Sneaky Dee's saved from 16–storey redevelopment after RBC objection
The beloved College and Bathurst music venue and bar will stay put after a developer withdrew its condo proposal when the RBC property next door wasn't supposed to be included.
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Sneaky Dee's has been saved. The iconic College and Bathurst bar and live music venue will remain standing after a developer withdrew its redevelopment application Saturday, according to Councillor Josh Matlow.
The proposal would have transformed the site into a 16-storey building. But the application was "bungled," Matlow said, after it inadvertently included the adjacent Royal Bank of Canada property — a retail branch RBC was never consulted about.
In a letter to city council, RBC retail transactions director Johanna Oakley objected to being included in any development plans. "RBC operates a retail bank branch at this site and intends to carry on with this use," she wrote, noting the bank's years-long relationship with its neighbor. "The branch would be entirely content to see that relationship continue."
Community uproar also played a role. In May, dozens spoke against the redevelopment at council wearing white "Save Sneaky Dee's" pins. The venue has drawn generations of Torontonians and serves as a cultural centre for communities who value it as a safe space.
"It's a cultural icon. It's not just a bar," Matlow said. "For generations Torontonians have been going to Sneaky Dee's, not only for a fun night out, but there are communities that see the bar as a cultural centre." The developer, Goldberg Group, had offered space for Sneaky Dee's in the new building and help finding an interim location during construction — but the application is now withdrawn entirely.
