Ontario Science Centre

[generalcanada]

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-247740.pdf

Oh heres a twist:

The Lease requires that, where the building constructed is damaged by any cause where over 50% of the building is unfit for the purpose of a museum and is not capable of repair/restoration within three years or where the Province fails to make available the funding to repair/restore within one year, both or either of the City and TRCA may terminate the lease with respect to their own lands. Where the lease is terminated, the City/TRCA can elect to either take possession of the buildings on the Site or require the Province restore the Site to its original condition at the expense of the Province

Also staff saying its not feasible to run the science center. it would require a full doubling of the entire arts budget just for the science center

 

[4hghr]

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-247740.pdf

Oh heres a twist:



Also staff saying its not feasible to run the science center. it would require a full doubling of the entire arts budget just for the science center

operating at a loss for a long time. Mostly when the bridge went down and the OSC had to hire BBM to run shuttles to the rear entrance. Tens of thousands of dollars a week to run the shuttles.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-247740.pdf

Oh heres a twist:

Also staff saying its not feasible to run the science center. it would require a full doubling of the entire arts budget just for the science center

It makes no sense for the city to run a science centre in any case - especially in parallel with a provincial facility. Perhaps what they should do is squeeze from the province a commitment to stay for a limited time (along with maybe a cost-sharing for roof replacement for the Reception and Tower building - I don't really see the point of keeping the Valley Building) - in lieu of the province is planning to pay some private company for a lease for at least a few years. At the end of that period, maybe the old OSC can be turned into a STEM school (with the conversion funded by perhaps the redevelopment of the two parking lots)? The province gets a climbdown and some public goodwill;; the city gets a smaller, renewed facility that is ready for reuse - in the context of a newly intensified community that is right by a transit line straight to downtown.

AoD

 

[rdaner]

^All great points and it looks like there are (early) discussions on a way to move forward. I am not opposed to some demolition and would be fine if the ‘interesting’ bits were kept and new uses found. Of course extensive development of parking lots might defer a lot of costs.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-science-centre-1.7265399

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

I'm personally a full restoration/preservation kinda person...as I feel the whole structure is a valued architectural gem that needs to be wholly retained. And any compromise to that here will likely just end up being disappointing, self-defeating and half arsed...I mean compromise is what happened to 401 Bay, in that example. As I also doubt that it will appease the governing Tories who probably still want it nuked from the sky, IMO..