Toronto neighbourhood fighting to stop demolition of strip mall

Hundreds of residents in Etobicoke are raising concerns over a redevelopment project that they say could threaten a key neighbourhood plaza. 

Richview Plaza, a walkable retail centre located just off Eglinton Avenue West and Wincott Drive in Etobicoke, is at the heart of the dispute between developers and the community, who argue that the plaza is much more than a strip of stores. The strip mall is currently home to a Pet Valu, M&M Food Market, Rexall Pharma Plus, and a TD Bank branch. 

"Richview Plaza is the only walkable retail in our neighbourhood and it's a vital retail destination for thousands more Etobicoke residents who rely on the plaza for services, amenities and the essentials of daily living," a petition launched by locals reads. 

The campaign, signed by residents of Ward 2 and surrounding areas, expresses support for the 2021 City-approved redevelopment plan while highlighting concerns over the developer's "subsequent piecemeal applications."

The original plan, locals say, envisioned a site of four buildings with a coordinated mix of residential and retail space. "We are disappointed that not one unit has been built in four years," locals wrote, adding that, "The current application for half the site ignores that the site was planned, approved and functions as one interconnected parcel." 

The petition also claims that the project's developer, Trinity Development Group Inc., is dismantling the 2021 plan by filing multiple applications across the Committee of Adjustment, the Ontario Land Tribunal, and City channels. 

Locals argue that these applications could cut retail space, the grocery store, loading docks, retail parking, and carve up the development into three to four separate lots to resell. The petition also goes on to highlight proposed changes to building heights, which they say far exceed the original 11- to 12-storey heights approved in 2021. 

According to application documents, the planning consultant for Montrin Richview GP Inc., the registered owner of the properties, filed a new zoning by-law amendment application in January 2023 for the redevelopment of the site with three new mixed-use buildings standing at 22, 31, and 13 storeys (Buildings A, B, and C, respectively).

The documents say that the rezoning application maintains the overall site organization of the 2021 approval, but proposes increased heights of 22 and 31 storeys for Buildings A and B.

"Council is not receiving the full picture to make an informed decision, and ensure the plaza and retail services survive," residents wrote. 

"The developer's piecemeal approach threatens our community's source of important retail and services, which would make this a less walkable neighbourhood as we prepare to welcome thousands of new residents." 

The proposed design for Richview Square. Photo: B+H Architects.

The redevelopment, known as Richview Square, is designed by B+H Architects and proposes to include three towers ranging from 12 to 13 storeys, adding 1,060 residential units and more than 19,500 square feet of additional retail. The full development would span over 65,000 square metres, with more than 53,000 square metres for residential units and over 11,000 square metres for non-residential space. 

The petition goes on to ask City Council to reject the zoning application for Buildings A and B, which locals argue "fails to comprehensively address the entire 250 Wincott and 4620 Eglinton site under one plan (Buildings A, B, C and D)." 

As part of its last demands, the petition asks the City to keep to the agreed-upon 2021 retail commitments and "support the long-term success of local retail at Richview Plaza," as well as require a City-owned road to ensure access to retail through all levels of construction. 

Back in March, the City of Toronto and the federal government announced a $2.55 billion agreement to accelerate rental housing construction in the city. The funds will help build over 4,800 rental homes, including a minimum of 1,075 affordable units, and will help with the construction of seven rental housing projects, including 370 units at 250 Wincott Drive. 

Provincial planning direction also encourages intensification in areas well-served by transit, including the future Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, which would run near the site. 

At the time of this article's publication, the petition has already garnered over 1,600 signatures.

blogTO has reached out to Trinity Development Group for comment on the petition's specific concerns and has not heard back at the time of this article's publication.