What to know
- Save Sneaky Dee’s organizers say a councillor may seek to defer the July 8 redevelopment vote.
- Campaign organizers say the additional time could allow discussions with the developer about preserving the venue.
- Supporters say they’ve also received backing from councillors Chris Moise and Josh Matlow.
- Goldberg Group maintains its proposal would include space for Sneaky Dee’s to return after construction.
Advocates fighting to save Toronto music venue and dive bar Sneaky Dee’s from redevelopment say a potential councillor motion could delay a key vote, giving them more time to negotiate a solution that preserves the iconic venue.
Sneaky Dee’s is facing a redevelopment proposal from Goldberg Group, which plans to build a 16-storey mixed-use tower with 203 residential units on the current site.
Campaign hopes to delay July vote
A vote on the proposal by the Toronto and East York Community Council is scheduled for July 8. However, campaign organizers say a potential motion from University-Rosedale Coun. Dianne Saxe could defer the vote, providing additional time for discussions between stakeholders.
Supporters say councillors are backing the effort
According to Martin Perez, a longtime Sneaky Dee’s customer and organizer with the Save Sneaky Dee’s campaign, Saxe has also agreed to help facilitate a meeting between campaign supporters and the developer to explore alternatives that would preserve the venue.
Now Toronto reached out to Saxe’s office to confirm those plans but did not receive a response before publication.
Perez said the campaign has also received support from other members of council.
“We’ve been getting support from Councillor Moise and Councillor Matlow. Councillor Matlow actually met us at Sneaky Dee’s, and we had a very pleasant and nice conversation with him,” he said.
What happens if the vote is deferred?
Perez believes delaying the vote would give the campaign more time to build political support and encourage council to reject the redevelopment proposal or reach a compromise.
“We would still pressure city hall to eventually vote no on the motion once the time does come,” Perez said. “It would put us in a situation where we really hold the keys to the election. I think this Sneaky Dee’s issue is going to be an election issue.”
While Perez declined to discuss specific proposals currently being explored, he said the campaign believes there are strong alternatives that would allow Sneaky Dee’s to remain at its current location.
“Sneaky Dee’s has fewer protections. They have no heritage protection,” he said. “Our approach is to establish protections that don’t even exist today, regardless of the rezoning application, so the venue can exist for as long as it wants to exist.”
Developer says Sneaky Dee’s can return
Goldberg Group has previously said it is committed to preserving Sneaky Dee’s as part of the redevelopment which includes space for the venue to return after construction.
The developer also said it would work to identify a temporary location where Sneaky Dee’s could operate during construction.
If the Toronto and East York Community Council approves the redevelopment application, it would still require final approval from Toronto City Council.
