The Dominion Foundry complex in the West Don Lands, a listed heritage site, is in imminent danger of demolition. We need your help to pressure the Province to stop the demolition and start talking about adaptive reuse of at least part of the site.
On January 14, a demolition crew arrived at the site to raze the Foundry buildings. Because these are provincial lands, no demolition permit was required and no notice was given to the City, the community or to heritage advocates.
To add insult to injury, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing chose the first day of the emergency provincial lockdown to quietly move in demolition equipment.
Background
On October 22 Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark issued an MZO relating to the Heritage listed building Dominion Wheel and Foundry on Eastern Avenue.
The Order permits a maximum three towers 141 metres high (40+ storeys). Such a leap in building height and density is completely out of keeping with current structures and plans for the neighbourhoods immediately around the site, including the West Don Lands and Corktown.
Since the buildings currently onsite are “Heritage listed” but not “Heritage designated” (“listed” and “designated” have different meanings) there is no protection for the current structures at all. Moreover, the legal effect of an MZO is to bypass all City planning processes, with no appeal.
More info:
- People furious over Ontario’s plan to demolish four Toronto heritage buildings (blogTO, January 16, 2021)
- Friends of the Foundry Information Bank
The Friends of the Foundry is asking for your help.
What can you do?
- Check out the Friends of the Foundry Facebook page Like it and watch for updates
- Sign the Friends of the Foundry petition to stop the demolition
- Send a short email with the heading “Save the Dominion Foundry” to:
- Premier Ford – pr*****@*****io.ca / do*********@****la.org
- Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing – mi**********@*****io.ca
- Lisa MacLeod. Minister of Heritage, Sport and Tourism – Mi**************@*****io.ca
- Follow the Friends of the Foundry on Twitter and Instagram – Use #SaveTheFoundry