'The city has lost its originality, its feel'

Moss Park neighbourhood is rapidly changing. Some say it’s too much

- REANNA JULIEN

Elias Makhoul, owner of Mystic Muffin, had to let most of his staff go, cease his catering operations and buy most of his inventory from Costco to keep prices reasonable.

When Elias Makhoul opened Mystic Muffin 32 years ago at the corner of Jarvis and Richmond streets, he didn’t anticipate the drastic changes he would see in his area.

With a highrise preparing to begin construction seemingly around every corner, the small-business owner has seen the local neighbourhood reduced to a “boring skyline of grey and white structures” that are slowly swallowing the community.

“It’s too much,” he said. “Look around, the city has lost its originality, its feel and spirit. Everywhere is just building, building, building.”

The Garden District and Moss Park area — bordered by Yonge Street, Queen Street East, Sherbourne Street and Carlton Street — has housed some of downtown’s lowest-income residents for more than 100 years. But now it’s rapidly changing, with approximately 40 new developments emerging in the area, according to Urban Toronto, including several luxury condo towers and the upscale TOOR Hotel at 203 Jarvis St.

Although small-business owners in the area are generally optimistic that this expansion is going to be good for their operations, some are expressing concern over accessibility to their businesses as well as the increased costs of operations.