Apparently active negotiations are under way with Artscape for "the sale and repurposing" of this building (quote from Toronto Lands Corporation). A closing for the sale of the property is expected in May 2010. Looks like it will probably be saved.
Well this is great news....
http://www.thestar.com/unassigned/a...or-shaw-st-school-as-studios-for-artists?bn=1
A local arts organization is about to breathe new life into a historic Toronto school that has stood silent for a decade.
The non-profit organization Artscape has purchased the Shaw Street School for an undisclosed amount from the Toronto District School Board and will turn the 1915 building into affordable non-residential condominiums and rental studios for arts groups.
"Our vision is to create a community arts hub, and we're hoping this has a strong educational focus," said Tim Jones, Artscape's president and CEO. To be called the Artscape Shaw Street Centre, the 70,000-square-foot building will be used to promote the arts and provide community programming with a focus on youth.
"I'm not in favour of selling off school lands, but this one is different," said Chris Bolton, trustee for Ward 10.
"In this one we're actually gaining by the sale, and it remains in the community. It's going to offer services to the community and will enhance (it)," Bolton said.
It's expected the arts groups who buy condos or rent space will collaborate with neighbourhood schools.
The three-storey sandstone school on Shaw St., just north of Queen St., was closed years ago because of declining enrolment. The students were moved next door to Givins Shaw Public School.
"It was a grand old school with stained glass," said Bolton, who used to teach there. But "there were problems around the façade for many years and the feeling was that we couldn't keep both buildings open."
Even now, scaffolding on the east side props up the brickwork that supports many special architectural details and decorations. Refurbishing the building will cost millions of dollars, expected to come from the sale of units, philanthropic contributions, government donations and a mortgage, Jones said.
A condo developer offered to purchase the school about five years ago, but Bolton said it wasn't a good fit for the area. The school is on a side street without services or parking and the condominium would have towered over the adjacent school.
Instead, in 2006, the board hired Artscape to study how the building could be reused. Residents were in full support of community arts programming. The Queen St. W. area is known for its alternative arts scene and is home to about 50 to 60 independent galleries, Jones said.
In the next few months, Artscape will contact other non-profit arts organizations and hold information sessions before asking for formal programming proposals from prospective tenants.
Jones estimated it will be about two years before the centre is occupied.