Almost Lost for Royce

I came across the following picture this evening while working on another project and felt it would be good to share.

When I wrote about the underpass at Bloor and Lansdowne last year, I noted that it was part of a much larger grade separation project to better open the western reaches of Toronto for development. Another part of the project was to separate the tracks from Royce Avenue (Dupont). During the planning stages, the CPR considered the purchase of the thirteen properties pictured to facilitate the movement of Dundas Street West one chain to the west. The railway had already purchased the Peacock Hotel at Dundas West’s bend at Weston Road earlier for $85,000.¹”Demolish Row of 13 Houses For Dundas St. Extension,” Toronto Star, July 10, 1924, 3.

Source: Toronto Star, June 10, 1924, 3.

Peacock Hotel on Dundas West at Royce (Dupont) before demolition in 1924. Image: Toronto Star / Toronto Public Library, Baldwin Collection, Item TSPA 0113451f.

As can be seen today, the plans for the grade separation were altered and many of the buildings remain standing today.