The Leaside Business Park Association will oppose recently announced plans to develop office and warehouse condominums in the industrial park, says Dag Enhorning, president of the LBPA.
“There is unanimous agreement that this appears to be a retail project,” he said following a board meeting last month.
The developers, Rockport Group, want to build seven two-storey buildings in two phases with a mix of condo and rental offices, warehouses and showrooms on 9.5 acres of recently purchased lands at 195-209 Wicksteed Ave.
The development, called Wicksteed Business Park, is on the eastern section of the industrial lands close to the Don Valley.
“This is industrial employment land. Everybody is supposed to be industrial. The reality is that this proposal is retail,” said Enhorning.
The M1 zoning in the industrial park, he added, allows businesses to have up to 30 per cent of square footage for retail operations.
“But once the businesses are in there, who polices them?” he asked.
Rockport officials say they have done their due diligence with the city and will file their plans this fall.