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Distillery District

Distillery is really working the cultural attractions with the new Central Asian Film Festival at Young Theatre.

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Was just reading about the Ontario Science Centre and Ontario Place, thinking about how the Ford Govt has really seemed to move heaven and earth to ruin the city- whether it’s bullying into those two properties, First Parliament or the MZO on the Foundry (not to mention my one conspiracy theory is that we’re never getting the Ontario Line, but the province is surely taking some prime property they’ll eventually dole out to pals- but I digress)

And I’m just like-
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Absolutely nothing for this. Not a hint, a whisper or a faint fart in a distant hallway. There was the small space beside it the Distillery wants a lease on- but nothing on this building- which continues to get broken windows, There was a whole busted door they covered in plywood. So what gives? Ford & friends have been in fire sale mode for awhile so like… wtf?

I know the proposed hotel across the street is a whole other thing, and the rack house has serious structural needs to keep the brick shell together that may be prohibitive- but the one on the west side looks to be a basic building. So why has it never been discussed in any plan ever? Just thought I’d ask to see if anyone had insight here.
 
jxmith_ said:
Was just reading about the Ontario Science Centre and Ontario Place, thinking about how the Ford Govt has really seemed to move heaven and earth to ruin the city- whether it’s bullying into those two properties, First Parliament or the MZO on the Foundry (not to mention my one conspiracy theory is that we’re never getting the Ontario Line, but the province is surely taking some prime property they’ll eventually dole out to pals- but I digress)

And I’m just like-
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Absolutely nothing for this. Not a hint, a whisper or a faint fart in a distant hallway. There was the small space beside it the Distillery wants a lease on- but nothing on this building- which continues to get broken windows, There was a whole busted door they covered in plywood. So what gives? Ford & friends have been in fire sale mode for awhile so like… wtf?

I know the proposed hotel across the street is a whole other thing, and the rack house has serious structural needs to keep the brick shell together that may be prohibitive- but the one on the west side looks to be a basic building. So why has it never been discussed in any plan ever? Just thought I’d ask to see if anyone had insight here.
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I've been fascinated by this building's puzzling stasis as well, considering it's right in the heart of one of the city's most beloved destinations. What's the story here??
 
jxmith_ said:
From everything I’ve been told, it’s the province for some reason. If anyone knows different…
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I think it belongs to the Province, as does the (large) Jeep dealership lot just north of it - separated by the small lot on Trinity Street that houses (housed??) a major Enbridge junction. (SEE: https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...-60-trinity-st-enbridge-s.31389/#post-1620465 ) With the new Enbridge gas pipeline under Lake Shore (just completed?) this Enbridge land MAY no longer be required by them.
 
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I miss that building too. Would have been awesome if they managed to repurpose it

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I also haaaaaaate how we’ve managed to go 20yrs and go completely backwards with this.

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The deal was that the city did the land swap with the people who built the data centre, and the Green P we’d been operating was to be turned into a parkette. BUT, I remember writing when Pam McConnell was in office- and they explained that they were renting it to the dealership to raise funds for the First Parliament site.

Sooooo, that turned out well didn’t it? They should be taking it back, making it a garden, or a stopping zone, or a dog park- don’t care. Anything would be more useful to the neighbourhood than car storage.
 
jxmith_ said:
Found an old drive with 20yo photos. I think I’d just heard of the Distillery being remade as an arts district and made the trip to check it out for the first time. I miss that billboard
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These are fantastic, thank you for sharing them. I agree there's quite a bit of great signage that should have been saved. I remember walking around there a number of times when I first moved into the area in 2003/2004, and I regret not taking photos. I could not have imagined how much Corktown and Distillery would change, and how quickly. I sometimes forget what used to be there. I do remember being quite concerned for a few years that the Distillery would not succeed as it was something of a desolate ghost town. Hard to imagine now fighting through the crowds during a festival or on a holiday weekend in the summer...
 
CityPainter said:
These are fantastic, thank you for sharing them. I agree there's quite a bit of great signage that should have been saved. I remember walking around there a number of times when I first moved into the area in 2003/2004, and I regret not taking photos. I could not have imagined how much Corktown and Distillery would change, and how quickly. I sometimes forget what used to be there. I do remember being quite concerned for a few years that the Distillery would not succeed as it was something of a desolate ghost town. Hard to imagine now fighting through the crowds during a festival or on a holiday weekend in the summer..
Click to expand...

It’s fascinating to see what has and hasn’t developed over the years, and it’s a bit of a miracle that the Distillery had grown with visitors despite the surroundings dragging its feet in development.
 
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