City Council Weighs Heritage Protection for Sneaky Dee's
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Councillors move to initiate a heritage study for the College Street landmark after a failed redevelopment attempt.
The City of Toronto is moving to provide permanent protections for Sneaky Dee's following a failed effort to redevelop the dive bar located at 431 College St., according to BlogTO.
An application to redevelop the property was withdrawn on July 3. BlogTO reports the withdrawal occurred because the applicant mistakenly included the adjacent RBC bank branch in the application, despite the bank being under separate ownership from the bar.
In response to the incident, City Councillors Dianne Saxe and Josh Matlow are pushing for a heritage study to prevent future demolition. A motion introduced by Saxe and seconded by Matlow describes the music venue as a "historically and culturally significant" location that serves as a gathering place for neighbors and a launching pad for local artists. The motion further notes that thousands of residents, musicians, and neighbors organized petitions and meetings to stop the property from becoming another condo.
If the motion is adopted during the July 29-31 City Council meeting, the Executive Director of City Planning and the Chief Planner will be tasked with evaluating the property for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. While this designation protects cultural heritage design elements, BlogTO notes it does not completely prohibit redevelopment.
Should the motion pass, officials are expected to report their findings to City Council, the Planning and Housing Committee, and the Toronto Preservation Board during the first quarter of 2027.