Wreckers demolish Coke bottling plant on Overlea

Backhoes are working in record-breaking arctic temperatures this week to knock down the abandoned Coca Cola bottling plant at 46 Overlea Blvd. Next door, the former Coke office building at 42 Overlea remains intact, the subject of a pending decision by City Council on a request to demolish the 1965 structure to make way for a Costco store. Tuesday, the bottling plant was crumbling in front of workers inside the heated cabs of their machines. The bottling plant is seen inset right under demolition Tuesday, January 7, 2014. The top photo shows it behind the Yarwood bronze and steel sculpture (which will be saved) and below is the view from the East York Town Centre across the street. Skin was freezing at a minute’s exposure in the former Coca Cola parking lot, site of last September’s large barbecue held in support of  the Costco bid. The office building is said to have certain desirable architectural features in the Midcentury Modernist style. The buildings sit on a huge property which held all the vehicles associated with Coke’s business, including its fleet of trucks. The office building has been designated a heritage site but the matter will be discussed further by council. There is substantial support on council and in the Thorncliffe community for the construction of a Costco store.