Pickleball Courts' Tax Battle in Toronto

0:00In Toronto's slumping condo market, anti-development sites are everywhere, but one at eight Rosehill place near Young in St. Clair got a fresh twist. The developer teamed up with Fairgrounds Racket Club to build five outdoor pickleball courts, two paddle courts, and a small pro shop on the cleared, lot meant for a high rise that hasn't launched yet. This set up draws thousands of players during warmer months, charging about $35 per session and turning a dirt pit into a community. Hotspot. Meanwhile, the club sees it as a smart way to breathe life into stalled projects across the city. Locals love it as a neighborhood beacon, but the municipal property assessment corporation stepped in, reclassifying the site from vacant residential, land to prime commercial use like a full 50 story condo with retail. That jacked up the tax bill by around $500,000, making it impossible for the courts to stay open. Mayor Josh Matlow called the move absurd in rally support, noting how it punishes

1:00efforts to activate eyesore sites in this tough market. Officials at the assessment corps insist it's by the book since paid sports facilities count as commercial for next year's taxes. Last week, City Council passed Matlow's motion, urging staff to push back with the assessors for fair treatment. He's crafting a plan to keep those paddles bouncing, and everyone's crossing fingers it pans out for more temporary wins on empty lots. I'm Corey with the story, that's your Toronto news today update AI powered and always on.