Residents fear heritage site slated for the wrecking ball
Province plans housing for former foundry lands along Eastern Avenue
Representatives of Toronto’s Corktown community say they are shocked, blindsided and “a little heartbroken” at signs that the government is preparing to demolish the provincially owned Wheel and Foundries Company site on Eastern Avenue.
The foundry buildings are on one of three sites in the West Don Lands that are under minister’s zoning orders (MZOs), which allow Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark to overrule the city’s planning designations and bypass public process, including community consultations.
On Thursday, local politicians and residents said they were appalled by what they described as a stealthy move to tear down the heritage buildings. Community groups, who had been hoping to see the site transformed into a cultural hub and community centre in what’s known as Toronto’s Canary District, say they are bitterly disappointed that the province hasn’t consulted them.
Corktown Toronto and the International
Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA), had envisioned the buildings as a performing venue and resource centre for local musicians, including a music store, restaurant and community centre. There was also room for affordable housing for musicians, said IRCPA founder Ann Summers Dossena.
“In the last few years, Toronto’s music community has seen venue after venue close, the Foundry site would have offered a stable, profitable model that has already seen success in other global cities,” said Aaron Binder, president of the Corktown Residents and Business Association.
“The Ontario government’s decision to use a MZO on this property without community consultation isn’t just disappointing, it’s damaging to the future success of Toronto’s music community and trust in the Progressive Conservative government,” he said.
One resident said there had been people on-site all week, and on Thursday heavy construction equipment appeared.
Some residents reported that workers on the site told them the buildings were to be torn down by March.
City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and Toronto NDP MPP Suze Morrison, who vowed to fight the demolition, said tearing down the four buildings would not qualify as essential construction under the province’s own state-of-emergency rules.
Wong-Tam said she has asked the city’s transportation staff to revoke the construction hoarding and right-of-way permits issued for the site. As soon as that happens, she will demand the equipment be removed immediately, she said.
She told the Star that the province requested the permits, and transportation staff were unaware the properties were on the city’s heritage register.
No demolition or development permit application has been received by the city, according to a spokesperson.
Wong-Tam said city planning staff told her the provincial government doesn’t need a demolition permit to tear down the buildings.
Clark’s office said the province issued MZOs for the West Don Lands sites “to accelerate the creation of 1,000 new affordable (housing) units.”
“The Eastern Avenue site has sat vacant in a state of bad repair since the 1980s, and the government is committed to leveraging this underutilized provincial property to build new affordable housing and community space,” said Adam Wilson. The maximum allowable height for the site is 43 storeys, he said.
The MZO permits up to three tall buildings. It does not address the property’s heritage value or the issue of affordable housing, said Wong-Tam.
The foundry that made railway equipment in the early 20th century represents the largest block of heritage buildings in the 80-acre West Don Lands precinct, said a statement by the councillor.
“The demolition of these heritage assets would be an incalculable detriment to proper city planning. It signals to municipalities and developers across the province that the (Premier Doug) Ford government is unwilling to follow its own recently updated heritage planning policies. If the province refuses to respect its own heritage policies, why should anyone else,” said the statement.
Morrison (Toronto Centre) said the site has been on the city’s heritage list since 2004. She compared it to the vibrant Distillery District nearby.
“Think what would have happened if the province had demolished the Gooderham and Worts site!” she said. “It is in the power of the province to override the city’s heritage designations, but I find it incredibly troubling that the minister of municipal affairs and housing thinks he can steamroller over a community and an active heritage site as a favour to their developer friends. It’s absolutely outrageous.”
“Think what would have happened if the province had demolished the Gooderham and Worts site!”
MPP SUZE MORRISON COMPARING FOUNDRY LANDS TO THE DISTILLERY DISTRICT