A Toronto city councillor wants Sneaky Dees to be considered for a heritage designation after the beloved venue staved off demolition when a redevelopment application fell through earlier this month. A developer had plans to turn the bar and music venue, located at the corner of College and Bathurst streets, into a 16-storey condo building but withdrew its application at the beginning of the month. The proposal generated public outcry and ultimately, the Royal Bank of Canada intervened, noting that some of the land actually belonged to the bank. “Sneaky Dee’s is a historically and culturally significant music venue at 431 College Street. For generations, it has been a launching pad for local artists, a gathering place for friends and neighbours, and an important piece of Toronto’s cultural identity. It is one of those places that gives our city its character,” Coun. Dianne Saxe wrote in a motion to city council. She said the threat of demolition prompted members of the community to “mobilize” in an effort to save the venue. “Residents organized. Musicians spoke out. Neighbours filled meetings, signed petitions, shared ideas, and refused to accept that one of Toronto’s most beloved cultural institutions should disappear into yet another condo without exhausting every possible option,” she said. “For everyone who has ever discovered a new band at Sneaky Dee’s, fallen in love, celebrated with friends over a plate of nachos, or simply believes Toronto should protect the places that make our city unique, this reprieve is worth celebrating.” The victory, she noted, provides Toronto with a “fresh opportunity to evaluate Sneaky Dee’s potential for a heritage designation.” She is asking that council direct the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning to evaluate whether the property meets the criteria in Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and to report back council on the findings in the first quarter of 2027. “Dedicated volunteers have already begun to assemble supporting evidence,” she said. Saxe’s motion will be discussed at a meeting of Toronto City Council set to get underway on Wednesday.
