Fairbank residents push back on plan to replace city parking lot with 41-storey rental tower
CreateTO proposes two rental buildings at 9 Shortt St., including a 41-storey tower and 30% affordable units. Neighbours say losing 130 parking spaces will hurt small businesses and accessibility.
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By Torontoer Staff
Residents in the Fairbank neighbourhood are mobilising against a City plan to replace a municipal Green P parking lot at 9 Shortt St. with two rental buildings, including a 41-storey tower. Opponents say removing about 130 public parking spaces will harm local small businesses and reduce access for seniors and people with mobility challenges.
The site, just west of Dufferin and north of Eglinton, is owned by the City and is being advanced by CreateTO. The proposal is in the pre-development stage after a zoning submission in early August 2025 and is part of Toronto’s push to build housing on public land near higher-order transit.
What the proposal would include
- Two rental buildings: 41 storeys and 6 storeys, together about 458 to 468 homes
- Approximately 30 percent of units designated affordable, about 140 homes
- Monthly rents set by unit size, with example figures from project materials: roughly $1,109 for a studio to $2,257 for a two-bedroom
- A mid-block pedestrian connection and public plaza, and at-grade commercial space
- One level of underground parking with around 42 vehicle spaces
- Extensive bicycle parking: about 421 long-term spaces and 94 short-term stalls
Neighbours’ concerns
Local residents and business owners say the current lot supports day-to-day activity around Dufferin and Eglinton. A Change.org petition argues the lot provides 'over 100 parking spaces' that are frequently used, and that removing them without a viable replacement would push spillover parking onto residential streets and reduce customer access.
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. Removing this lot would therefore reduce accessibility for vulnerable community members and further isolate those who already face barriers to participation in local life.
Change.org petition organiser
The petition had 361 signatures as of publication. Organisers say walking and transit matter, but they are not practical options for everyone, especially older adults and people with mobility limitations who rely on nearby parking for access to shops, services and community facilities.
City objectives and allocation process
The project aligns with a broader municipal objective to prioritise housing on public land near transit corridors. CreateTO, the City’s real-estate agency, has put forward the submission to increase housing supply and deliver a portion of units at affordable rents.
Once planning approvals are final and a development partner is selected, tenants will be chosen through a new citywide hybrid allocation system. The system combines the rent-geared-to-income waitlist with a random draw and a chronological waitlist, according to project materials.
Options and next steps under discussion
Neighbours and business groups are asking the City to consider mitigations before any lot closure. City staff and the developer are expected to review feedback as the proposal moves through planning and approvals.
- Providing replacement public parking or dedicated accessible stalls nearby
- Short-term loading zones and customer parking during construction and after completion
- Phased construction or temporary parking solutions to limit spillover onto residential streets
- Business support measures, such as signage or shuttle services during construction
- Design adjustments to preserve ground-floor commercial access and accessibility features
City residents can follow the project information sheet for details on the submission and allocation process. Formal consultation and planning approvals will determine whether and how the proposal is revised in response to community feedback.
The debate at 9 Shortt St. highlights a recurring planning trade-off in Toronto: increasing housing supply near transit while balancing local access and business viability. The outcome will depend on upcoming approvals and any negotiated mitigations between CreateTO, the City and the neighbourhood.
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