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92 Comments February 20, 2008 at 8:08 am

news

Massive Fire Guts Queen West Block

Photo by aardvark from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
Transit vehicles are being diverted and streets have been closed near Queen and Bathurst as firefighters battle a six-alarm blaze this morning. The fire broke out about 5 a.m. and spread through eight low-rise buildings on the south side of Queen, consisting of fourteen addresses between Bathurst and Portland. The destroyed block contained commercial properties Suspect Video, Duke’s Cycle, National Sound, Preloved, the Jupiter head shop, Room+ Furniture and Accessories, Pizzaiolo, and Organize By Design. Second and third floor apartments have also been wiped-out. All residents were safely evacuated.
About fifty emergency vehicles and 150 firefighters are reported at the area. One building housing Duke’s Cycle collapsed at about 7:30 a.m., and CTV News reported from their helicopter that the brick wall of the adjacent building was leaning and could be on the verge of collapse. Three people were treated for minor smoke inhalation, but no other injuries have been reported. Emergency workers told some bystanders that it seems the fire originated in the National Sound building at 615 Queen Street West.
Fire crews are slated to be present on-scene for most of the day. Early reports say the fire may have started in a rear shed, though a cause has yet to be established and it will take at least a week for authorities to poke through the rubble for a definitive answer. Officials say that the damage could reach $10 million.
A reception centre for displaced residents was established today at the Trinity Bellwoods Community Centre, and the Fairmont Royal York Hotel is offering ten rooms at no cost over the next two nights. The Salvation Army is helping out with food and replacement clothing, and nearby patisserie Clafouti donated food to the reception centre.
The Star has an updated map showing traffic and transit disruptions.
Continue reading to see more photos from the Torontoist Flickr Pool, and don’t miss our exclusive images by Miles Storey.
This post was last updated at 10:00 p.m.

Photos by xarq.

Photos by JL1967.

Photos by drpitch.

Photo by Kevin Steele.

Photos by Martinho.

Photo by Tom Purves.

Photo by Dylan Passmore.

Photos by arcticlamb.

Comments

Mimi Choi

I just heard on the radio that Duke Cycle is gone. I bought my bike there nearly 20 years ago and still ride it regularly. Gary Duke sold me my bike and gave me a great deal because he was friends with my sister (who also bought her bike there). Maybe it won’t be so bad after all the flames are doused. I hope everyone is okay and they can recover back to normal.
six

My friend just bought a helmet at dukes a few months ago. Its very sad and scary that these places that are landmarks for some of us , Suspect video and Dukes have been damaged and even destroyed.
I hope that these places and the people whose lives are enshrined in them are able to recover.
For the time being though I hope that everyone gets through the day safe and everyone takes the delays in traffic and transit in stride and look out for eachother.
Ben

Yep Duke’s is gone. The building collapsed. There were bricks halfway across Queen. Suspect is also totally gone. Everything on the North side is fine.
I live right across the street from all this. My cat woke me up because the power was out. It is quite a scene down there.
LydiaP

Could somebody post updates? I work just South of Richmond on Bathurst and that entire area is out of power. Nobody has any idea how long it might take to have it back on. I wonder who I might call…
woowah

Anybody know if this has hit buildings on Richmond St.?
Amanda Buckiewicz

I live at King and Bathurst, and when I left my apartment this morning to catch the streetcar, I kept thinking “Is someone bbq-ing??”
I can’t believe how far the smoke plumes are reaching in that first photo. Insane.
Jeni

I was having problems visualizing what was in that block (Portland –> Bathurst), so I checked it out on Virtual City. Of course, seeing it as it was just made me more sad.
Miles Storey

Richmond Street is fine, the fire hasn’t spread across the alleyway behind Suspect and Dukes.
MariaPD

Thanks for specifying that the fire was on the south side. I was confused with Suspect Video and Queen Video and was worried about a friend that lives just there. He lives on the north side, though.
elliot

the first photo is incredible.
00k

anyone know if Cosmos records is okay?
_V

Any early word on what is going to be done to help out the people who lost homes and businesses? My little brother lost his place at the big Wellington Hotel fire in Barrie. The community there was amazing at helping everyone get back on their feet. I’d love a chance to return the favour.
robswizzle

