The Stockyard retail block 30 Weston Rd current works photos

 

Ground works for the huge Stockyards mall at Weston Rd and Keele St. is moving along with drains and water mains installation currently.

Photo post of the site Wednesday April 2nd 2012.



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

30 Weston Rd. all grinding away

Priestly Demolition grinds up the concrete from  30 Weston Rd.  Bunge plant. Wondering if the clean fill they are creating will be used on site.





http://www.priestly.ca/demolition.aspx

30 Weston Rd. requires Tree Preservation and Archaeological Assessment

Informational post 2 on the 30 Weston Rd development

The creation of the retail power centre at the old Bunge Plant at St Clair west and Old Weston Rd has stated a city requirement to...

From city staff reports..

Tree Preservation

This application is subject to the provisions of By-law 780-2004, regarding tree

protection. The applicant has submitted an Arborist Report/Tree Preservation Plan, which

is currently being reviewed by staff.

Archaeological Assessment

The site is within the Interim Screening Areas for Archaeological Potential identified in

the Archaeological Master Plan of the City. The applicant has submitted a Stage 1 and 2

Archaeological Assessment Report. The submitted report indicates that there were no

archaeological resources found on site.

Tree Preservation

This application is subject to the provisions of By-law 780-2004, regarding tree protection. The applicant has submitted an Arborist Report/Tree Preservation Plan, which is currently being reviewed by staff.

Archaeological Assessment

The site is within the Interim Screening Areas for Archaeological Potential identified in the Archaeological Master Plan of the City. The applicant has submitted a Stage 1 and 2 Archaeological Assessment Report. The submitted report indicates that there were no archaeological resources found on site.

30 Weston Rd. zoning approval some highlights

(v) that the non-residential gross floor area permitted for all individual retail stores

less than 232 square metres in size shall not exceed 10 per cent of the total

non-residential gross floor area on the lands;

(vi) that medical offices or a medical clinic having a minimum of 500 square metres

of non-residential gross floor area shall be provided and maintained on the lands

for the development having a minimum non-residential gross floor area of

40,000 square metre;

(vii) that vehicular access and pedestrian access to and from the development must be

provided from Weston Road (for clarity additional vehicular and pedestrian

access may also be provided from St. Clair Ave West and Gunns Road);

(viii) a minimum of 3.2 parking spaces per 100 square metres of non-residential gross

floor area shall be provided and maintained on the lands;

(ix) a minimum of 0.13 long-term bicycle parking spaces for each 100 square metres

of non-residential gross floor area shall be required, up to a maximum

requirement of 40 long-term bicycle parking spaces, shall be provided and

maintained on the lands (for clarity this clause does not limit the number of

long-term bicycle parking spaces that can be provided);

(x) a minimum of 0.25 short-term bicycle parking spaces for each

This is the 1st information post on the rezoning of

30 Weston Rd, detailing the conditions of the smaller stores  and some of the access details. The core of the rezoning is the deleting

the existing Industrial (I3) Zone and replacing it with the Industrial Commercial (IC).

from the staff report....

smaller stores of less than 232 meters not to exceed 10 percent

that the non-residential gross floor area permitted for all individual retail stores less than 232 square metres in size shall not exceed 10 per cent of the total non-residential gross floor area on the lands;

that medical offices or a medical clinic having a minimum of 500 square metres of non-residential gross floor area shall be provided and maintained on the lands for the development having a minimum non-residential gross floor area of 40,000 square metre;

that vehicular access and pedestrian access to and from the development must be provided from Weston Road (for clarity additional vehicular and pedestrian access may also be provided from St. Clair Ave West and Gunns Road);

a minimum of 3.2 parking spaces per 100 square metres of non-residential gross floor area shall be provided and maintained on the lands;

a minimum of 0.13 long-term bicycle parking spaces for each 100 square metres of non-residential gross floor area shall be required, up to a maximum requirement of 40 long-term bicycle parking spaces, shall be provided and maintained on the lands (for clarity this clause does not limit the number of long-term bicycle parking spaces that can be provided);

also the developer shall provide



Link: To amend the General Zoning By-law No. 438-86 of the former City of Toronto with respect to the lands municipally known as 30 Weston Road.

