In January 2026, the City’s Economic Development and Culture Department provided a briefing summary as a response to Councillor Matlow’s motion of March 26, 2025, on the topic of vacant storefronts.
There were three areas identified for response in Councillor Matlow’s motion:
What were the policy options available to compel landowners to tenant vacant storefronts?
Answer: The City does not currently have the legislative authority to implement a vacant retail space property tax supplements (like they have for residential properties). DPRG raised other policy options for City staff to explore.
What are the existing property standards applicable to vacant properties?
Answer: Council recently approved a comprehensive review of property standards. MLS has implemented several operational changes that are relevant to property standards and will give them more flexibility to follow up on concerns in our area.
What is the feasibility of a tax reduction program for property owners that host pop-ups in our installations?
Answer: There are existing programs to support commercial improvements and renovations.
While we understand that the city does not have legislative power to impose vacant retail space property tax supplements, as they have for residential properties, we wondered if the City made any effort with the province to gain this legal authority.
The City has imposed an obligation on residential construction sites to decorate their hoarding with artwork. One Roxborough is a particularly good local example where the developer partnered with a local gallery that promotes Canadian artists. Could the City impose a similar obligation on landlords to decorate their vacant retail facades with artwork that must be maintained and be graffiti-free?
The City realizes significant revenue by wrapping their TTC vehicles with advertising. Could landlords of vacant spaces be given similar rights to erect billboards in front of their vacant spaces? These images could be controlled by the BIA so they are not offensive or inappropriate.
Almost all the vacant space in our area is held by very affluent developers waiting for a return to a positive residential development environment. Currently, the business environment could hardly be worse, and there is little reason for optimism on the horizon. All of these spaces have already been vacant for several years. Has the City contemplated an expiry on approvals to change the use of properties in the City? All of these sites are (or before demolition, were) two and three-storey buildings that have been re-zoned to 45 to 50-storey buildings. Imposing a time limit on these approvals would help prevent properties from remaining vacant for years due to ongoing delays.
We will continue to follow up on this issue.