All of the buildings at a Mississauga plaza are gone.
A plaza that has served a Mississauga community since 1968 is no more.
The remaining stores at Gold Star Plaza have been demolished, clearing the way for a major residential development that will bring three highrise buildings to the Cooksville area.
Located at 60 Dundas Street East at Shepard Avenue, the plaza was once a familiar part of the Cooksville landscape, home to restaurants and businesses including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Montfort Restaurant, a convenience store and a bingo hall.
Gold Star Plaza at 60 Dundas Street East in Mississauga has been demolished.
Now, the single-storey plaza has been reduced to rubble as plans move ahead for three residential towers of 32, 31 and 16 storeys.
The redevelopment is another example of the transformation taking place along the Dundas Street corridor as Mississauga and communities across the Greater Toronto Area look to accommodate more housing.
But while the demolition of Gold Star Plaza marks the end of a nearly six-decade chapter at the site, the property itself has already gone through a significant transformation once before.
The plaza replaced something with considerably deeper roots in Cooksville history.
Before Gold Star Plaza was built, the property was home to Crofton Villa, a grand estate dating back to around 1890.
The property was originally built as a private residence for Miles Washington Cook, the son of Jacob Cook, the man who gave Cooksville its name.
After changing hands over the years, the property was purchased by Martin Crofton in 1922. He transformed the former home into Crofton Villa, an upscale inn, restaurant and banquet hall that became a prominent gathering place in the community.
Crofton Villa once stood on the site.
The restaurant was known for steak and chicken dinners and afternoon tea and hosted banquets and other events. In 1927, one such gathering was attended by Ontario Premier Howard Ferguson.
The property later came under the ownership of Edward Waller, who operated Waller’s Restaurant while also using the grounds for the Cooksville Rod & Gun Club.
Then, in 1968, the historic villa was demolished.
In its place came Gold Star Plaza.
For 58 years, the plaza became part of the everyday fabric of Cooksville, eventually becoming home to a collection of restaurants, shops and services serving residents along Dundas Street.
Its redevelopment has been in the works for several years.
Almega Asset Management purchased the approximately 2.65-acre property in September 2021 for $39.6 million, partnering with Windsor Private Capital.
The original vision called for a mixed-use development with approximately 900 residential units, including rental buildings and a condominium tower.
By 2023, the proposal had evolved into plans for three condominium towers containing more than 1,000 residential units, along with ground-floor retail and office space.
The proposal initially called for towers of 16, 27 and 29 storeys.
The project became the subject of a dispute between the developer and the City of Mississauga and eventually went before the Ontario Land Tribunal.
In October 2023, City staff recommended that Mississauga oppose the development at the tribunal, citing concerns including floodplain and erosion control, sanitary services, traffic and shadowing on nearby homes.
The developer and the city ultimately reached a settlement.
On Jan. 8, 2025, the Ontario Land Tribunal issued its final decision approving the redevelopment of 60 Dundas Street East.
Future development on the site.
The approved project increased the height of two of the proposed towers, allowing buildings of 16, 31 and 32 storeys.
The development will include more than 1,000 residential condominium units, along with commercial and retail space at ground level.
Construction of the first tower, a 32-storey building with 325 units, is expected to begin immediately, followed by the second tower a year later and the third tower a year after that.
The property is also close to the future Hazel McCallion Line, making the site part of a broader push to put more housing and density along major transit corridors in Mississauga.
And so, another piece of Cooksville’s past has disappeared.
Gold Star Plaza replaced Crofton Villa, but it too has now given way to a new vision for the neighbourhood.
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