The fantastic Alexander Tailors closed last year on that block. Sad to see him go, but glad he wasn’t part of the fire.
sjsandford

Home Depot is due to go in on top of the parking lot, if they build anywhere on the site of the fire or take advantage of this in any way I’ll be very angry. I was quite sad to see this happen.
WannaBinToranna

sisandford -
I was thinking the same thing…will be interesting to watch, but for now, hope everyone up there is ok. Looks brutal. Not too mention that it’s freezing outside.
Marc Lostracco

I realllllly hope the tenants above the stores had contents insurance—I’m always shocked at the amount of people who don’t, especially considering how inexpensive personal insurance is. If you don’t, call today, people.
Gavin Smith

I know Gary (neighbor) and got my bike at Duke’s 3 years or so ago, this sucks. It was in the family for close to a century. I was planning on getting a new bike this summer. I sincerely hope they can recover from this, although it could take a long while to even get a storefront again and much of the loss was the building that’s been around for so long.
Ben

How much is it approximately, Marc?
Kristin Foster

What the hell?? Home Depot? Why is this the first I’m hearing of it??
Marc Lostracco

Ben (re: insurance): It generally depends on how much you’re covering and what type of building you live in, but it really is cheap—for most apartment dwellers, probably about $15-30/month. If you live in a building with 24-hour security, fire doors, cameras, and don’t have a dog from their “aggressive” breed list, it gets cheaper, and if you don’t make a claim for a certain amount of time, often they’ll lower it even more. Call around for quotes, and note that this kind of insurance also covers personal liability, like if your cat scratches up someone else’s luxury car seats or something.
Your landlord has a separate insurance that covers the actual structure you live in, but tenant’s/content insurance covers everything inside those walls, as well as stuff like if you forget to turn off the bathtub tap and it leaks into an apartment below. Better than being sued and bankrupted.
As infuriating as insurance companies are, not having insurance for yourself/home is verrrrrrry dangerous, so please call and get it, everyone!
james a

“I realllllly hope the tenants above the stores had contents insurance”
I have a friend who used to live in the place above the blue flags in the fourth pic, she literally couldn’t get insurance on her place (at least with a normal insurer) because they said it was too much of a fire trap.
Man, spooky….
VonAwesome

What a sad situation. Unfortunate for the businesses, for the people who lived there, and for Toronto. The block had such wonderful character. I can’t imagine Home Depot not taking advantage of this situation.
WannaBinToranna

Marc: Good idea on the renters insurance, I got it this year.
#21: That does suck. Charging more is one thing, but refusing…geez.
Home Depot: Can we try to remember this day and then see what happens? And if, suddenly, a Home depot appears in this spot…then you have your answer.
Nothing would surprise me.
Marc Lostracco

This is a different site (though neighbouring) than the Home Depot is slated for, and to get it, they’d have to redo all the planning and zoning process over a long period of time and look at purchasing each of the properties, so it’s not likely.
ethermal

Anybody know if this is on the north or south side of the queen street? News is only reporting it as the corner of queen and portland.
ethermal

oops my bad, south side
SpupEh

Yeah I just got into work at the 401 building and we’re all fine here but the entire building smells like smoke. That was one hell of a smoke plume.
Lasardo

As someone who used to live at Queen and Bathurst, but on the west side of Bathurst, I can tell you, Marc, that contents insurance is in fact not cheap at all. I tried to apply for it from my bank and several other insurance companies, and b/c I lived at a so-called “high-risk area”, they said the minimum I could be paying would be in the $2,000-$3,5000 zone per year. It was also so high because I was living next to a restaurant, not above. Just for clarity’s sake, this was a second-floor walk-up above a retailer, which was located next to a resto on the south side of Queen, just a block or so from Bathurst.
I was disgusted, since the insurance companies, despite the high cost, basically also told me I should move out of the area if I wanted to be safe. It’s an unfortunate situation, and I only hope, too, that those who lost their apartments today had managed to afford some sort of insurance.
Marc Lostracco

