The International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA) with support from the Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA) are currently preparing a proposal regarding the abandoned, heritage Foundry buildings in the West Don Lands, Block 17 and 26. We propose to regenerate the buildings as a Centre to enable the large number of musicians in the city, province and visiting from across Canada, to be able to live, work, create and perform here. This will also provide a Hub for the diverse and growing Communities in historic Corktown, to meet and work inclusively together.
Click on the logo, then right-click to save in high-resolution.
LOGO UNVEILED FOR THE FOUNDRY:
CANADA’S PLACE FOR MUSIC & COMMUNITY HUB
The local planning group of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists, including residents and businesses in Toronto’s Corktown neighbourhood and professional advisors, announces a conceptualized logo for the musicians’ centre they envision in the historic Dominion Foundry buildings.
Designed by John Harris, President of the Harris Institute, the logo reflects the working group’s vision to regenerate the Machine Shop and Warehouse on the site at 153-185 Eastern Avenue as a vibrant centre for musicians and the diverse communities of the Corktown neighbourhoods.
John Harris describes his logo as representing “a melting pot for music, with the cartoonish keyboard reflecting childlike beginnings. The melting keyboard symbolizes movement as the name fills up, indicating progress and completion. Musical accomplishment is signified by the gold in the keyboard. The generic gloved hand suggests gender equity, while the industrial component characterizes business.”
The IRCPA and planning group invite the public to comment on the logo and the concept of The Foundry as a place for musicians to meet, work and perform, as well as being a community hub. Comments may be emailed to ann.dossena1957@hotmail.com, tweeted to @IRCPA, or posted in the Comments here. A design proposal for these facilities and the overall Foundry Site, from a team of residents, businesses and professional advisors, is available below.
Province’s Demolition of Dominion Foundry Temporarily Halted
IRCPA & CORKTOWN ORGANIZATION INTRODUCE POTENTIAL DESIGNS FOR REGENERATING HISTORIC SITE
On Friday, January 29, Judge D.L. Corbett of the Ontario Divisional Court ordered a monthlong halt to the demolition by the province of the historic Dominion Foundry in Toronto’s West Don Lands.
The steering committee of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA, a service organization for Canada’s musicians) and the Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA) introduces its preliminary proposal to regenerate the site, at 153 to 185 Eastern Avenue. It would become a vibrant centre for musicians and the diverse communities of the Corktown neighbourhood.
The regenerated site would include a working and performance centre for musicians, a cultural centre, aimed at 30% affordable housing for musicians, daycare, and a community hub for the 25,000 people and businesses in the area. The goal is to make the project self-sustaining, similar to existing facilities in New York. Already, some musical organizations have expressed interest in moving their offices there.
The Foundry design team consists of architect Jonathan Kearns (Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.), architectural designer Mateusz Nowacki, urban planner Josh Reiniger, and project manager Larry Webb.
According to Josh Reiniger, the team has taken care to preserve the heritage buildings intact, “save for having some taller buildings carefully integrated and riding overhead, with drop down portions to provide access, exiting and servicing.”
The proposal (see “Aerial View”) envisions two residential towers of 12 storeys, placed on top of the iconic machine shop and east warehouse on the southern side of the site. The two other historic buildings – one of which is now partially demolished – would be united by a six-storey, wave-shaped residential building constructed overtop. The “Wave” is an architectural response to the Gardiner Expressway to the south and seen as harmonious with the musical function of the site.
The two 12-storey towers yield 142,084 sq. ft. GFA (gross floor area) and approximately 142 residential suites. The “Wave” building, at six storeys, provides another 116,250 sq. ft. GFA and approximately 116 units. The total would be 258 suites, 50 per cent of which would be affordable housing.
Underground parking could be built below the open space “music garden” at the southwest corner of the property.
Architect Jonathan Kearns sees “the potential for really exciting architecture to come out of the integration of the new buildings with the older heritage buildings. One enhances the other!
“The first great step towards sustainability and zero carbon,” he added, “is to repurpose and renovate the existing buildings, not demolish them!”
