gear digging it up and all . When I saw the big hole, I was sure it was going to be condo/townhouse thingees. But then they filled the holes up. No foundation structure.

Parking lot? I don't know.

Maybe all the digging was a ire prevention thing to do with oil drums or something?

Curious too.

Erella Ganon

I may be mistaken, but if memoery serves, if there was once a fuel tank on a property, it must remain filled and vacant for a certain set period of time before any new construction takes place.

Angela Shillolo

so how does that square with what happened at the site of Algarve Auto Repair on Ossington south of Dundas??.....that gas station was cleaned out and condos built almost immediately on the site. It would make sense that they'd have to leave it for a period of time. ..but not so in that case. hmmm.

Cheryl Hawkes

Thanks for alerting me to the issue. We've had a lot of calls about this location over the last couple of months because of circulating rumours. Adam's response to Erella yesterday sums up what we know:

"The property on the north west corner of College and Rusholme is not slated for redevelopment. There have been no applications either for rezoning or to the Committee of Adjustment, nor have any building permits been issued. The work they are doing is based on a demolition permit. "

Thanks again,

Kevin Beaulieu
Constituency Assistant
Office of Councillor Adam Giambrone
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West, Suite C42
Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2
p: 416.338.5305
f: 416. 392.7957