Heritage site isn’t sold, province says
Under fire over the future of the Dominion Foundry heritage site, Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark insists the provincially owned land has not been sold to a developer.
In the wake of a CBC report that the Progressive Conservative government had a provisional deal to sell the Eastern Avenue property to an unnamed buyer, Clark said no such accord has been reached.
“Regardless of whether there (were) conversations around this site … at the end of the day, there are no deals around this site. This site remains in our possession,” the minister said Monday.
“A heritage impact assessment that was conducted on the abandoned site found that it required demolition so that it could undergo full environmental remediation,” added Clark.
“Our government approved a negotiating mandate that would help facilitate the future sale of the site,” he said.
Citing the heritage impact assessment document, CBC reported that the province’s Treasury Board had “approved entering into an agreement of purchase and sale with the purchaser” last Sept. 22.
Clark emphasized to reporters that the government’s priorities for the site have changed since then.
“Now our focus is different. Our focus is on ensuring there’s consultation on that site,” he said, adding the government is consulting with local residents’ associations to determine “how we can utilize some of the heritage elements of that site.”
Demolition on the Dominion Wheels and Foundry Co. buildings was stopped Jan. 29 after Ontario Divisional Court Justice David Corbett found Queen’s Park breached its obligations to city hall by not disclosing the heritage assessment report.
Friday’s court hearing to decide whether demolition can resume at the downtown Toronto site has been adjourned while the city drafts a potential settlement. The settlement, now being written by city staff, would seek to have the province conform to the Ontario Heritage Act and Subdivisions Agreement.
Councillor Kristyn WongTam said if the terms of the settlement, to be sent out this week, are agreed to by the province, a court hearing would no longer be necessary. If not, the court fight resumes.