Ruthless developers with deep pockets and few scruples are harming the lives of communities across Toronto and people in the South Junction Triangle are facing a particularly nasty example of this.

KingSett Capital has bought that land at 1423-1437 Bloor Street West, where a row of Edwardian houses sits and it plans to build an eighteen storey condo there, with no new affordable units. The tenants at this location are being pressured out (mold, broken stoves, bathtubs falling through ceilings, etc.) Some have left forfeiting their right to rental replacement

In this situation, the South Junction Triangle Grows Neighbourhood Association opposed the redevelopment and made an unsuccessful attempt to convince the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) to prevent it.

When the OLT ruled in the interests of the developers, as it so frequently does, the association sought a judicial review of the matter but the court, once again, took the side of KingSett. Outrageously, the court even decided that the developer was entitled to $10,000 in costs.

Having made this effort to defend a hard-pressed community, three of the association’s members have how received a letter from a law firm representing the interests of KingSett that makes clear that the developer intends to collect the costs it was awarded. This is the second letter community members have received: the first, sent prior to the judicial review, threatened to personal seek costs from these individuals if they did not stop their work.

Sherman and Brown Barristers and Solicitors warn these community members that ‘..in the even (sic) that you fail to remit payment in full of this costs award…we have been instructed to take the necessary proceedings with the Sheriff of the City of Toronto to enforce payment of this Court Order.”

The SJTG members who are facing this attack don’t have a tiny fraction of the wealth that KingSett sits on and this penalty would cause them significant hardship. Obviously, for the developer, it is completely insignificant sum but the aim to demonstrate that anyone who gets in their way will face consequences.

Members of the community are rallying to the support of those who have been targeted by KingSett. Plans are being laid for a campaign to defend them and public actions are being prepared.

The unbridled power and destructive greed of the developers is a blight on our city. We don’t intend to let KingSett get away with this. Please be ready to lend your support and solidarity.