Kensington Market staves off a potential Walmart—for now

Take heart, condo towers, you’re not the only vehemently opposed developments around town anymore—a proposed retail building on the fringes of Kensington Market has residents, local business owners and councillor Mike Layton all riled up. On Wednesday, the Toronto-East York Committee of Adjustment rejected a rezoning application from RioCan to demolish the old Kromer Radio site on Bathurst and Nassau and erect a 22 metre-tall building with 95,000 square feet of retail space. The community fears a one-stop-shop tenant like Walmart (notable RioCan tenants include the big box giant, as well as Home Depot and Canadian Tire), which could deal a deathblow to the market’s independent food shops. According to Layton, they also think the building will throw shade into neighbours’ backyards and cause major traffic snafus. The first battle lost, RioCan is expected to appeal the ruling with the Ontario Municipal Board. [Toronto Star]