Preloved owner Julia Grieve said they lost their entire one-of-a-kind spring collection. I peripherally knew an artist who lost all of his paintings in a fire years ago, and I can’t even imagine what that must be like for things that are so irreplaceable.
davedave

I bet the Home Depot plans are on immediate hold as they figure out if they can swallow up some/the rest of the block…
Does anyone have a link to the current proposed look of the Home Depot project? I seem to recall seeing some drawings in the papers – and they were underwhelming – did not fit at all with the neighbourhood.
WannaBinToranna

for some it’s instant homelessness.
meisterhunter

I had contents and liability insurance for years just a few blocks from there (near 999) and it was just over $400/yr.
$2000-3000/yr sounds more like homeowners insurance (I’m a homeowner now and pay less than that).
I was probably the only one of many who had tenants’ ins. but at the price it was stupid not too.
…am very sad about Suspect and Dukes. That takes me back. I hope you keep Home Despot at bay.
tzv

What a tragedy. This has always been one of the more dynamic parts of Queen Street, it always seemed to keep its character even as the rest of Queen Street whipped past towards gentrification.
I think its more a coincidence that Home Depot is moving in next door, but this fire along with that development will surely mean the end of Queen and Bathurst as we know it today. Developers will rebuild the area with 1/10th the character it had last night.
My best wishes go out to the Duke’s, please rebuild. Its a shame to lose such an institution.
Marc Lostracco

According to the Star, the family that owns Duke’s (est. 1914) has already pledged that they will rebuild.
tripper

Far be it from me to stick up for a big corporation, but let’s get real. Home Depot is not run by Monty Burns. Most big corps are as aware of their public image as they are of the bottom line and don’t want to be accused of skullduggery anymore than anyone else does. It’s bad optics. They’d realize how terrible it would look if they tried to take over the destroyed properties, especially when one considers the opposition to their existing plans.
And, as Marc says, the planning and zoning would take forever, especially if the circumstances of the fire are deemed suspicious.
sjsandford

About this Home Depot, okay it’s been bugging me for months and my spidey sense says this fire will be taken advantage of. Shame of Adam Vaughan for letting the monstrosity (glass tower) go through. What a way to kill your own riding. We don’t need it! The little family with the hardware store by the beer store has done me fine for years. I encourage all to make a complaint with Vaughan even though I suspect by now it’s a done deal. So sad. Good news about Dukes reopening. I hope that the city will recognize the character of the strip and try to restore or rebuild with the same architectural style.
Marc Lostracco

The presence of a Home Depot is not as scary as it seems since area-appropriateness is allegedly being taken into account. It’s not going to be a giant grey and orange box like it is in the suburbs.
ilanad

In the late 80s/early 90s there was a huge fire like that in the Byward Market in Ottawa. It was eventually rebuilt to look similar to how it had been before the fire – they rebuilt the brick and kept them the same height. Hopefully the same can be done in this area.
Didn’t know Dukes had been there for so long.
Beautiful photos though, but shame about the businesses & people living there.
tzv

Good find Marc.
The Heritage Designation that was placed on Queen Street will be put to its test with the Portland to Bathurst Area. I may be cynical, but I wouldn’t put too much trust in that Artist rendering. So much of a buildings character is the materials it is built with and the small touches, it looks great now but in 3 years I doubt it will look anywhere similar.
As for the zoning, wouldn’t Home Depot simply be considered commercial? I mean the suburban stores have big box designation, but hypothetically this new store could mean a new designation. Unlikely, but possible Home Depot could creep further west towards Bathurst…
WannaBinToranna

I’ll post this here like I did on BlogTO.
So, it is simply ridiculous or beyond a possibility that a corporation could do this?
See, I’m amazed when people rush to defend corporations, you would get no such help from them.
Unless of course, you’d like to open up a charge account and pay for it…with hidden fees and interest…of course. Now, I’m not saying that’s the case, but it is a possibility, and yes, people want answers when people’s homes and businesses are destroyed because these things seem to get “swept under the rug and forgotten”.
Let’s say hypothetically that this was arson…could your neighborhood be next?
tzv