In support of the planned grid of exterior mews lanes and interior gallerias, planner Josh Reiniger noted, “In the era of Covid-19 we have seen how important open parkland is in our communities.
“These spaces, beautifully landscaped, will provide a very human scale walkable environment, with lots to see both inside and out, give users access to the building exteriors and interiors, and provide much opportunity to develop interesting programming.”
Repurposing of the Historical Buildings:
Warehouse and Machine Shop – Main Floor: Corktown Communities Hub, restaurant/cafe, performance venue, boardroom. Upper Floors: practice/recording studios, office space.
Northwest Building: offices, rehearsal/performance venue.
Office Buildings and Management Office – daycare.
The Foundry: Canada’s Place for Music + Corktown Communities Hub (working title) is the initiative of the Corktown based IRCPA, whose founder is internationally honoured artists manager Ann Summers Dossena. As part of the IRCPA mandate is assisting emerging professional musicians, the lack of meeting spaces for both musicians and residents allied the IRCPA and CRBA. They saw the regeneration of the Foundry’s heritage buildings as a solution to the economic, cultural and social issues faced by both organizations.
The Foundry Steering Committee is headed by Ann Summers Dossena and CRBA President Aaron Binder. Other members include Katherine Cash, Anna Gemmiti, Carol Gimbel, John Harris, Denys Karpov, Linda Litwack, Robert Missen, Josh Reiniger, Jennifer Taylor and Larry Webb.
The IRCPA/CRBA Steering Committee congratulates and thanks the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association and Respect Local Planning for launching court action to halt the demolition. “They have successfully defended our heritage buildings from further damage – for the moment – on behalf of the Corktown and West Don Lands communities. As well. we thank City Councillor Kristyn Wong Tam and MPP Suze Morrison for their support.
“We also salute our design team, all respected in their fields, who have given their time to attend meetings and draft the proposal so quickly. Thanks also to a growing number of our prominent musicians and others in the arts community who have written to the Premier and provincial ministers expressing their dismay at the started demolition, and their support for our proposal.”
The IRCPA/CRBA team is seeking time to complete a Feasibility Study for the Foundry project. Tax receiptable donations may be made at ircpa.net/donate (click on Save the Foundry Study; Charitable No. 100220417).
More info is available at the following:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ircpa.toronto
Twitter: @IRCPA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ircpa.toronto
Corktown (CRBA) info can be found at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CorktownTO
Twitter: @CorktownTO
Hi-Res Images of Proposed Foundry Regeneration
Click on image then right-click to save high-resolution.
DOMINION FOUNDRY DEMOLITION PAUSED UNTIL FULL HEARING IN LATE FEBRUARY
Congratulations and thanks to the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association!
They have successfully defended our Heritage Buildings from further damage- for the moment on behalf of the Corktown and West Don Lands communities. The Corktown Residents and Business Association together with the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists, had started a feasibility study proposing a Centre for Musicians with new affordable housing, two new performance venues, and a Hub with childcare for the diverse communities in historic Corktown.
NOW is the time for all good people to come to the aid of Canadian musicians!
NOW is the time for all Canadian artists to come to the aid of their profession!
Share this information. Write letters and copy us:
YOU CAN DONATE, WITH OUR THANKS, TO THE FOUNDRY STUDY
(use the dropdown arrow to select “Save the Foundry Study” fund)
OPEN LETTERS TO DOUG FORD
To: premier@ontario.ca <premier@ontario.ca>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>
Dear Sirs/Madam,
My name is Adrianne Pieczonka, O.C. I am a Canadian opera soprano based in Toronto who has performed internationally for over three decades.
I implore you to stop the demolition of Dominion Foundry Complex!!
This is an important heritage site and should be used for a variety of purposes in order to serve its community – to offer a hub for music and the arts (a plan laid out to you by Ann Summers, IRCPA Founder) and to foster thriving community spaces benefitting musicians, artists, small businesses and local Corktown residents.
The possibility of housing a local daycare and a location to foster new small emerging businesses would also be lost.