Parks and Rec.. requirements of the developer.

Prior to the issuance of the first building permit for the development, the owner will pay by cash or certified cheque the amount of $350,000 to the City, indexed to the CPI index from the date of registration of the Section 37 Agreement, to be

4

City of Toronto By-law No. 1203-2009 used for improvements to local parks and recreation facilities at the discretion of the General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation in consultation with the local Councillor. Priority consideration will be given

30 Weston Rd. demos some of the last Junction industry process tanks

The process tanks at 30 Weston Rd have been dropped to the ground using a machine to demo the concrete structure of the building - literally and the contractor is cutting them apart. These process tanks stopped being used just over a year ago and the only other large process tanks in a plant off Symes Rd. stopping being used in the past 60 days.

We now have the sad opportunity of see the last remnants of a Junction industry type fade away - the process industry.

30 Weston Road – Public Meeting - Monday September 14

[caption id="attachment_5197" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Removal of the last parts of the Bunge Plant on the site where the new mall will be built"][/caption]

Submitted by Martin L.

The developer of the proposed shopping centre on the NW corner of Weston Road and Keele Street are hosting the first public open house for this fifty-two thousand square meeting development.



Come and see the plans for one of the largest current developments in west Toronto.  City staff and the developers will be on hand to answer questions and listen to concerns.



The meeting is Monday September 14, 2009, 7:00 pm at the York Civic Centre, 2700 Eglinton Avenue West (Council Chambers)

30 Weston Rd photo update

As the demo company continues to bring own of the many buildings on the site, the new view is about to occur as this last large building facing St Clair Ave. comes down.  Interestingly they have decided to break the building apart with the tanks inside dismantling them in time with the demo of the structure. The new Avenue mall designed for the site will not rise as tall as the existing building.

For a short while between demo and construction phases of this site a vast northerly view will be available that has not been visible since the settlement of the Junction.

As the demo company continues to bring down one of the many buildings on the site, the new view is about to occur as this last large building facing St Clair Ave. comes down.  Interestingly they have decided to break the building apart with the tanks inside dismantling them in time with the demo of the structure. The new Avenue mall designed for the site will not rise as tall as the existing building.

For a short while between demo and construction phases of this site a vast northerly view will be available that has not been visible since the settlement of the Junction.

30 Weston Rd. demo countines, alas

Demolition continues at 30 Weston Rd - the site of a new large scale mall. Currently the oldest buildings on the site are coming down. A last glimpse can be seen toady and tomorrow after which they will be a pile of rubble.

Process tanks now visible at 30 Weston Rd demo

The building pictured above is the second in from St Clair Ave West, (the one that fronted the Avenue is now gone),  many of the buildings bays have massive tanks within. Although the lower floors are void of tanks indicating they must have used a gravity feed to process the materials.

30 Weston Rd. So... much equipment

Priestly Demolition moved a vast amount of  equipment onto  the 30 Weston Rd site as of now - counted 30 large pieces.  Either they have run out parking spaces elsewhere for this stuff, or they intend on leveling the building on site  at a record pace even for this company.

They are deconstructing the Bunge plant at St Clair and Old Weston Rd, for the development of a new shopping centre.

30 Weston Rd. railroad track removal -- Bunge post 8 Trinity Development

[caption id="attachment_3419" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Orange line indicates the path of tracks - travel was in both directions as there was only one track"][/caption]

 

Photo: The removed rails awaiting cartage off the site

Priestly Demolition has removed the spur tracks from  the 30 Weston Rd. Bunge plant.  The  track  ran from outside the lot into to the meat packing plant that existed on the site before Bunge used the buildings and the site as a oil seed pressing plant. The rest of the spur towards Symes Road and Ryding Ave is for sale presently as two different lots.

The entire site is to be transformed into a large shopping centre, by Trinity Development and it's partners.

