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CHATTER (JULY 2017): Larry Sdao receives Community Builder Award

August 1st, 2017 · No Comments

The Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA) has given Larry Sdao its Community Builder Award. Sdao owns 481 Bloor St. W., formerly home to the Brunswick House. HVRA chair Gus Sinclair said that Sdao worked with the community to deal with “an intractable problem that was the Brunswick House business [Sdao’s former tenant]”.

Local residents’ associations said that the pub and bar — known for cheap booze — was partly responsible for the noise, vandalism, brawls, and property damage that frequently occurred when its patrons poured into the neighbourhood after the bar closed early in the morning.

“Sdao worked behind the scenes to mitigate the negative impacts the Brunswick House was having,” said Sinclair. “He even took his own tenant to court and successfully got the lease shortened to five years, without an option to renew. It was a brave thing to do, as the rent was being paid.”

Rexall, a pharmacy drugstore chain, has since taken over the tenancy, renovating the building and preserving its heritage aspects.

“This was a real bonus for us, as we are big on heritage,” Sinclair added. He said that for Sdao “to be aware of, and where you can possibly do it, assist with community building, is for a business guy, impressive”.

—Brian Burchell/Annex Gleaner

 

READ MORE

NEWS: Restored Brunswick House reopens (May 2017)

NEWS: Rexall replaces Brunswick House (April 2016)

NEWS: Brunswick on the block (December 2015)

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