I think that arson is a definite possibility. I would like to hope that Home Depot is not that aggressive, they would have burnt down Maple Leaf Gardens if that were the case.
I can’t help but wonder if maybe there isn’t some landowner who could in the long run benefit from this though. Maybe someone was stuck in a some long term leases and wanted out of them so (s)he could sell, who knows?
I just really hope that wasn’t the case.
Marc Lostracco

I very highly doubt that an established international commercial corporation is going to organize to ruin a bunch of people’s lives (and potentially kill them) in order to free up a small amount of real-estate beside their already-planned store. Well, at least not in this country.
meisterhunter

I heard a second building has collapsed. Does anyone know more?
EricSmith

Let’s say hypothetically that this was arson…could your neighborhood be next?

Based on the comments above, perhaps your insurer knows.
WannaBinToranna

I’m just tossing it out there. You’re right though Marc, I would be dissappointed if it happened up their in Canada…in the US I would expect it more.
But then, I hold Canada to higher standards because I think you are better than us.: – )
meisterhunter

Aw shucks, that’s sweet.
Don’t worry though – we’re aspiring to your standards.
sjsandford

Way to go WannaBinToranna, While I’m loathe to believe the ‘arson’ card, I’m glad someone is with me on the corporatization of Queen St. The concept sketch is another glass box in my book. There’s a reason why Queen West has character and it it’s not due to a brand name. If I want to go to a Home Depot I’ll go to a mall. I’m tired of seeing small businesses (some of my friends) closing down because the landlord jacks the price in the hopes of attracting some big corporate buyer. Home Depot spells more of that. There’s been a whole spate of business closures on Queen lately and more rumoured. The fire is just another kick in the teeth.
hs

i grabbed this info from the citytv website just incase anyone wanted a detailed list.
very very sad indeed.
—————————————————
Among the businesses lost or affected by the flames:
Preloved, a used clothing store,
Juniper, a head shop,
Suspect Video, which was profiled earlier this week by CityNews.ca
Duke’s Cycle, the famous bicycle store,
National Sound, which has stood for more than 50 years at the location.
Furniture Room,
Pizzalolo,
Old Times Antiques,
Cosmos Records and
Nikolaou Restaurant Supply.
Street

CHECK THIS LINK OUT…..
http://spacing.ca/wire/?p=2712
I may be jumping to conclusions but it seems a bit coincidental that this proposed condo is being planned for the area and it exceeds the limits of the parking lot that is currently there. Something stinks here, and it’s not only the smoke. I my opinion, this is not what Queen Street needs. What makes it special, or at least what has made it special is that you can deal with smaller businesses run by local people, places like Duke Cycle and Suspect video or any of the shops on this strip destoryed by the fire. Now it is being polluted more and more by big box type stores. Who really wants Suspect video replaced by a shiny new H&M or Gap store? Not me, but I suppose that’s progress for some.
WannaBinToranna

Yeah sis, I mean, look, Home depot is making a move from the `burbs to a downtown urban location…Corporations have a “wait and see” attitude. They are watching to see if this works…if it does, then its “monkey see, monkey do” and they will follow, because downtown urban neighborhoods are simply pies to these people…and everyone wants a piece of it and will not let someone else get more.
You let HD in, don’t bother shutting the door…more will follow. Now, look at those businesses gone, families who were part of the neighborhood. With a choice over rebuilding an “iffy” small family business, or a sure-thing, big box profit earner….who thinks the family owned business will win?
All in all, this fire is just awful. But man, if it turned out to be arson….and of course, say it was a drug lab, people gobble that up with no question. So, amid all of these businesses, a drug lab, and no one ever did or said anything `til the shit blew up?
WannaBinToranna

Sis: Thanks for agreeing with me just a little, man, BlogTO is chewing me up alive for even suggesting HD or some corporation/developer was behind it.
Yet, no one has a problem with the firemen calling it a “drug lab fire”.
What an insult to the people of this neighborhood. basically saying they brought this on themselves.
I wonder if HD will now pull out of an area with “drug labs” and “fire traps”. I mean, if people can’t get insurance and can be left out to the cold, why would HD choose that location?
Marc Lostracco

