Business owners at Ridgeway Plaza in Mississauga are expressing their frustration over the financial burden they are facing due to increased security and legal fees. This situation has arisen after the City of Mississauga took legal action to address ongoing complaints about large gatherings at the plaza, which have reportedly involved fights, street racing, loud music, illegal fireworks, and crowds exceeding 3,000 individuals.
Over the summer, the city secured a court-ordered injunction against the condominium corporations that own Ridgeway Plaza. The injunction specifically prohibits these nuisance gatherings and mandates that the condo corporations take several actions to mitigate the issues. This includes installing parking gate arms and barriers, hiring sufficient security personnel, and employing paid duty police officers to manage both pedestrian and vehicular traffic within the plaza.
In response to the court's order, tenants of the plaza are now facing unexpected costs. Manjot Singh, who operates the Indian restaurant Brar's, articulated the distress felt by business owners. He highlighted that despite the legal fines and costs being directed at the condominium corporation, it's the tenants who ultimately bear the financial brunt. Singh remarked, “What happens is the city fines the condominium. Condominium passes those bills to the landlord, and we are at the bottom of the food chain.” This situation was exacerbated when Singh received a bill for $170,000, which will be divided among the tenants as part of a special assessment from the condo corporation.
A letter from the condo board addressed to unit owners outlined that these costs include “legal fees related to litigation with the City of Mississauga,” alongside charges for “paid duty police services” and “additional security services.” Singh expressed concern over the viability of restaurants given the rising operational costs and declining income, questioning, “In these times when your operating cost keeps going up, but your income is dropping substantially, how long can restaurants survive?”
The property management company implicated in this situation stated that it is within the condo owners' rights to pass these expenses onto their tenants, highlighting the disconnect between management and the individual business operators. Furthermore, Mississauga's deputy mayor, Matt Mahoney, commented on the issue, stating, “The police, the fire, have issued fines, numerous fines over the years for violations. The condominium and the board are responsible for ensuring they pay the bill. Who pays the bill in a private business or a private corporation? It’s not up to the city.”
In a recent city council meeting held at Mississauga City Hall, a significant amendment to city regulations was passed, aiming to decrease the number of restaurants in Ridgeway Plaza by 15 percent. This move has left tenants concerned about the future of their businesses in a plaza already plagued by issues stemming from what many perceive as poor city planning. Singh expressed the sentiment shared among several business owners that the challenges they face are largely due to the city’s choices, rather than the actions of the restaurants themselves. As the situation stands, tenants are left to manage these unexpected costs, raising fears that many eateries within the plaza may ultimately shut down.
