An attractive big-box centre—the unicorn of developments—could be coming to Leaside
First it was Kensington Market that was spooked by big-box talk; now Leaside residents are gripped with fear that Walmart is moving into the neighbourhood. A SmartCentre development is slated for the plot of land on Wicksteed Avenue near Laird Avenue that’s been vacant since Canada Wire packed up about two decades ago. And, because it fronts a major street, the spot fits the bill for a large-scale retail redevelopment, according to the City of Toronto’s official plan. But local residents worry, as residents do, that the current plan for 147,000 square feet of shopping space plus nearly 500 parking spots is just too big, and will result in traffic spreading through the area “like a germ.” The SmartCentre people brushed off that rather gross simile, brandishing the results of a traffic study that says the impact will only be felt during rush hour. The big-box developer also insists the finished project will look pretty, thanks to plans by architect Donald Schmitt that depict a porous structure of red brick and back-lit glass with a wide public plaza. A good-looking big-box development? We’ll believe it when we see it. [Globe and Mail]
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/real-estate/walmare-big-box-leaside/&title=An attractive big-box centre—the unicorn of developments—could be coming to Leaside&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/walmart1.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_146355" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="(Image: Walmart)"][/caption]
First it was Kensington Market that was spooked by big-box talk; now Leaside residents are gripped with fear that Walmart is moving into the neighbourhood. A SmartCentre development is slated for the plot of land on Wicksteed Avenue near Laird Avenue that’s been vacant since Canada Wire packed up about two decades ago. And, because it fronts a major street, the spot fits the bill for a large-scale retail redevelopment, according to the City of Toronto’s official plan. But local residents worry, as residents do, that the current plan for 147,000 square feet of shopping space plus nearly 500 parking spots is just too big, and will result in traffic spreading through the area “like a germ.” The SmartCentre people brushed off that rather gross simile, brandishing the results of a traffic study that says the impact will only be felt during rush hour. The big-box developer also insists the finished project will look pretty, thanks to plans by architect Donald Schmitt that depict a porous structure of red brick and back-lit glass with a wide public plaza. A good-looking big-box development? We’ll believe it when we see it. [Globe and Mail]
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The official plan protects employment space – this area is designated as employment space. It is not zoned as retail as you think it is. It is also away too big, and there is no offcial word of possible tenants, ex a Walmart. Too big, just adding to what is too much retail in the one area, same street. Period.
let’s be honest, the hosh/posh residents of Leaside are opposed to it because it’s a ‘walmart’ and they’ll have ‘poor’ people nor visiting the area.
There is already a HomeSense and Home Depot there, it’s not exactly a mom and pops area.
Wonder how many complaints there would be if it was a giant apple store?
Plenty of poor people that live in Flemington that would appreciate the access.
What a bogus argument, downtowner! (that is, if you’re not simply a SmartCentres stooge in an office somewhere)
It has absolutely nothing to do with who would visit the area or not. That’s just one more nasty way the developers and their gullible followers are trying to malign the opposition, by dividing neighbouring communities. Disgusting!
Zillions of Leasiders would happily shop at a Wal-Mart – as they do now only 10 minutes away at Warden, at the numerous stores including the Winners already in Leaside, and in the Zellers-to-be-Target in Thorncliffe and the fabulous Sunny Market in Flemingdon.
This has NOTHING to do with that all. This is about 1000s more cars on streets that are already documented to be at or over capacity (even before new mega-stores on Bayview and Laird open up this and next year).
Leasiders would indeed have just as many complaints about a giant Apple store, or BMW dealership, or toothpaste store, or a Timmies, or whatever, that brings that many traffic.
This has also nothing to do with ‘living in a city, learn to live with it’. Because traffic is already awful. And this street is slated to have no fewer than SIX traffic light for a stretch of not even 1.2km. I’d guess that’s more than just about anywhere downtown.
The bogus arguments are infuriating. ‘nobody wants to have other businesses there than retail’. Yeah, right – SmartCentres banked the land ages ago for future retail, simply waiting for a good moment to pull a fast one on the City. So – suprise! – nobody offered to overpay ‘Smart’Centres to use the land as it is supposed to (with jobs you can sustain a family with, instead of work 60 hours and still depend on the FoodBank). So yeah, right, retail is unavoidable en the only possible option. If you believe that, I’ve got a few very affordable bridges for you to buy…
Leasider Im going to have to respectfully disagree with your opinion, I have a hard time thinking there would be any problems if Apple or Loblaws wanted to put a flagship store here.
Why is traffic a bad thing for the neighbourhood? Outside of 8-10 and 4-6 Eglinton and Laird is pretty dead and not worth spending any time in.
Changing gears, having recently moved from Guelph to an area down town with not much retail is pretty lame, there’s nothing but bums walking around with the odd productive citizen just trying to get somewhere else either to work, shop, or hang out. I don’t get this hate for retail..
Was pretty happy they opened up the Loblaws at College.
I live in Leaside and have to agree with most of the posters, The ‘New Money’ Leasiders are just looking for another reason to moan and groan. they dont want a Walmart in there area, they dont care that people want to bargain shop because they are so stupidly rich that they will go and pay the over the top stupid prices up on Bayview.
As for it affecting local business owners, well im sorry but why would i pay $15 for a can of spray paint from the local store on Bayview when i can get it for $5 at Walmart or Homedepot.
The small business owners on Bayview have been ripping people off for a long time, I understand that they have to charge more as they cannot bulk by, but its pure ridiculous what some of them charge for there products and they have no one to blame but themselves.
This is a pure case of the bored rich BMW mommy housewives looking for something to complain about inbetween manicures and looking down on the rest of society.
And lastly, the concern over traffic, please! Leasiders drive like maniacs in there SUV’s. I cant count the number of times ive been literally driven off the road on my bike by some snotty rich idiot who would probably just chuck a blank cheque out of the window if he did hit me.
They need to get over themselves!
Does this have anything to do with the issues that were happening in bell – smart centres westgate? My wife was telling me how there was some commotion when it came to the ‘New Money’ deal.