Andrew Lupton

An application by Farhi Holdings Corporation&nbsp;to demolish a building at 120 York St. is in limbo after failing in a&nbsp;tie vote at city&nbsp;council's planning committee meeting Monday.&nbsp;

While a staff report said the two-storey building, located at the corner of York and Talbot Streets,&nbsp;has no heritage significance, it is located in the downtown heritage conservation district and any demolition requires a vote of council to go ahead.&nbsp;

Built in the 1980s, the&nbsp;building has housed a number of retail establishments over the years, but is currently vacant. Two&nbsp;years ago, the building 

 as a possible site for a supervised consumption site.&nbsp;

Jim Bujouves, president of Farhi, said the company has "every intention" of developing the site, although the staff report says the company's immediate plan is to operate it as a surface parking lot.

Wondering why we're debating 372 vs. 120 York St. for consumption site?

City health officials put 120 York St. in the running as the location for the city's planned safe consumption site after Shmuel Farhi, who owns the property, called to say it was a better fit than 372 York St.

Farhi Holdings Corporation approached the Middlesex-London Health Unit to offer up 120 York St. as a possible location for the safe consumption site. 

120 York Street

Committee members voting against the demolition permit said they were reluctant to approve removing the building without first seeing an application to develop the site.&nbsp;

"My skepticism is very high," said Coun. Stephen Turner.&nbsp;"A lot of these surface lots have been created with the idea that an application coming forward and there's none here."&nbsp;

Turner pointed to city policies created to reduce the number surface parking lots in the downtown core, including the city's 

 which says "the key to future development in the downtown will be the replacement of existing surface parking lots with new developments."

Coun. Arielle Kayabaga also said she couldn't support the demolition without a plan on the table to develop the site.

"I'm concerned about demolishing it and having it sit there an wait 15 years for new development," she said.&nbsp;

City wants to turn this surface parking lot into something better

City planners are moving ahead with a proposal to partner with a private developer to turn a city-owned surface parking lot at 185 Queens Ave. into a commercial or residential development that includes in its plan a multi-level parking garage.

This surface parking lot off Queens Avenue and behind the London Music Hall has parking for 74 vehicles. The city will issue a request for proposals, seeking developers willing to partner with the city in a joint venture to transform the space into a mixed-use development that includes a parking garage. 

Parking lot at 185 Queens Avenue

Deputy Mayor Jesse Helmer voted in favour of the demolition, saying "letting this building go is the right decision."&nbsp;

The motion to approve the demolition permit failed by a 3-3 vote with Turner, Kaybaga and Coun. Anna Hopkins voting against. Mayor Ed Holder, Helmer and Coun. Maureen Cassidy voted to allow the demolition.&nbsp;

The demolition application will now to go full council.&nbsp;

Soon after 372 York St. was announced as the preferred location of a safe consumption site, Farhi Holdings Corporation contacted the Middlesex-London Health Unit to offer up 120 York St. as a better fit for the facility. 

Farhi demolition permit for 120 York St. stalls at committee

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