A plan to transform a busy Green P parking lot in Toronto’s Fairbank neighbourhood into a mixed-income transit-oriented development is facing backlash. Residents say the change would hurt small businesses and make the area less accessible for seniors and those with mobility challenges.
At issue is the City-owned lot at 9 Shortt St., just west of Dufferin and north of Eglinton. The City’s real-estate agency, CreateTO, has filed plans for two rental buildings at the site (41 storeys and 6 storeys), totalling about 458-468 homes. About 30% of the homes will be affordable (140 units), with monthly rents determined by unit size: residents can expect to pay from $1109 for a studio to $2257 for a 2-bedroom unit. The plan also includes a mid-block pedestrian connection and plaza, at-grade commercial space, and one level of underground parking with about 42 parking spaces plus hundreds of bike spots (421 long-term spaces and 94 short-term stalls).
The redevelopment, which is currently in the pre-development stage after a zoning submission in early August 2025, is part of Toronto’s push to build housing on public land near higher-order transit. The build is strategically placed as it’s just steps from the (soon to open?) Eglinton Crosstown LRT corridor.
Sounds good on paper, but some neighbours are upset. In a recent Change.org petition, they argue that the lot is important to day-to-day life around Dufferin and Eglinton. The organizer says the site provides “over 100 parking spaces” (130 to be exact) that are “rarely below 50% capacity,” supporting nearby shops, services and a church. The petition warns that removing the lot without a viable replacement would push spillover parking onto residential streets and deter customers, especially seniors and people with mobility challenges who can’t easily rely on transit or long walks.
“The removal of this parking lot would have a devastating impact on our community. Many small businesses would be forced to close or relocate due to the loss of parking for their clients and customers. Street parking in the surrounding neighbourhood is already extremely limited, and there are no other public parking lots nearby to absorb the demand,” the petition states.
The petition, which has 361 signatures as of publication, notes that walking and public transit are important, but they aren’t practical options for everyone.
“Removing this lot would therefore reduce accessibility for vulnerable community members and further isolate those who already face barriers to participation in local life.”
Once planning approvals are finalized and a development partner is selected, tenants will be chosen through a new citywide hybrid allocation system that combines the rent-geared-to-income waitlist with a random draw and a chronological waitlist. Check out the Project Information Sheet for more details.
