Vacant lots to become shopping destinations

[attach]1113[/attach]Once a stretch of vacant lots, the Danforth between Greenwood and Coxwell is becoming what locals hope will be a bustling commercial destination.

Councillor Paula Fletcher held a community meeting Dec. 9 so residents could get the scoop on new developments, including a gas station and garden centre.

As the new owner of 1195 Danforth, Esso Imperial Oil is building a new gas station, convenience store and Tim Hortons to replace an old gas station that closed a decade ago.

Imperial Oil also bought 1213 Danforth Avenue where the old Allenby Theatre (aka The Roxy) stands. The front façade of the 1935-built movie theatre will be incorporated into the new convenience store at the gas station site.

“Heritage (staff) did support the application but with conditions for a conservation plan and heritage impact statement,” Kimont says.

Tae Ryuck, a consultant for Imperial Oil, said that demolition of the old theatre has begun and about 75 percent of the original brick will be re-used. Construction begins in January.

“The whole front façade is being saved (along with) the existing marquee, front doors and ticket booth,” Ryuck said.

Councillor Fletcher is pleased with the heritage restoration.

“They agreed to restore the facade as part of the development, which is great,” she tells the Town Crier.

Local resident Anne Smith doesn’t drive, so she’s not that enthused about a gas station.

“I would have liked to see something more vibrant,” says Smith, who moved into the area in 2007. “Anything new is welcome. After Donlands (Avenue) it’s a bit of a wasteland.”

But she is pumped about another development opening near Danforth and Donlands.

“The garden centre I am excited about,” says Smith.

That’s music to Bob Reeves’ ears.

He helps run the family business, Reeves Florist and Nursery, which opened in Woodbridge nearly 90 years ago. They are opening a second location — their first in Toronto — at 999 Danforth next spring.

His son Owen, daughter Jamie and nephew J.D. are part of the fourth generation running the business that started in 1923.

“We are excited about the new Danforth site,” he says in an interview. “We drove the entire east end. We knew it was underserved for garden centres. The schools are packed and there are a lot of young families who want to decorate and improve their backyards.”

The new store will include a tree nursery, a 6,000-square foot green house with room for 20-foot trees, landscape and design shop and home decor items such as patio furniture and wreaths.

With no parking on site, Reeves plans to hire students and other staff to carry purchases to customers’ cars.

The store will launch in stages with a soft opening in spring 2010 and a grand opening the following year. This summer’s 39-day city strike delayed approvals, which has impacted construction times.

City planner Denise Graham says this is a high-end showroom, office and retail site.

“It will be a destination shop to see (home and garden) ideas.”

Councillor Fletcher is also pleased.

“A lot of landscapers live in the neighbourhood and a lot used to go to the 905 (suburbs) to get trees,” she said.

Fletcher has seen a revitalization along this section of the Danforth.

“In 2007, we had an open house (meeting) and there were a lot of empty, vacant lots. Now we have a Mosque, car lot, new housing on the Danforth, this Woodgreen Immigration Services site are all new,” she says.

Fletcher noted the the Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Area is relatively new as well.

“In this section of Danforth, there’s been tremendous change for the better.”