[URBAN NOTE] "Postal Station K: The battle lines are forming"

[rfmcdonald]

Much closer to home, the Toronto Star's David Cooper writes about people in the neighbourhood are fighting for their Postal Station K, an architecturally and historically significant post office in the Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood facing closure. The building's fate itself is unknown, although many fear that with its prime location a new condo development site could take the building's place.

In his nightmares, [Toronto MPP Mike Colle] sees rising where the iconic Postal Station K now stands — where William Lyon Mackenzie once rallied his militia in the name of responsible government—yet another of Toronto’s unending condo developments: this one likely marketed as, oh, Rebel Ridge or Postal Plaza.

In 1837, Mackenzie assembled his ragtag crew at Yonge St. and Montgomery Ave. at the outset of the Rebellion of Upper Canada. In 2012, Colle has mustered a feisty local band to take on the ruling class of Canada Post and its plan to sell off the historic post office, built in 1937.

The Liberal member for Eglinton-Lawrence says condo projects are already bursting out all over the neighbourhood and their proliferation is neither well planned nor sustainable.

“Every real estate developer in town is talking about the fact this place is up for sale,” he said. “Yet Canada Post will not come out and say what they’re doing. If we cannot have a say in what happens in a significant historical site like Postal Station K and where Montgomery’s Tavern stood, where are we going to ever have a say?

[. . .]

He said the little square upon which Station K sits is a well-used and much-valued public space (one of the few on that stretch of Yonge St.) and the historic heart and soul of the old town of North Toronto.

Yet, he said, Canada Post won’t even attend public meetings he’s arranged or — as is required by Canadian Postal Service Charter — hold consultations to answer questions about its plans other than to place a flyer recently in the post office window inviting locals to write to it with any thoughts.

[. . .]

Architectural historian Marie-Josée Therrien, a local resident, said Station K is an important building, one of the best examples in Toronto of the modern classic or art deco style.

The carvings on its north side depict the modes of transportation used to carry mail at the time of its construction: trains, planes, trucks, steamships. There are also rare carvings of the unicorn and lion insignia of King Edward VIII, who reigned less than a year before abdicating.

Just as important, Therrien said, “there is action, activity, happening on this public space. It’s important that we maintain the diversity of this area of Yonge St.”