The Talbot Apartments (Kelvingrove, Glen Leven, Strathavon) are low-rise, red-brick, “garden court” apartments. At the heart of historic Leaside, on Bayview opposite Mount Pleasant Cemetery, they were built in the Georgian Revival style by former Leaside mayor Henry Howard Talbot.

The apartments supply Leaside with beautiful, pleasant and affordable rental accommodation. There are 116 walk-up apartment units, with doorstep gardens and recreational green space.

The City of Toronto has officially designated the Talbot Apartments as “heritage” properties — a significant part of our Leaside history.

For the past two years, an out-of-province owner has aggressively sought approval to demolish the historic apartments and replace them with an 8-storey modern midrise and 54 townhouses.

The City of Toronto has turned down the development proposal on several counts (see sidebar). The owner is appealing to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) in a hearing set for August 24, 2009.

The LPOA, together with the City of Toronto, is opposing this appeal.

• This development would change the fundamental ‘character’ of Leaside – opening both North and South Leaside to future inappropriate development.

• The developer’s proposal is contrary to Toronto’s new development plan (the “Official Plan”) and is NOT supported by the City or the Community.

• The proposal calls for high density – double the current density. 194 units would replace 116 — paving over gardens and green space with 54 additional townhouses and laneways.

• Leaside roads are busy and congested. Leaside schools are full up. This development would aggravate both situations.

• Rezoning – from “neighbourhood” to “mixed” use – would allow commercial development and greater height.

• The proposal calls for a height increase (over current) of 400%. An 8-storey mid-rise would replace two-storey apartments.

• Georgian red-brick buildings — in complete harmony with Leaside — would be replaced with modern construction that doesn’t fit in.

• Leaside heritage and history would be wiped out. The Talbot apartments were built by an important former Mayor of Leaside, Henry Howard Talbot, in the late 1930s. The apartments have been designated for preservation as “heritage properties” by the City of Toronto.

• A Leaside architectural landmark and gateway to the community would disappear.

Photo: J.V. Salmon. Source: Toronto Public Library