August 8, 2026

We recently learned that Artlife Developments bypassed Toronto City Council by appealing directly to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). Like many people in our community, we are extremely disappointed in this developer’s decision to move directly to the OLT, which completely excludes residents from the process of this housing development in our neighbourhood. By using this tactic, Artlife actions are not in keeping with the Official City Plan and Guidelines allowing them to hide how they intend to clean up contaminated land upon which families are expected to live.

Since Artlife circumvented our city’s development process by appealing to the OLT, at the July 29-31 meeting Toronto City Council recommended that city staff attend the Tribunal and support the application in its current form providing the applicant (Artlife) meets these conditions:

• removes all balconies on the North Side (Kingston Road) and East Side (Haslett) of the proposed building to limit privacy and noise impacts on neighbours
• demonstrate they hold sufficient liability insurance that will cover any damage to adjacent properties or the site itself
• complies with the with Municipal Code Chapter 844 - Waste Collection, Residential Properties and any private solid waste, recycling, or organic collection will not be permitted between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• establishes a Neighbourhood Liaison Committee in consultation with the Ward 19 Councillor and agrees to include the committee in developing and implementing a Neighbourhood Communication Strategy and the Construction Management Plan for the project with respect to noise, dust, contractor parking, vehicle staging, haul routes and ensuring throughout construction protected pedestrian and cyclist space on 419-425 Woodbine Avenue
• shares with interested members of the community reports that have been filed with the Province with respect to the Record of Site Condition and/or environmental condition on the lands, including the risk assessment 
• takes steps to improve the interim condition on the site from the date of this decision through construction of the development by keeping the site organized, free of waste, and providing additional ground cover or fill to cover the vacant portion of the site

This list was developed by Ward 19 Councillor Brad Bradford’s office with significant input from Beach residents. We will monitor the OLT’s proceedings closely and send updates as we gain a better understanding of the Tribunal’s procedures. We are hopeful that the above concerns will be accepted; however, the OLT operates like a courtroom and decisions made by the Tribunal’s judges are binding and cannot be overturned. 

We still maintain our opposition to the development based on the size and scope of the project, which does not align with the City’s guidelines or our neighbourhood; the lack of a proper traffic safety study showing the impact of the development on the already dangerous Woodbine and Kingston Road intersection; and, most importantly, the development will be housed on highly toxic/contaminated land. 

We also continue to be concerned by the overall lack of transparency about this development by both Artlife and the Ontario Provincial Government. We had hoped that any decisions on this development could be deferred until we had access to the most up-to-date environmental and risk assessments submitted by Artlife. We are still waiting for this information from the Freedom of Information we were forced to request that was submitted at the beginning of July 2026. 

While this is not the outcome we were looking for, all Beachers need to monitor the 419-425 Woodbine Development. If you see any issues or violations - like the site's recent parking lot extension done without proper permitting and disregarding provincial requirements under the Certificate of Use - please report them to 311 (or 416-392-2489) and reach out to the Ward 19 Councillor’s office (Brad Bradford, councillor_bradford@toronto.ca, 416-338-2755). 

Thank you to everyone who helped advocate for transparency and responsible development! 

June 24-26, 2026

On Wednesday, June 24, Ward 19 Councillor Brad Bradford entered a motion that was approved/carried to defer the council’s vote on this development until the July 29-31, 2026, meeting of the Toronto City Council. Since the motion was “carried” this means that a majority of city councillors voted in favour of Councillor Bradford’s proposal. Once again, our voices were heard! 

While the deferral is not until October 2026, like we petitioned for, it does give time to receive and review the most updated environmental and risk assessments submitted by Artlife, the developer. We are still waiting for this information from the Freedom of Information request we submitted earlier this month. 

This deferral keeps our objections to the 419-425 Woodbine Development alive and under political scrutiny. And it allows us to keep fighting.

Here’s to demanding transparency, grassroots advocacy and, hopefully, responsible development! Thank you everyone who helped get us this deferral!

Email beachers4responsibledev@gmail.com if you want to be put on our mailing list.

June 23, 2026 - Voice Your Concerns

It's not too late to contact the Toronto City Council about the 419-425 Woodbine Development.

Too tall. Too Toxic. Too much traffic. Doesn't address affordable housing. Whatever your concern, email Mayor Chow and all of the Toronto City Councillors. Go to beachers4responsibledev.ca for councillor names and email addresses.

Watch our Beach Community Reporter voicing her concerns about the 419-425 Woodbine Development.

June 20, 2026 - Next Toronto Council Session June 24-26, 2026

Most likely Toronto City Council will vote on the 419-429 Woodbine Development on June 24, 2026.

You can find the agenda for this meeting here. 

June 19, 2026 - Defer Vote for 419-425 Woodbine Development

Environmental impact

Since this site had previously housed a gas station and a vehicle repair garage, it is common knowledge that the ground that this development will be build upon is contaminated. Some of the many contaminants identified in a 2022-2023 environmental site assessment include Benzo(a)pyrene, n-Haxane, Petroleum hydrocarbons, Lead and Benzene. Beach residents must be able to review any new environmental and risk assessments to ensure that this land will be properly remediated.

Community input and transparency

We recently learned through an independent peer review (funded by residents) that Artlife released new environmental and risk assessments that we, the Beach Community and residents adjacent to the site, are not allowed to access. We were forced to complete a freedom of information request to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. What are they hiding? 

This information needs to be disclosed to every Beacher so we know the possible environmental impacts and know exactly how Artlife proposes to remediate the site.  This lack of transparency concerns us considering the significant contaminants that are currently in the soil at 419-425 Woodbine.

Building height and density

In 2025, Artlife sought to change their original development plan of 2-3 storeys with 1 level of underground parking to 10 + 1 storeys with 2 levels of underground parking. The new proposed height goes well beyond what is acceptable for this location and our neighbourhood. We need to fiercely advocate for appropriate building heights and densities that complement our neighbourhood. 

Not affordable housing

At a time when families, seniors, young professionals and essential workers are struggling to find homes they can afford, the city and province should prioritize genuinely affordable and attainable housing rather than luxury developments like the proposed 419-425 Woodbine Ave development. We're tired of being told that every development proposal is the answer to Toronto's housing crisis. 

Traffic and congestion