The police have said that there is no evidence or history of there being a drug lab there, and the rumour could be unfairly originating from the presence of the Jupiter head shop on the block, which is why I didn’t include that in the article.
matthew3000

all this talk about corporations and arson is totally asinine. just because you burn something down doesn’t mean you now own the land and have free reign to do what you want with it.
besides, the building development to which people on this blog keep referring has been approved and is going ahead on the site WEST of portland. home depot or whoever isn’t going to magically move it east now that there has been a fire nearby. that’s not how things happen. the very fact so many posts have been written to suggest this is utterly ridiculous. can we move on?
if people want to do something positive/anti-corporate for the neighbourhood, support the local businesses still there and those that rebuild from the rubble as much as you can.
Ben

Matthew3000, the parking lot with the planned condo/retail and the fire were both West of Portland. I do agree that Home Depot is probably not responsible though.
If anyone reads anything about the electricity being restored, please let me know. My cat is getting cold I am sure.
paigesix

Have you seen Home Depot’s Manhattan store?
Of all the big boxes… this company gets how to fit into a downtown core.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/09/06/daily27.html
Google some images of it. It’s not the suburban subdivision outlet mall you’re used to.
Urban Outfitters could only hope to look as good…
tzv

http://trunkt.googlepages.com/homedepot.jpg
One well designed store in New York does not make up for the other 2140 poorly designed stores worldwide. I wouldn’t put too much weight into Home Depots downtown development history, they did after all want to put a Home Depot on the waterfront.
I would actually think that with Home Depot’s Manhattan design, they are looking to follow in Urban Outfitters steps…
Loozrboy

Note to conspiracy theorists: to the best of my knowledge, Home Depot is only a speculated tenant of the development at Queen and Portland, not confirmed and certainly not the owner of the land nor directly involved in the zoning / application process. If any big bad corporation torched the block to further their interests, it was presumably RioCan. (Note to RioCan’s libel lawyers: I am specifically not alleging any such thing ).
Mind you, unlikeliness of arson theory notwithstanding, the probability of a condo project replacing the destroyed buildings seems quite high.
Marc Lostracco

New development may not always be the best thing for a neighbourhood, but remember that Toronto is also plagued with neglectful and absentee landlords and owners who allow properties to fall into atrocious disrepair and allow their tenants to live in near-squalor.
These historic brick buildings are beautiful and in need of proper preservation, but property owners need to be held to a solid standard so people who live in those properties are able to actually get proper insurance, and the buildings don’t crumble to the point where they have to be torn down anyway.
Let’s not romanticize these old buildings without remembering the neglect they structurally face by many owners.
meisterhunter

HD has a store in the village-looking section of Park Royal (West Vancouver). They did a very good job of it.
But if HD moves in I would not be surprised to see Walmart, Superstore and others follow.
On another note: I heard an interview with the owner of National Stereo say he had no insurance. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!! That’s insanity.
… leaves the door open for big box.
princesstrudy

when I first heard about it this morning, I kind of thought “oh no, the West End Garage Arsonist is at work again”. Does anyone remember him/her? Lots of little fires in garages in the west end, over quite awhile, but nothing this huge or horrible.
My thoughts go out to everyone who lost something today. How sad.
VonAwesome

Does anyone know if a collection fund is being started for the people who have lost their homes?
ysdn

i really hope all the people affected have insurance…. its sad to see that kind of a list burn down.
sjsandford

I’m not one to jump willy nilly on the conspiracy arson thing but it has happened before and toronto does have a bad rep for saving heritage properties. Yep, hard to believe in this age of utter logic, but…
Anyone remember the strip north side of Queen and Duncan in the 90′s. Those were among the oldest buildings on the street and ironcially the day before they were to be saved they went up in flames. Now there’s a lovely souless glass tower that circumvented a whole whack of rules.
As for the whole, it’s old and hard to upkeep argument, shame on you. Places all over the world put money into restoration projects that are totally worth it. IMHO Queen West is totally worth it. Why is Toronto so baaaad at this?
It’s because big box corporations will take care of us! Right? hahahaha
tzv