I appreciate the city’s need to offer more reasonably affordable housing but I urge you to reconsider razing this important heritage site, located at 153 to 185 Eastern Avenue/Blocks 17 and 26 in the West Donlands.
Yours sincerely,
Adrianne Pieczonka O.C.
Hello Premier Ford:
I am a symphony and opera conductor who has been blessed with an international career over more than the past half century. For much of that time I have called Ontario my home and am currently a resident. See www.borisbrott.com
I implore you to stop the demolition of the Dominion Foundry complex.
Musicians urgently require a space to audition, work creatively and practice (particularly when practice in apartments and condos is impractical and disturbing to neighbours).
The international Resource Centre of Performing Artists has proposed creating a hub for Ontario’s musicians and for the areas 25,000 residents. A steering committee is in the midst of a feasibility study demonstrating that the IRCPA/CRBA Foundry Project can be self sustaining.
I strongly urge you to help by reconsidering demolition of the existing buildings on this important heritage site.
Sincerely,
Boris
Boris Brott O.C., O.Ont., O.Que., D. Mus.,LL.D.
ARTISTS QUOTES
A singer approached me recently. He said: ..” everybody gets up in the morning, has coffee and goes to work. but we have no place to work!”
– Ann Summers Dossena
Artists tell me they have to take turns every day to practise in their living spaces. Many are being forced to leave the city. Another wrote today: “Toronto needs artists and what artists desperately need right now is designated space to practice, hone, and share their craft.“
A violinist wrote to Mr. Ford: “Toronto needs areas for musicians to meet, work, co-create and perform. New work and new art depend on spaces.”
“It is one challenge to save these buildings from an historic and architectural perspective. It is another to define a purpose for them into the future. This is where the proposal of the IRCPA and alliance of concerned Corktown residents warrants serious consideration.”
“I strongly urge all of you to give serious consideration to both saving the Foundry and to repurposing it as IRCPA proposes. It will make a profound difference to Torontonians, and Ontarians, for generations to come.”
Radio interviews of Ann Summers Dossena about The Foundry
CIUT 89.5 fm by Philip Conlon
Part 1
Part 2
Fight Back with Libby Znaimer – ZOOMER RADIO | 740 AM | 96.7 FM
@fightbacklibby and @zoomerradio
Part 1
Part 2
Threatened Demolition of The Dominion Foundry Complex Heritage Site
(153 to 185 Eastern Avenue/Blocks 17 and 26 in the West Don Lands)
MUSIC ORGANIZATION SEEKS MEETING WITH ONTARIO PREMIER
The Dominion Foundry complex in Toronto’s West Don Lands, a listed heritage site recognized by the Smithsonian Institution, is in imminent danger of demolition by the Province of Ontario. The International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA) has been working together with the Corktown communities to regenerate the site into a thriving cultural, innovative and communities centre for the city, the province and the country. Details are at https://ircpa.net/the-foundry.
Last week, as The Foundry Steering Committee met, 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 heritage advocates – although the IRCPA and Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA) in October had emailed the Premier and Ministers Lisa MacLeod (Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries) and Steve Clark (Municipal Affairs and Housing) and subsequently spoken with the offices of the two ministers.
The IRCPA and CRBA are asking to meet urgently with Premier Doug Ford to discuss the impact for this project to go ahead. At the very least, they request the opportunity to complete the feasibility study already under way.
The IRCPA (ircpa.net) is part of the support system in Canada’s music industry. Since 1983, it has worked behind the scenes helping artists develop their full potential by keeping their skills sharpened, becoming savvy professionals and starting their own small businesses.
Ann Summers Dossena, IRCPA founder, longtime Corktown resident and a CRBA board member, noted, “Our joint project addresses immediate and future economic, cultural and social issues. The need for a centre for Canada’s musicians has grown more urgent every year and become dire during the time of COVID. The Foundry will create two much-needed performance venues, spaces for discussion, exhibitions and inter-disciplinary cross pollination with innovators, and affordable housing for musicians. A number of musical organizations have already expressed interest in moving their offices here.
