Rumours fly about future of properties on south side of Beechwood Avenue
By Jane Heintzman, New Edinburgh News
June 2018
Rumors have been buzzing recently of impending property sales along Beechwood Avenue. The stretch along the street’s south side between Loyer Street (at the Quickie convenience store) and St. Charles Street (at Monson Deluxe Cleaners) has been a particular focus of speculation. Much of the block has been derelict for years, dominated by a large vacant lot and a motley collection of rundown, tenantless buildings. A number of the properties on this block are owned by the Claude Lauzon group. When the community movement to rejuvenate Beechwood was launched after the 2011 fire, this block was singled out as an unsightly scar on the commercial landscape, badly in need of redevelopment and new life. Numerous off-the-record discussions with locals close to the matter strongly suggest that change is coming, but hard facts have been difficult to pin down.
“I understand that the properties on the south side (between Quickie and Arturo’s) have been sold conditionally – subject to approval of a development application,” City Councillor Tobi Nussbaum wrote in an email to NEN. “If and when the potential owners submit a development application, it will be a public document subject to public notification and consultation processes. This will entail a large sign summarizing the proposal being placed on site, notice provided to the registered Community Associations, and a letter explaining the proposal delivered to the residents living near the site. “I’m working closely with Councillor [Mathieu] Fleury (in whose ward the properties lie) to ensure development along Beechwood is informed by the objectives of the Beechwood Community Development Plan and contributes value to our community’s main street,” Tobi confirms.
Quartier Vanier Business Improvement Area (QVBIA) Chair Mark Kaluski happens to own a business that occupies one of the properties in question. He gives a thumbs-up to the prospect of new development: “If the rumours are true, we’ll be excited to see one of the last remaining prime development sites on Beechwood developed into something modern and attractive,” he tells NEN. “It will replace a stretch of mostly derelict buildings and empty lots with an intensification project that hopefully provides new commercial options for our neighbourhood. It’s long overdue.” “My understanding is that most of the businesses involved would continue to operate either in the new space, or elsewhere on Beechwood. I understand that nothing is confirmed yet, but this would be a major improvement to the street,” says Mark. One important missing piece of the puzzle is the identity of the purchaser. Sources close to the matter speculate it is a large, internati onal property developer with a Canadian base in Toronto. NEN reached out to the company’s Toronto office for confirmation of any involvement in the Beechwood sale, but did not receive a response to our inquiry.
There is also plenty of buzz about possible property sales on the north side of Beechwood from Springfield Road to Douglas Avenue, as well as in the first block of Springfield Road between the Second Cup to Fraser Café’s Table 40. It’s our understanding that a number of properties in question are owned by Karam El Marji, formerly a small business operator on Springfield Road. We also understand that the longrunning Golden Star Chinese Food is operator-owned, and it is not among the immediate sale prospects on the block. Stay tuned for more details in our October edition, when we hope to have more information.
From:
http://www.newedinburgh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018.06-June-NEN-Web-1.pdf, p.1
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