Don’t forget the building at Queen and Soho that burnt down and was replaced by a shoe store…
tzv

My bad, Queen and Beverley
scientz

Shiiiit, Preloved.
Marc Lostracco

It does bring up the question of residential sprinklers, which the Toronto Fire Chief would like to see a lot more of, though they aren’t mandated at all. I think new buildings should have them at the very least, especially if there are retail units at grade. It’s very simple technology and relatively cheap to build into construction plans.
Miles Storey

I live in an old warehouse building nearby the fire and couldn’t be gladder of the sprinkler system here. Every now and again I wonder about the damage of them going off accidentally (when I burn a roast) but really, I can’t think of a better safety feature.
Mimi Choi

The photos posted are beautiful, but it’s a terrible and sad beauty. I’m heartened to hear Gary Duke on the news vowing to rebuild and open again. I haven’t been to Duke’s in years — haven’t had to, my bike’s in excellent condition — but now that we have a child who will soon need a “real” bike, I would be thrilled if we could buy that bike at Duke’s.
I’m also glad to hear Adam Vaughan talk about the heritage value of the buildings. Even if everything has to be levelled, he’s our best hope that the reconstruction is done with integrity.
Arson theories and concerns about Home Depot’s objectives are amusing and may even have some validity, but the people and businesses who have been devastated today deserve much more positive efforts. I echo the idea of collecting funds and clothes and other things that the residents probably need right now. Maybe Adam Vaughan’s office or a nearby community centre could assemble an online registry of what is needed. I know our neighbourhood would be more than happy to help.
cloverbell

Don’t take my Pizzaiolo away!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
wanderoo

Sprinklers are absolutely the best idea for all applications, whether commercial buildings, institutional, residential, whatever.
The likelihood of a sprinkler going off accidentally is minimal in a residential complex. Burning a roast may generate a lot of smoke, but it’s unlikely to generate enough heat to set off the sprinkler (which only activates when the liquid in the fusible bulb heats up enough to break it). Also, if it’s a point source fire, only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate. Scenes in movies where all the sprinklers go off at once are mostly fantasy.
Jonathan Goldsbie

But isn’t there another Pizzaiolo, like, a block west of there?
Ilka

Notes from the Fire on Queen Street
MORNING
Chopper chopping the news
Copter hovering above like
A dragonfly suspended
Bulked up firemen; an older one is
Smoking a classic wooden pipe
“My feet are cold” he says
They climb into the idling
Red truck
At least a dozen trucks at
Intersection. These firefighters
Have been here for hours.
The younger ones are the
Grunts lifting canisters of
Oxygen
A slope of kindling across the
Sidewalk; the remains of what was
Once – and before that –
Behind it a steady
Fall of water – five hoses aimed
At the base, one from a tower
Pedestrians on cell phones
Some had heard the news
& came prepared with cameras
We’re all stepping over the
Police tape
The water from the crane
Hose is a solid tube of
Froth a good foot in
Diameter
It’s frigid. My hands are
Cracking from the cold
A beautiful sunny day
The mood is quiet &
Pensive
Axe chopping ice at the drain
Thick boa constrictors of
Fire hoses on the pavement
Lying, some empty, like
Discarded skins & others
Full of water rats
In the middle
Of the city’s busiest intersection
Now transformed
Smoke fallout traveling
East. It will be a stinky walk
To work today
Five more trucks on Richmond
& some homes have notices
Posted on doors – a man knocks
To evacuate?
EVENING
Two crane ladders still
Pumping streams
Street now lit up like
The film set of a
Horror pic
Haunted Fun House gone
Wrong
Facades caked in ice
Trees and wires hung heavy
With icicles
Crowds of people
With cell phone cameras &
Other cameras
Some smiling; excited
Others grim-faced
Bits of ash floating down
Or is it snow?
By: Ilka de Laat
ilkaland@hotmail.com
MsNatx

Any idea if there is an offical fundraiser yet??
WannaBinToranna

The first criminal act, the fucking insurance companies refusing to cover people and telling them it’s because they live in a “fire trap”…oh, and have a nice life.
Carrie M

