[URBAN NOTE] "At a Packed Meeting, Kensington Market Says “No” to Walmart"

[rfmcdonald]

Torontoist's Jess Davidson described the community meeting held Thursday about the proposal to plant a Walmart on the western periphery of Kensington Market, on Bathurst Street. Official representations were made by the city and by property developer RioCan, but the people present from the community in question were fiercely and unanimously against the development.

Concerns were mainly focused on how the development would change the face of the neighbourhood, how a big-box store would impact locals, increased traffic and gridlock, and the health of local small businesses. There were also specific concerns about bringing Walmart to the community, and a number of speakers raised questions about the potential for environmental damage and higher rates of crime. Others, including the church’s minister, raised Walmart’s poor record as an employer.

Here were a few comments that really got the crowd on their feet:

• One resident pointed out that Toronto has a long history of activism. Downtown residents have worked to stop the Spadina Expressway, rallied to protect women’s rights, protested war, and, more recently, opposed the G20 and the OLG’s proposed Toronto casino. “You’re messing with the wrong neighbourhood,” she said. “Good luck, hope it’s a fair fight.”


• A 30-year Kensington Market resident reminded the crowd that the development will cause ripples beyond the local community. As he put it, “If you have flesh-eating disease in the thumb, it is not just the thumb that is affected.”


• Louis, who said he lives nearby, reminded the crowd that they do have a voice. As he pointed out, 60 communities have fought back against Walmart and won.

As for the last point, a slide in the City’s presentation said that planners will look at a number of factors when deciding whether to green-light this project. They’ll consider the shopping centre’s relationship with nearby properties, its effects on nearby shops and businesses, its impact on traffic, and how it supports specialty retailers.

It's worth noting that people in the comments tend to be of much more mixed opinion about the development, many wondering as I have if Kensington Market businesses would necessarily be affected by a Walmart, or even if preserving Kensington Market as it is now is such a priority.