The Toronto city staff report on the proposal by Costco to develop the old Coca Cola properties on Overlea Blvd. is now online. The report will be considered by North York Community council on September 10, 2013. As previously reported by The South Bayview Bulldog, Costco wishes to demolish the present buildings dating from 1965. The new structure would be a one-storey, 156,521 square foot store and warehouse. The staff report says, among many other things: “The site design includes 100,331 sq,ft. of landscape area representing approximately 18% of the site area (the buildings occupy 28% and the surface parking lot occupies 54%). Landscaped areas are proposed along the Overlea Boulevard frontage (ranging from a depth of 14 to 20 metres); landscaped islands within the parking lot; within a 3 metre strip along the entire western edge of the site; and within a strip of varying dimension along the Thorncliffe Park Drive frontage. The design of the Overlea Boulevard landscaped frontage would include a large pedestrian seating area in front of the building (and in close proximity to an existing TTC bus service stop) and centred around the relocated Coca-Cola bronze sculpture.” The sculpture is the work of the late Walter Yarwood, one of the so-called Painters 11. These were Canadian artists who formed their relationship in Toronto in 1953. The Costco plan also calls for a four-island, eight pump service station on Thorncliffe Park Dr. and 607 outdoor parking spaces. Staff reports like this one are intended to guide council and usually become the basis for the terms on which permission is given to proceed.