You know what would be nice? If Home Depot helped to rebuild these buildings. Not only would it help their new neighbours, but perhaps people might stop screaming bloody murder about a big box going into the area. Everyone could benefit.
Marc Lostracco

A lot of people sure are slamming Home Depot, but I’d hazard a guess that there would be nary a whisper if American Apparel and its excruciatingly overlit storefront moved into the same building instead with the same exterior design. Not many people were up in arms when H&M ripped down a façade to put up a solid glass wall either, or when yet another dumpy, soul-sucking dollar store showed up.
People, if it’s designed to be neighbourhood appropriate, like the Manhattan Home Depot store is, it’s hardly different than any other retailer. It’s not going to be a giant plain box. It’s also now a historically designated stretch of street, so they aren’t going to build as carelessly as they have elsewhere around the city. DeBoer’s and The Brick both have streetfront stores in the gorgeously art deco College Park, which seem to be integrating well and preserving the look of the building.
How about we direct our frustration to getting someone to spruce up the Reverb/Big Bop, just a few doors west? That’s a perfect example of how to ruin the look of a historic building. Stucco it over, paint it purple, and board up the street level.
The alleged Home Depot site is currently a parking lot, which is ugly and undesirable in itself, so if a major developer can be made to enhance the area with some careful and insightful planning that is simpatico with the neighbourhood, we should be all for it—and we must demand forward-thinking design and planning standards from our elected officials. Or at least not be armchair hypocrites whilst simultaneously keeping Starbucks in business.
james a

On top of that, even if you want to rage against big box in queen west, shouldn’t the rage be directed towards the property developers? Home Depot are just a tenant- even if they had showed no interest, you can bet there would be a Canadian Tire or a Walmart or something equally useless going in. Or, I suppose, a decent grocery store, which would have been cool.
Carrie M

I hope my comment wasn’t misinterpreted to be against Home Depot. My point was simply to say that they have the means to help their soon-to-be neighbours out and it might build better relations with the people who ARE bitter about it. To be honest, I’m just tired of the snotty Queen W. attitude so many people seem to have.
Gramage

What a shame. At least it didn’t jump to the next block, this could have gotten much worse.
WannaBinToranna

The people who work for the insurance companies who turned these people down for insurance…I wonder how they slept last night. Probably someplace warm. I wonder how the landlords slept.
Also, all of us here at Home Depot appreciate your sticking up for us. See you all real soon at our gala grand opening.
No Loitering, plesae, unless you intend to make a purchase.
Miss Susan

I appreciate that everyone is upset about the Home Depot & condo development plans and losing a big chunk of historical Queen West, but let’s put more positive energy into trying to help our fellow human beings pick up their lives. I know what it’s like to have fire invade my home.
I, for one, would like to be able to donate clothes, money, food or furniture to those who need to rebuild their lives. Let’s stop griping and start helping!
ekate

I heard something about there being a benefit concert as the fundraiser
Marc Lostracco

According to the Post, a fundraiser is being planned by Lloyd Warren, owner of the Funhaus nightclub above Shoppers Drug Mart.
Ben

As long as we’re making conspiracy theories (or crass jokes?): Home Depot started the fire to increase demand for building supplies.
Also, the Pizzaiolo 2 blocks west wasn’t as good as the one at Ryerson.
Update on my previous question: The electricity was restored at about 3:30 – 4 this morning, so my cat did not freeze and my burritos didn’t thaw.
WannaBinToranna

Well, no, they are neither “conspiracy theories” or crass jokes. It’s just looking at all possibilities. I don’t understand why people are so quick to dismiss them. if it were some type of arson for gain, wouldn’t you want to know? Whose neighborhood is next? How many other buildings are there like these in your city.I know it’s early, but I don’t understand where the outrage is over this and why people are so quick to dismiss it as, “Oh well, these things happen, it sure is terrible for those people, I feel so sad, well, god bless us all.”
Get angry and demand answers for crying out loud. Your city, as you know it, is being pulled out from under you.
And I can tell you if there are insurance companies involved, they will be asking “conspiracy questions” in their investigations. if you went to make a claim, you can bet they’d be asking you a ton of questions.
If you want to help the people who were affected, demand answers and if someone was responsible, hold them accountable to hopefully prevent it from happening again.
BTW, I’m glad that your cat is ok (and everyone else), if something like that happened to my dog, I’d freak out…the burrito…not so much. : – )
x_the_x

