City receives development proposal for Queen and Lee site in the Beach; community consultation meeting expected in September

By AMARACHI AMADIKE

The City of Toronto has received the development proposal for a six-storey mixed-use building at 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032-2038 and 2040 Queen St. E. in the Beach.

The application, which officially met the city’s minimum development application requirements on Wednesday, July 17, proposes the demolition of the two-storey mixed-use building that is currently on site at the northwest corner of Queen Street East and Lee Avenue.

Proposed by Crombie REIT, the 5,728-square-metre project will have 1,140 square metres of retail space that fronts Queen Street East as the developer aims to “enlarge and improve the existing grocery store to better serve the existing community and to increase the housing supply in the area in proximity to frequent transit”, according to the application’s cover letter.

The remaining 4,588 square metres will be reserved for 60 residential dwelling units comprising 40 one-bedroom units, 14 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units.

“Our proposal includes a range of 1-3 bedroom units, which will increase the housing options for existing residents in The Beaches who may be looking for an alternative to single-family homes or wanting to downsize, as well as new future community members including young families,” said a statement on Crombie REIT’s official website.

The developers have proposed 33 vehicular parking spaces and 68 bicycle parking spaces for residents.

With the development application in its early stages, a community consultation has not yet been scheduled by Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford. However, residents can expect a meeting early in September, he told Beach Metro Community News this week.

“Beachers take a lot of pride in their community and I look forward to hearing what local residents have to say about this application,” said Bradford.

A community consultation meeting for this project is expected to draw much public attention due to the project’s high-profile location.

As described by longtime Beacher and community historian Gene Domagala in a Beach Metro column this past May, “the corner of Queen and Lee is the historic heart of the Kew Beach area and possibly the entire Beach community.”

Across the street from 2040 Queen St. E. are popular neighbourhood landmarks such as Kew Gardens Park, The Beaches Branch Library, and Coles Book Store which was once home to a bank built in 1911.

Although many of the buildings in the area, and in the application, hold historical value to residents, they were never designated as heritage buildings which would have protected them from being demolished.

Domagala, along with many other local residents who share a passion for the preservation of their neighbourhood’s history, are concerned this development and its impact on the community.

Considering the site is partly owned by Crombie Limited Partnership and grocers Sobeys Capital Incorporated, the importance of protecting neighbourhood grocery stores is also expected to be one of the main focuses during community discussions.

The northwest corner of Queen Street East and Lee Avenue is currently home to the Foodland grocery store.

Bradford told Beach Metro Community News that grocery stores are also a “valuable asset to the neighbourhood” and his constituents will want to ensure that they are maintained “in the long term” considering the present Foodland store, located on the site, will be demolished.

“I also expect a lot of discussion about the addition of badly-needed housing options, and how this proposal aligns with the Urban Design Guidelines,” he said.

According to the Queen Street East Urban Design Guidelines (UDG), any proposal along Queen Street East between Coxwell Avenue and Nursewood Road is prohibited from exceeding the six-storey limit along with many other regulations that are specific to the Beach.

Bradford said that the guidelines will play a major role in determining the City of Toronto’s decision on Crombie REIT’s proposal.

“I’m looking forward to hearing this feedback from the community and I’m committed to working with the applicant and City Planning to ensure it is taken into account,” said Bradford.

For more information about the proposal, visit https://www.2040queeneast.ca/