Businesses located on Dundas Street in Toronto's Chinatown are urging for a reassessment of the current on-street parking regulations, which were altered in 2025. The recent changes have started to negatively impact their revenue, prompting growing concerns among local business owners.
The modifications made on Dundas Street, specifically between McCaul Street and Spadina Avenue, eliminated parking on the north side during daytime hours. Meanwhile, the south side has been designated primarily for commercial loading, leaving only a limited number of parking spaces available to the public. The city implemented these changes with the primary objective of alleviating traffic congestion in the bustling area.
Tonny Louie, chair of the Chinatown Business Improvement Area (BIA), emphasized the mounting complaints from local merchants, stating that many are struggling with decreased business. Louie expressed dissatisfaction with the current parking restrictions: "A lot of people have a lot of concern, especially during the time when it’s not busy; more parking should be allowed because at that time you don’t see streetcars, so why ban parking all day?"
In response to the concerns, Councillor Dianne Saxe defended the revisions, asserting that they were essential for addressing persistent problems in the area. According to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), more than 5,000 individuals utilize the streetcar service in Chinatown daily, but streetcars were frequently delayed due to parked vehicles obstructing the route. Saxe revealed that nearly $5 million was allocated to update and renovate a Green P lot located near Dundas and Spadina to provide alternative parking for visitors.
Saxe noted, "I was successful in persuading the Toronto Parking Authority to do that for Chinatown as part of the project to get transit through, and that work is underway. Some of it’s done, and some of it is still to be done." This investment in infrastructure aims to enhance transit access while addressing parking shortages.
Owner of Dim Sum King Seafood Restaurant, Kelvin Chung, shared that the new Green P parking lot, positioned down the street, has not proven to be the most convenient option for his patrons. He highlighted a major issue: “People who cannot park, they don’t want to come; that’s the problem with Chinatown parking," revealing the difficulties that local businesses face in attracting customers.
To counteract the parking dilemma, Chung has taken the initiative to cover Green P parking fees for his customers, a strategy he believes has been effective in drawing people to dine at his establishment. "It’s not easy to get the customer to come down to Chinatown, so that’s why I make them happy, and they come," he noted, illustrating the lengths to which local business owners are going to sustain their operations.
The Chinatown BIA has expressed optimism that increased dialogue with the city will facilitate changes to the parking regulations on Dundas Street. However, as of now, there is no established timeline regarding the potential adjustments or when such discussions might yield results. Local businesses continue to advocate for a parking solution that supports their economic viability while balancing the need for effective transit solutions in the area.