30 Weston Rd. materials removal -- Bunge post 7 Trinity Development

[caption id="attachment_2883" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=" Priestly Demolition removes tanks  from 30 Weston Rd"]
[/caption]

Priestly Demolition continues to renmove the external equipment from  the 30 Weston Rd.  Bunge plant. 

http://www.priestly.ca/demolition.aspx

Reuse equipment and materials removal -- Bunge post 6 - 30 Weston Rd, Trinity Development

[caption id="attachment_2883" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption=" Priestly Demolition sells off equipment and materials from 30 Weston Rd"][/caption]

Priestly Demolition sells off equipment and materials from the the 30 Weston Rd. plant for reuse, very green. Yet saddness when just a litle more of the stockyards moves away, in this case to Bolton, Ontario.

http://www.priestly.ca/demolition.aspx

Train line into 30 Weston Rd for sale

[caption id="attachment_2795" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Park, walking path, "][/caption]

This track line running parellal to St Clair Ave is for sale from Gunns Rd to Symes Rd. The line was used to bring railroad cars into the packing plant at 30 Weston Rd. It is a long a narrow plot that provides  an interesting walk right now.

Bunge post 5 - 30 Weston Rd, Trinity Development

30 Weston Rd is a site of a large conversion development from industrial uses which were historically  stockyards related and more recently edible oil processing. This site is the last large land tract of this size  in the community to be developed from the former stock yards.  This blog hopes to follow this process as tightly as possible hence the reason for the multiple posts.

Today post concerns the removal of the gas feed from the utility lines into the property which is being removed today {Feb 12 2009}

[caption id="attachment_2728" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The work site north West Corner of St Clair Ave. and Weston Rd. viewof  grey metal manhole shoring wherein lies the main and feed pipe connection."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2729" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="When the gas feed line is cut today the site will be severed from the gas network"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2730" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Helpful hint image, if you ever have to close a large gas main this method of clamping down on the pipe with a powered clamp will stop about 98 percent of the gas from flowing through the pipe. The black wrap is a static electrical charge dissipater "][/caption]

Bunge post 4 - 30 Weston Rd Trinity Development Working Group – Session #2

[caption id="attachment_2557" align="alignright" width="300" caption="30 Weston Rd site St Clair West side. Photo taken January 11 2009"][/caption]

Trinity Development Working Group – Session #2 [1. This is a group composed of various residents city people and the developer to work towards the communities interest in the development]

A lot has changed on this 22 acre development since we first heard about it last summer.   The early plans laid out a standard suburb style big-box ring around the parking lot design.

But last week as the demolition signs stood guard around the perimeter,  the developers sat down with Councillor Nunziata, local business owners, city planers and citizens to review this 53,000 sq metre project.

I joined the table on behalf of the Junction Residents Association and was quickly given a set of plans including a dozen renders and asked to comment. (Unfortunately the plans are copy written so we can't post them online but we'll have them at our next JRA meeting).

Brad Caco of the Trinity Development Group began the night by stepping the group through changes to the design which arose from community concerns.  The previous big-box ring has been scaled down and turned inside out.  The shopping centre now has two multi-storey parking garages at its centre with crossing entrance streets meeting the middle of the site at a traffic circle surrounding a water feature.

Many of the shops now front onto St. Clair and Weston.  The corner of St. Clair/ Gunns for example will have an entrance and store windows fronting both streets.   Other shops have been added along the Weston entrance in what Brad Caco describes as a small town main street feel.

A few pedestrian only courtyards have also been added but I and few others including Edna Cuvin (Urban Designer, City Planning) pushed for a larger public space.  Converting the Weston entrance into a wide and long open area would be a great asset and create a place for the community to meet.  Unfortunately meeting doesn't always lead to shopping so I'm sure this idea will be overlooked

Elisabeth Sissakis (Economic Development Officer) was happy with development and had only praise from the surrounding businesses.  She mentioned she would like the see more non-retail employment and the developers are looking to add a medical centre but so far tenants are hard to find.

Antonella Nicaso (Parks & Recreation Planner) gave a presentation on possible improvements to Viella Tarragona Park (west of Gunns Rd and north of the streetcar loop) which may be required under the 2% parkland clause and paid for in part with Section 37 funds.  Details on this design will be the focus of a future post.

