Toronto Community Housing to demolish Swansea Mews

The demolition of Swansea Mews is one step closer after a decision by the Toronto Community Housing board to apply for permits from the city to bring down the buildings.

More than 400 tenants were forced to leave their homes in the west-end community housing complex after structural engineers found concrete ceilings in the units were at risk of collapsing last June. Structural supports were initially installed in individual apartments, but inspections and engineering reports determined soon after that there would be no way to restore what previously existed.

“Based on all of the professional and independent opinions that we’ve received the only option that exists to satisfy the order and remedy the unsafe condition is to demolish the buildings,” said Allen Murray, Vice-President of Facilities Management with TCHC. “Thus we are requesting approval to proceed with obtaining a demolition permit.”

Sharon Smith was a resident at Swansea Mews for nearly 20 years before being told to move last June.

“When we ask them at the town hall meetings is Swansea Mews going to be demolished? They said no. Next thing we know they started boarding up the place and we could not get in,” she tells CityNews. “I’m very sad about it, not just myself, we’re all sad because they didn’t give us time to leave Swansea. They knocked on our door and said the next day we have to get out.”

RELATED: ‘Not acceptable,’ displaced Swansea Mews tenants say questions left unanswered after town hall

Toronto Community Housing’s decision to demolish the complex comes after a significant cost to keep it standing until this point. A report presented to the TCHC board says “approval of a demolition permit typically takes between 6-8 months or can extend to up to 18-24 months if rezoning is required. Currently, on-going costs associated with security and shoring at Swansea Mews is approximately $326,000 per month.”

“What we’re afraid of, being an agency that works in communities across the board, is that there are many other properties that are having the same issues or similar issues, pertaining to maintenance and just things that are old,” Marcell Wilson, found of One By One Movement tells CityNews. “Now we have other residents and other communities that are actually alarmed about where they live now.”

The displaced residents of Swansea Mews were told they would have the opportunity to return once it was safe, but at this point a plan to replace homes on the property hasn’t been developed.

“If they do rebuild, what they claim on social media, I will be going back to Swansea. That is where I’ll die.”