After sitting vacant for more than three decades, an old Toronto incinerator is about to have a new life breathed into it. The Wellington Destructor, located on the southeast corner of Wellington Street West and Walnut Avenue near Stanley Park, is set to undergo a total transformation that would see it become a large community hub.
The City-of-Toronto-owned building was built in 1925 and used as a garbage incinerator until the mid-70s. It was then switched over to be a garbage transfer station until the ’80s, and has sat vacant ever since. The City announced on Wednesday that it is recommending real estate development company TAS be given a long-term lease for the site — 49 years with two optional 25-year extensions — during which time they will renovate and operate the property.
“This is a great step forward in the Wellington Destructor project,” said Mayor John Tory. “By preserving its heritage elements and creating new flexible spaces, this site will serve many uses and become a destination for people to create, learn and innovate.”