Moving forward Al Smithies of Transportation Planning needs to complete the necessary traffic assessments and report back to the developers.

The next review meeting is in 2 to 4 weeks.

Posted by Martin

Bunge post 3 - 30 Weston Rd Priestly Demolition drops off equipment

[caption id="attachment_2200" align="alignright" width="498" caption="Bunge 30 Weston Rd Priestly Demolition readying to start"][/caption]

Priestly Demolition has begun to drop off large equipment at 30 Weston Rd on the St Clair St. side of the lot. Also they have created a "construction" entrance off Gunns Rd, directly across from the side of the St. Helen’s Meat Packers Limited plant.

Bunge post 2 30 Weston Rd new details from city and developer files

The St. Clair and Weston Rd development in the “Stockyards” area of Toronto, will be one of the largest commercial retail developments in the city for the next couple of years. The development features over19 acres and take place on one the oldest industrial sites in the Junction.

Post 2 30 Weston Road Bunge/Swift [2. The site and many of the buildings were once a factory site for Swift Meats, Canada Packers, and most recently Canamerica foods/BUNGE] site




RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST TO SELL PART INTEREST IN 30 Weston Rd DEVELOPMENT TO CPP INVESTMENT BOARD .


...from their statement Sept 2008 [full statement opens in new window]


The two developments are Jacksonport located in Calgary, Alberta and St. Clair Avenue and Weston Road located in Toronto, Ontario. The total development cost of the two projects is expected to aggregate approximately $440 million. Under the agreement, RioCan and Trinity will each retain a 25% ownership interest in the two developments.

The St. Clair and Weston development benefits from a well-established urban node at the intersection of St. Clair Avenue and Weston Road in the “Stockyards” area of Toronto. The development features over 19 acres, with 1,182 feet of frontage on Weston Road and 828 feet of frontage on St. Clair Avenue West. RioCan currently owns 60% of the project, while Trinity owns 40%. Both RioCan and Trinity will be reducing their interest to 25% and CPPIB will be acquiring 50% of the development. This urban retail project will ultimately feature approximately 570,000 square feet of retail space. The project concept features a unique urban, two-storey retail prototype that has been successfully utilized in the United States. A number of national tenants have expressed interest in the site. The aggregate cost of the development is expected to be approximately $210 million. Pending municipal approvals, it is anticipated that site servicing will commence in June 2009 and overall project completion by late 2010.
RioCan, along with its development partner Trinity, will manage all aspects of the development.


The now closed editable oil processing factory at the North west corner St Clair and Weston Rd, is being readied for take down by Priestly Demolition, [2. a rapidity growing and successful building abatement and deconstruction firm, that is holding a large amount of the deconstruction contracts in the GTA] At the same time the city planning staff are pouring over the developer's plans {RIOTRIN PROPERTIES WESTON INC} [see link 1 below}

Their proposal to demolish the existing buildings on the property and to construct a 51,980 square
metre retail/service commercial centre, which includes a combination of small and midsized
retailers in addition to a retail warehouse anchor.

Link #1 30 Weston Road {Bunge plant old Canada packers} December 16, 2008 Etobicoke York Community Council STAFF REPORT

Blog post 1 on this plant

An aside to this post.



National Building Supplies the retail salvage yard operations of Priestly Demolition has an extensive selection of renovation items a few minutes north east of Newmarket, on Highway # 48, there exists one of the largest new & used building materials yards in Ontario (see map). Imagine five full acres

Footnotes:

Bunge post 1 30 Weston Rd (old swift Packers site) redev- to retail

The north west corner of Weston Rd north of St Clair Ave., a corner that helped to form the beginning of the junction community, is to be redeveloped by the Trinity Group into a mix of big box retail and other retail and residential uses. They will be building 650.000 square feet of retail use space which is projected to open in spring of 2010.

The site was formerly a plant for Swift’s Premium Meats for many years and most recently Bunge Ltd. (at this location a processor of edible oils)

Trinity Group WESTON & ST. CLAIR W., Toronto, ON diagrams at their site

The mix of residential and commercial is a welcome change. Many developments in West Toronto are one or the other.

Posted by Robert