Abandoned Toronto houses spark intense debate about gentrification

A haunting guerrilla art installation on a group of abandoned houses has become the talk of the town, triggering a massive online debate on the merits of preserving existing housing versus the construction of new homes.

A group of homes on Raglan Avenue in the Bathurst and St. Clair area are awaiting demolition to make way for a 28-storey condominium tower that would bring over 200 new homes to the block.

As the boarded-up houses await their fate, the wooden coverings have suddenly been graced by a mysterious art installation depicting silhouettes of departed residents going about their lives.

The haunting installation has tapped into strong feelings about the redevelopment scene in Toronto, pitting arguments about affordability and preservation against pro-development stances that stress a lack of housing stock in the city.

Street art silhouettes of people who used to live in houses slated for demolition for yet another condo project at St. Clair and Bathurst. pic.twitter.com/pzsasckEUr

— Martin Reis (@BikeLaneDiary) September 30, 2023

The installation by artists Steph Avery, Shari Kasman, Martin Reis (Reis recently made headlines for another installation, where the artist performed as a fake soccer referee handing out red and yellow cards to bad drivers), and Emmie Tsumura, has been met with an avalanche of comments.

Several commenters argue that the demolition of five homes to make way for hundreds is a positive change in a housing-strapped city.

But it’s being replaced with 160 apartments - so this is a good thing

— Rob Gill (@rgdsyyz) October 1, 2023

Former politician Adam Vaughan commented in support of the development proposal, citing its proximity to a subway station and multiple streetcar lines as reasons people should get behind the project.

Just to be clear…the house are circled in amongst the density that surrounds them…the blue arrow is a Subway Stn…the yellow arrow an LRT in its own right of way…putting density should be automatic NOT problematic pic.twitter.com/NO6jgynowJ

— Adam Vaughan (@TOAdamVaughan) October 2, 2023

In response to dozens of comments advocating for redevelopment, former mayoral candidate Chloe Brown urged commenters to recognize that new housing is not accessible for many Toronto residents.

"YIMBYs, please learn how to read a room," posted Brown, continuing, "There's a shelter crisis - the majority of us cannot afford the existing supply of condos - it is fair for communities to be afraid and grieving. Change is difficult - it doesn't have to be callous."

One commenter reminded everyone that even though the residents of these homes have vacated, they probably made a pretty penny selling their houses to a developer and are probably doing just fine.

The guy on the bottom left isn’t carrying groceries, it’s actually a huge bag of money

— Toby Muresianu 🇺🇦 (@tobyhardtospell) October 1, 2023

The planned development at 5-15 Raglan Avenue is not the only major project in the works for the quiet side street. Projects at 10, 40, 65, and 91 Raglan Avenue will completely transform the street into a high-rise corridor in the years to come.