The belief that a property owner (RioCan) or its putative tenant (Home Depot) who, it is well understood, was in the process of getting approval for a build on a parking lot adjacent to the scene of the fire through the normal legal channels, would somehow decide that it was preferable to forgo its normal business practice and instead start a fire in the early morning of adjacent property, which is owned by other parties and leased by other tenants, is not subject to their planning and zoning approvals, and has not been part of their plans at any point, risking the lives and livlihoods of residents and tenants of the existing properties, is not a conspiracy theory – it is a bona fide symptom of madness.
We get it, you don’t like large corporations and you are paranoid that they are trying to take over your life and destroy you and everything you like. If you replaced “large corporations” from that phrase with almost anything else (“the devil” “aliens from another planet” “Jose Canseco”) you would be swiftly diagnosed and kept a safe distance from sharp objects for the rest of your semi-sentient existence. Get some help.
tripper

What x the x said
Brilliantly stated.
sjsandford

I think folks are not seperating the “conspiracy” and corporate lovin aspect from the bigger question that this fire has raised.
Although I feel utterly sad about this and think it’s a tragedy, i think there’s a positive side in that this fire has caused people to get off their butts and start talking about the impact of a big box store in a neighbourhood. (that includes all the light pollution big boxes that have come before it). I’ve been waiting for the day for a little healthy outrage about this.
Conspiracy theories aside, there’s a reason why Queen W. has a place in hearts and is worth protecting. It’s the charming combination of people, family businesses, bars, clubs, history and unique atmosphere. (snobs and bums included).
The moment the Tim Horton’s, Home Depot, American Apparel, Walmart, H&M etc. move in, the dynamic changes not to mention the rents skyrocket. Places like Duke’s Prague Deli, Tibet Shop, Bakka friends and friends simply can’t compete and Queen W. as we know it goes bye bye.
Yeah sure one or two are not going to rock my world, I’m not so much against this as to say that NONE should be permitted, it’s just that when one comes it opens a flood gate.
If I were convinced that the city could balance such things I’d be fine, but the moment friends of mine get turfed because their rents go up 200% there ceases to be a balance.
So if you want to live in a world that is a Pennsylvania turnpike where everything is branded and there’s no room for individuality, go ahead, turn away and ignore. (And don’t think that this isn’t happening)
I can recall a day when Queen east of Spadina was very much like Queen west of Spadina, but now, with so called progress and development, it’s nearly a mall without a roof.
So it makes me sad when people blithly dismiss and insult others by suggesting they are a danger to themselves when all they want to do is raise some worthy awareness of a real problem in our city.
If I had my way the barricades would go up at Augusta.
PS – good news about the fundraiser at Funhaus, keep us posted!
WannaBinToranna

Ah, sjs…I had a long reply to our witty x, but I think I’m just gonna thank ya’ for your post and say that I will also simply look forward to any news about fundraisers or ways to help the victims. I wish your neighborhood luck in the rebuilding.
Ooooh, a shiny sharp object, I wanna hol—-OUCH!
That darn x!
Mark Ostler

I’ve heard that a fund has been set up for the victims of the fire. If I remember correctly, information about how to donate can be found by contacting Adam Vaughan’s office.
tripper

From Spacing:
Media Advisory
February 21, 2008
Queen Street Fire Fund established to assist people affected by fire
In response to the major fire on Queen Street yesterday, a trust fund has been established to collect donations to assist residents who have been affected by the fire. Donations can be made to the Queen Street Fire Fund at all Scotiabank locations across the city effective tomorrow.
“There has been an outpouring of support to help people affected by the fire, from people in the neighbourhood and across the city,” said Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina). “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has offered assistance to these residents in their time of need.”
For further information, please contact:
Councillor Adam Vaughan, 416-392-4044
Ward 20 – Trinity Spadina
councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca

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