Multibillion Dollar Developer Goes After a

Small Community Grassroots Organization

for $10,000 in Legal Fees

One of Canada’s largest developers, Kingsett Capital, is threatening to start proceeding with the Sheriff’s office to collect $10,000 in legal fees from a small grassroots organization who challenged them in court over a development at 1423-1437 Bloor St. West. The group is holding a press conference on Tuesday, 20 February, 2024 at 11:00 AM, at the corner of Sterling Road and Bloor Street West to bring attention to this issue.

South Junction Triangle GROWs is a small all-volunteer community group, representing just over 180 residents and small business owners, that appealed a City of Toronto decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal on a development at 1423-1437 Bloor St. West over concerns about the mistreatment and displacement of tenants and the 400 stories of unaffordable, luxury investment condo properties proposed within a 0.5 km radius in the Junction Triangle.

As a result of this appeal, on January 25, 2024, South Junction Triangle GROWs received threatening letters from the law firm Sherman Brown on behalf of their client KingSett Capital. These letters stated that if the grassroots organization did not pay $10,000 in costs awarded by a Divisional Court in full within 10 days, Kingsett “had been instructed to take the necessary proceedings with the Sheriff of the City of Toronto to enforce payment of this Court Order.”

Members of South Junction Triangle GROWs explains they are citizens exercising their democratic rights and asking for responsible development to solve the housing crisis. This grassroots organization has volunteers who are parents, students, or family caregivers—relocating is not an option for them and they simply cannot afford these fees. As Cristina Costa, one of the directors of the group explains: “We are simply asking for responsible development in our neighbourhood: affordable, sustainable housing without demoviction and displacement. None of the concerns raised by the community through KingSett Capital’s consultation have been addressed by the developer or the City. Worse yet, they mentioned that they wish to sell the newly re-zoned property (from 3 storeys to 20 storeys). This does not seem to be about housing. It all seems to be about profit. Is this how development really happens across the city?” Kingsett Capital is a multibillion dollar corporation that currently has $17 billion of assets under management in a $19 billion portfolio. They also receive millions of dollars in public money through incentives and low-income loans.

“Robert Kumer, CEO of KingSett Capital, is hiding behind the Sheriff’s office to intimidate a small grassroots group of mothers to collect this money, which is purely symbolic,” Gaetan Heroux, a member of 230 Fightback, says. “It isn’t about the $10,000. It is about sending a message to anyone who opposes Kingsett: ‘Do not challenge us or we will ruin you’.”

On Tuesday February 20th, South Junction Triangle GROWs, in conjunction with 230 Fightback, plan to launch a public campaign calling on KingSett Capital to back off their shameful attack on an all-volunteer community group who have dared to organize and fight against irresponsible developments in their communities. They will be joined by other grassroots community groups, including No Demovictions, Shelter and Housing Justice Network and more.

A Brief History of this Development (1423-1437 Bloor St. West, Toronto)

After initially rejecting the project as too tall and too large for the tiny South Junction Triangle neighbourhood under increasing pressure from developers, the City of Toronto approved the 18-storey condo, displacing several long-standing businesses and affordable rental units. South JT GROWs appealed the City’s decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal, where they were immediately met with lawyers from KingSett Capital, who argued that the appeal had no merit. The City sat by and let the developer argue against even hearing the appeal on its merits.

When the appeal was dismissed by the Ontario Land Tribunal (a notoriously pro-developer tribunal), South JT GROWs attempted to appeal the decision to the Ontario Court. The Ontario Court dismissed South JT GROWs’ appeal without providing reasons and then ordered costs against South JT GROWs in the amount of $10,000 to KingSett Capital. All the while, the current tenants on this property have lived with the gross neglect of their homes as KingSett Capital bullies citizens for standing up for the health of their community, all while the City of Toronto idly watches.