“A hub for the diverse communities of historic Corktown, it will include daycare and the possibility for the 25,000 residents and businesses to come together as an inclusive neighbourhood.
“Very importantly, the complex would become completely self-sustaining, based on similar successful models in the U.S.
“We have learned there are no applications for development on the site. So we look forward to a fruitful conversation with the Premier.”
HISTORY
Proposal for dominion foundry site, West Don Lands by International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA) + The Corktown residents and business association(CRBA)
Finding a positive solution to social and economic issues in historic Corktown
THE FOUNDRY
Heritage Listed Buildings (City of Toronto)
“The property at 153-185 Eastern Avenue is recommended for inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties for its cultural resource value or interest”
“Collectively, (the buildings) are historically and architecturally significant as a good example of an industrial enclave in the area adjoining the lower Don River.”
MUSICIANS
In fulfilling its mandate, the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA), a registered Charitable Organization, recognized the great need of a centre or home base for musicians both residing in Toronto or visiting for work. In our City of Music there is no place for musicians to meet, collaborate or create together, as with the Ballet and Opera centres. During the PanAm Games in 2015 we noticed the Dominion Foundry heritage site and inquired at the Ministry of Infrastructure for the Province. We were advised that many people and organizations were interested in it.
Read more
Residents and business owners have passed by the majestic, mysterious buildings wondering what would become of them with no sign of interest from anyone. It occurred to the IRCPA that it is conducive to accommodating two small performance venues with upper floors studios and rehearsal rooms or offices. The idea was extremely popular with the non-profit Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA) and a letter of support was sent to the IRCPA IN 2018.
CORKTOWN COMMUNITIES
The growing communities of Corktown have doubled the population, becoming a wonderful, diverse, neighbourhood. However, it has no place to meet or work together inclusively. In 2019, the idea of making the ground floor open to the public and become the Hub for all the Communities of Corktown seemed ideal and sensible.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Professionals in the Community stepped up to explore the possibilities. An urban planner, Josh Reiniger prepared the Background Study of the Site; a project manager, Larry Webb, came out of retirement, and architect Jonathan Kearns, along with business and resident volunteers made a Steering Committee. Consultations were held with city councillor Kristyn Wong Tam, Toronto’s Music Office, experts in development including help from Artsbuild Ontario. All advised to create a feasibility study to make our case for using the Foundry site for a Centre for Music Making, similar to two colleagues in New York City, the National Opera Centre and the DiMenna Centre, who were self-sufficient in three and five years respectively, and who have been very generous in sharing their lessons learned. Although we are confident the Foundry would be successful, we were advised that without a feasibility study we wouldn’t be able to convince the Province.
What better use for bringing this majestic Foundry building back to life than serving thousands of artists, residents, businesses, visitors and tourists, plus adding two performance venues to compensate for those recently lost in Toronto?
MZO October 23, 2020
The Province issued an MZO on the site along with required uses to be made of the site, which surprisingly are aligned with our Foundry proposal. The MZO would normally be followed by an application for the property. However, at time of publication, we have no news of an application for the site.
On October 27, a letter was sent informing the Premier of our proposed use of the Foundry, and was copied to the Minister of Heritage, Tourism, Culture and Sport, Lisa MacLeod, Ministers Steve Clark, Laurie Scott, and Vic Fedeli. In it, we requested a meeting to examine our suggestions and all possibilities.
We were able to have a conversation with the staff of Minister MacLeod, who have contacted their counterparts in the office of Steve Clark. We are hoping to speak with them soon. There hasn’t yet been a response from the Premier’s office.
In the meantime, we feel there are several positive factors in our favour. First, that the uses they listed for the site are similar to ours. Second, the impact of a Cultural Centre will be far greater than that of another condo building in the area, Third, the efforts the Premier has already announced he is making in the investment for the recovery with projects in infrastructure, communities, culture, recreation, and opportunities to rehabilitate our heritage buildings, and promote tourism, and affordable housing, are all aligned in our proposal for extensive solutions to social and economic issues in Corktown, in Toronto as a Music City, and for Ontarians.
