Preferred choice for the St. Lawrence Centre Redevelopment Competition

  • Brook McIlroy, Trahan Architects, and Hood Design Studio

    Votes: 11 13.9%

  • Diamond Schmitt, Smoke Architecture, and MVVA

    Votes: 12 15.2%

  • Hariri Pontarini, LMN Architects, Tawaw Collective, Smoke Architecture, and SLA

    Votes: 39 49.4%

  • RDHA, Mecanoo, Two Row Architect, and NAK Design Strategies

    Votes: 16 20.3%

  • Zeidler Architecture, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Two Row Architect, and PLANT Architect

    Votes: 1 1.3%
  • Total voters
    79
  • Poll closed .
DSC said:

Motions​

1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Shelley Carroll (Carried)
That the Executive Committee adopt the following recommendations in the supplementary report (September 17, 2024) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer [EX17.17a]:

1. City Council delete Recommendation 1 from the Board of Directors of TO Live as part of report CT11.2 and give direction that the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Redevelopment Project will not proceed to the detailed design phase.

2. Subject to Council approval of Recommendation 1 from this supplementary report, City Council direct the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to include funding in the 2025 Budget for the Mayor’s consideration, that will enable TO Live to fully address SOGR and accessibility requirements at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, to be informed by the Building Condition Assessment once completed.
Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor Olivia Chow (Carried)

Though I wish we had the $$ and the sense to build a new SLCA..........
Click to expand...

For clarity for everyone, should the above be adopted by Council, this effectively kills this project.

***

That said, Cllr. Matlow made public that there have been active discussions with major philanthropists, and others, about funding, and he expressed some hope, that something firm by way of a commitment might come forward in time for Council to reconsider.

Council is in 8 days.........which is a very tight timeline for a proverbial miracle.

Mayor Chow made an off-hand remark following Cllr. Matlow............'There is always hope'...

Whether that should be read as sarcasm.......or serious, i leave to others.
 
Sometimes we get the bear. Sometimes the bear gets us... /sigh
 
1728592777042.png
 
From The Star:

www.thestar.com

Toronto’s aging St. Lawrence Centre is to be repaired after the city’s executive committee approves an $81-million plan

The 10-year plan will address accessibility concerns and ensure the building can meet the city’s net-zero emissions targets.
www.thestar.com www.thestar.com

The intro:

Mayor Olivia Chow and members of the city’s executive committee have approved an $81-million plan to repair the aging St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in downtown Toronto.​

The capital project, set to unfold over the next 10 years, will address accessibility concerns and ensure the building can meet the city’s net-zero emissions targets, according to a report from city staff.​

42
 
I dunno, I was more thinking of a sunk-cost fallacy than being an an "eyesore" here...
 
Northern Light said:
Unfortunate..........good money after bad.............its an outmoded, ill-conceived eyesore that doesn't meet the needs of its tenants or the broader public.
Click to expand...
The amendment is a ray of hope and I have heard that 'there is private money coming". We shall see!

Motions​

Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Shelley Carroll (Carried)
That:

1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to oversee the implementation of the 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan as well as future capital plans in alignment with the Capital Prioritization Framework on behalf of TO Live, which includes the planning, design, procurement, and execution of state of good repair projects, capital improvements, net zero, accessibility and other facility-related projects for the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Meridian Hall, and Meridian Arts Centre, in consultation with the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

2. City Council request the Board of Directors of TO Live to direct the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live to report back to the Board of Directors of TO Live by no later than March 31, 2025, with an update on commitments for additional non-city funding no later than June 30, 2025.

3. Should the Board of Directors of TO Live secure a commitment for additional external funding, City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live, to adjust and align the scope of state of good repair projects and future capital plans, as appropriate, wherein the additional funds shall be directed towards fulfilling outcomes identified in the community consultations outlined in the report (September 6, 2024) from the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live on St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Redevelopment Project.
 
DSC said:
The amendment is a ray of hope and I have heard that 'there is private money coming". We shall see!

Motions​

Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Shelley Carroll (Carried)
That:

1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to oversee the implementation of the 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan as well as future capital plans in alignment with the Capital Prioritization Framework on behalf of TO Live, which includes the planning, design, procurement, and execution of state of good repair projects, capital improvements, net zero, accessibility and other facility-related projects for the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Meridian Hall, and Meridian Arts Centre, in consultation with the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

2. City Council request the Board of Directors of TO Live to direct the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live to report back to the Board of Directors of TO Live by no later than March 31, 2025, with an update on commitments for additional non-city funding no later than June 30, 2025.

3. Should the Board of Directors of TO Live secure a commitment for additional external funding, City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live, to adjust and align the scope of state of good repair projects and future capital plans, as appropriate, wherein the additional funds shall be directed towards fulfilling outcomes identified in the community consultations outlined in the report (September 6, 2024) from the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live on St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Redevelopment Project.
Click to expand...
I hope so cuz that structure’s concrete exterior looks shabby & worn.
 
Unless giving it regular scrubs and a clean...Brutalism doesn't really age well. It's always been it's biggest weakness, IMO.
 
But can Toronto have some pizzazz in their cultural & performing arts buildings.. Front St could be a great int’l visitor street if they had some standout architectural design, smart modern street aesthetics. Meridian Hall is bland also, way too forgettable. The last few years the waterfront has been getting all the attention (finally) while downtown streets & streetscapes are being ignored.
Here’s hoping the new Chief Planner notices that.
 
Council made a further change and now the renovations are in the capable hands of Corporate Real Estate Services - the same people who have managed the North St Lawrence Market project so well!

Sigh!

Motions (City Council)​

1a - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Paula Fletcher (Carried)
That:

1. City Council amend Executive Committee Recommendation 1 by adding the words “rescind the delegation to the Board of Directors of TO Live of the capital budget planning, approval and implementation for TO Live” after the words “City Council” and adding the words “of this decision, amend City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 23, Civic Theatres accordingly,” after the words “TO Live” so that it now reads as follows:

1. City Council rescind the delegation to the Board of Directors of TO Live of the capital budget planning, approval and implementation for TO Live, advise the Board of Directors of TO Live of this decision, amend City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 23, Civic Theatres accordingly, and direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to oversee the implementation of the 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan as well as future capital plans in alignment with the Capital Prioritization Framework on behalf of TO Live, which includes the planning, design, procurement, and execution of state of good repair projects, capital improvements, net zero, accessibility and other facility-related projects for the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Meridian Hall, and Meridian Arts Centre, in consultation with the President and Chief Executive Officer, TO Live, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
1b - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Paula Fletcher (Carried)
That:

1. City Council delete Executive Committee Recommendation 4.

Recommendation to be deleted:

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to undertake consultations with Toronto theatre and other performing arts organizations who are current or prospective users of the performance spaces at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in order to support the work of Corporate Real Estate Management in undertaking capital improvements to the facility.
Motion to Adopt Item as Amended (Carried)

FROM: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EX19.20
 
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