A revamped proposal above Murphy’s Law confronts Beaches residents with more density and rental housing

A revised proposal at the site of Murphy’s Law in the Beaches promises to bring more rental housing to one of Toronto’s least dense and most coveted postal codes. But will the neighbourhood’s famously prickly residents put up a fight?

In 2019, the city approved the construction of a six-storey condo building at the northwest corner of Queen and Kingston. It would partially preserve the building housing Murphy’s Law, a neoclassical bank turned bar famous for its post-beach-volleyball rooftop patio hangs.

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Since then, the prime east-end site—within walking distance of the lake as well as many parks and transit routes—has sat seemingly deserted, prompting baffled local councillor Brad Bradford to pressure the developer, Sud Group, to get on with building.

Now Sud Group has responded, submitting a revamped proposal that, if approved by city council, would come with an additional five storeys and 106 units, all rentals. It would also fully preserve Murphy’s Law—good news for fans of both hops and heritage architecture.

City hall is desperate to build more density and rental units all over town, especially in-fill rental options in celebrated districts like the Beaches. But the neighbourhood is also notorious for protesting the addition of towers, multiplexes, and affordable and rental housing. Considering that 15 people in Etobicoke just forced Toronto to kibosh two proposed fourplexes on Kipling for being one metre above zoning regulations, east-end developers and housing advocates are likely in for a fight.