The historic station in Sir Casimir Gzowski Park in the western beaches was
restored by the city in 2008 at a cost of $400,000, but has since been a “tiny castle” without a queen or a king or even a kitchen.
The back story — and it goes way back — is that the city turned it over to the Grenadier Group, its concession licensee in the western beaches, as part of a deal made long ago to extend Grenadier’s contract until 2031.
The agreement added 15 years to Grenadier’s exclusive rights to sell food and drink to beachgoers, but it had to take the station as part of it. A city report said it would become a snack bar, with an information centre or something else in it.
The
details were agreed to in 2013 but nothing has ever been done with it. The station remains vacant, except for lawn maintenance equipment in the garage bays, and is surrounded by a three-metre fence.
I’ve heard from many people over the years who were disappointed it has not been put to good use, and was palmed off on a partner in no hurry to do anything with it, despite claims to the contrary.
After all, it already has a food stand just a few steps away from the station.
--------
I was told last February that renderings and floor plans had been completed but required approval before permits could be issued to retrofit the structure for “planned uses,” and that work would start in the summer of 2020.
Of course, that went nowhere. So, what’s the story this time? COVID-19, the city’s go-to excuse for just about everything over the last 18 months.
STATUS: I got a note from parks, forestry and recreation that said it “continues to work with Grenadier on redevelopment of the Joy Oil station. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the building and construction industry, some of the work on this project has been delayed.
“Final permit drawings have been submitted to the city and the permits to carry out the redevelopment of the Joy Oil station have been issued. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it is anticipated that redevelopment of the Joy Oil station will start in spring 2022. This work will be carried out by Grenadier at its expense.
“Grenadier pays the city an annual licensee fee for the station and is responsible at its own expense for the operation of the property, including utilities and capital repairs. City maintenance costs are related solely to turf maintenance around the area.”
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/gta/the-fixer/2021/11/02/it-cost-the-city-400000-to-fix-up-the-historic-joy-oil-gas-station-why-is-it-still-waiting-for-a-fillup/joy_oil.jpg)
