A 48-story mixed-use building proposal replacing the iconic Crews & Tangos gay bar in Toronto's Church-Wellesley Village was rejected by the Toronto and East York Community Council after strong opposition from the queer community. Concerns included the building's height, lack of affordable housing, and potential displacement of local LGBTQ+ businesses and residents.
An application to redevelop the beloved gay bar in Toronto 's Church-Wellesley Village in favour of a 48-storey mixed-use building was rejected by the Toronto and East York Community Council on Tuesday, following pushback from the queer community.to redevelop a beloved gay bar in Toronto 's Church-Wellesley Village with a 48-storey mixed-use building was rejected by the Toronto and East York Community Council on Tuesday, following pushback from the queer community.
At an in-person community consultation meeting hosted by city staff in November 2024, 53 community members showed up to air grievances over a number of issues related to the development.
The loss of Crews & Tangos as they know it is front-of-mind for community members, but Moise says the second most articulated issue brought up at the consultations surrounded the types of units to be delivered. "There is a fear that the local queer population is being pushed out," says Moise.
"To the developer's credit, they have been willing to accommodate Crews & Tangos in the new development, but this request for a tall building on their site threatens the existing Village as we know it," says Moise. "There are a number of applications on hold until market conditions approve, and perhaps this site just needs to be patient."
LGBTQ+ Development Toronto Church-Wellesley Village Community Pushback Affordable Housing
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