The Oliver Apartments
My grandmother in Toronto told me recently that she used to live in the Oliver Apartments on Second Avenue, near Bank. I've looked, but I can't find them. Any ideas?
The Oliver Apartments were a small, two story structure of about 10 units that were built in the 1920's at 170 Second Avenue, just west of Bank Street. Along with several other buildings, these apartments were torn down in early 1969 to create the city parking lot that runs between Second and Third Avenues.
Beginning in the early 1960's, the Glebe Business and Development Association had started to lobby the city to build a central parking lot in the Glebe close to Bank Street. The lure of convenient parking was beginning to draw shoppers to suburban malls. A couple of sites for a parking lot were considered, but this option displaced the fewest residents.
The city purchased the Oliver Apartments, the houses at 172 and 174 Second Avenue, and a six door row at 113-123 Third Avenue in August, 1968. The cost of the buildings, demolition and paving for the 70 car lot totaled $276,000. There was some opposition to the creation of this parking lot, especially from the 35 renters who were displaced from the four buildings. The residents had the strong support of Capital Ward Alderman Charlotte Witton, but she was unable to carry the day at city hall.
The trumping of an alderman in her own bailiwick is a curious thing, but it may have had something to do with the two tiered system of elected representation in use at the time. There was a City Council of alderman, controllers and mayor, and a smaller Board of Control. I believe the Board of Control, which included the mayor, made the business decisions for the city, and thus could carry the day. I welcome correction on this point from any readers.