There were no significant objections raised at the Jan. 27
public meeting convened to consider the proposal to rebuild 611-625 Queen
Street West, destroyed by fire two years ago next week. As a result, as soon as
developer Hamid Bahrami submits final architectural drawings and details
that meet Heritage Services' exterior standards, he is free to proceed.
The destroyed buildings once housed Queen West retail icon Duke's Cycle, which had been in that location for 94 years, as well as Suspect Video's second location and apartments in the buildings' second and third storeys.
His plan is to replace the destroyed heritage designated
commercial strip, the only commercial strip in Toronto to be so designated,
with what planning department officer Nicole Ivanov describes as a three-storey
mixed-use building with storage in the basement, retail on the first floor, and
four residential units above, and no parking.
Though there's no definite date set for completion, Ivanov
says work should begin shortly.
"People usually get started right away when the appeal
period is over," she says.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: City of Toronto Planning Department