At the time of publication, we are waiting to know if any application has been made for the Foundry site.
If not, we can obtain funding and request time from the Province to complete the Feasibility study. We will also put out a Call to Action to all Corktowners who wish to be Founders or Volunteers.
If an application has in fact been made would we have an opportunity to speak to the developer/builder as we were invited to do with the executives of Gooderham & Worts and their builders in the planning and design of the original Distillery District years ago?
VISION
The Foundry is proposed to be an independently and sustainably operated space that gives artists and community members a place to live, work, and play.
In fulfilling its mission, the IRCPA has identified the urgent need for a facility in Toronto, for musicians currently underserved by lack of resources. There is no place for artists to meet together, exchange creative ideas, to work, study, practise, rehearse, or to be mentored. The resources and facilities proposed will enable artists to follow their career paths by creating space to come together, audition, record, perform, and foster lifelong learning. The rejuvenated ground floor will be a Hub for the fast growing, diverse Communities in the historic Corktown area. New development will create affordable housing for the music community in perpetuity.
SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental
Through a green retrofit of a heritage building, operations, and transit access, the Foundry will embrace environmental sustainability with low embodied and operational carbon.
Economic
As an independent organization, the Foundry will operate to positively impact the financial well-being of artists nationally, and to create long-term local economic investment.
Cultural
Through the preservation of historic buildings, the Foundry will establish a new model for inclusive and secure spaces to perform, learn, educate, innovate, and share cultural activities.
Social
The Foundry will create space for community groups at low-to-no cost so that everyone has equal access to excellent resources.
PLANS INCLUDE
Upper Floors, reserved for musicians and arts organizations.
- Practice/rehearsal/teaching rooms
- Recording Studio
- Opportunity to experiment in multi-media programming
- Office space for arts organizations who have outgrown their facilities
(see Ontario Arts Council report of 2008) - International auditions by artistic directors/producers coming to Toronto to
a) save artists heavy travel expenses with best possible audition conditions
b) enhancing the reputation of Toronto as a City of Music.
Main Floor: Corktown Communities Hub
- Cafe/Restaurant
- Management office and Board Room (giving easy access to the Communities)
- Exhibition space, retail (instrument or IT repair) bank machine and other conveniences
- Several areas for socializing, meetings, reading, people watching
- Entrance to two performance venues (replacing some recently lost in the city)
- Box Office for venues
The Foundry is envisioned as a resource for the neighbouring residents, after-school music students, visitors and tourists. It’s well documented that an active arts centre in any community benefits all those in the community, not just those who work there. Considering the efforts the province is making in the investment for the recovery with projects in Infrastructure, Communities, Culture, Recreation, and opportunities to rehabilitate our heritage buildings, the promotion in Tourism, and affordable housing, it seems our goals are truly aligned.
Why a centre dedicated to serving Canadian musicians nationally in Toronto?
Toronto is home to 90% more performing artists than any other Canadian city, according to Ontario Arts Council.
Artists congregate in Toronto as the’ New York’ of Canada.The establishment of a community hub as a permanent home for musicians and related organizations , and a place to promote community/public interaction and awareness, is important to all Canadians. Musicians deserve a place to work and experiment just as the opera and dance communities in Toronto.
For more information, please call 416.362.1422, email: ann.dossena1957@hotmail.com or mail:
43 Bright Street, Toronto, ON. Canada M5A 3H5
The National Opera America Center in New York City is a model for the IRCPA Centre in Toronto.
Dedicated to the opera community in North America, the Opera Centre is self-sustaining with rented facilities and modest fees.
Each month, as many as 5,000 people now visit the Opera Center for public programs, auditions, recitals, rehearsals, recording sessions and meetings.
If you are planning a trip to New York and wish to visit/tour the National Opera America Centre, in mid-Manhattan, we will arrange an appointment for you. They are wonderful colleagues.
Photographs of the National Opera Center in New York are shown by courtesy of Opera America, Marc Scorca, President.
