Cabbagetown Debate Continues on 509 Parliament Street Development Proposal

The future of a key stretch of Parliament Street remains unresolved after Toronto and East York Community Council deferred a decision on a proposed development at 509 Parliament Street. On January 13, council considered an application to amend the Zoning By-law to allow a 10-storey, 60-unit mixed-use building on the site of the former Carlton Theatre. The proposal includes ground-floor retail, partial retention of the heritage façade, stepbacks above the first storey, and improvements to the rear laneway. City planning staff noted the site’s mixed-use designation supports mid-rise development and said the design aligns with updated provincial and city planning policies. During the meeting, questions focused on how the project would function at street level. Councillors and speakers raised concerns about pedestrian safety, sidewalk width, and the staging of waste and recycling bins on a narrow section of Parliament Street. Transportation and planning staff acknowledged that details around bin storage, pickup frequency, and pedestrian clearways would need to be resolved through the site plan process. Community deputations emphasized the site’s location within the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District and warned that the building’s height and massing could alter the area’s historic main street character. Speakers also questioned whether the proposal sets a precedent for future developments along the corridor. Citing the need for written assurances from the applicant—particularly around waste management and street impacts—council voted to defer the item to a future meeting. The pause keeps the discussion open as the city weighs how to balance heritage preservation, neighbourhood character, and new housing along Parliament Street.