May 6, 1999

To:Economic Development Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:Open Doors - Project for May 2000

Recommendations:

The Millennium Task Force on May 5, 1999, recommended to the Economic Development Committee, and Council, that:

(1)the "Open Doors" project be endorsed; and

(2)the Economic Development Committee be requested to hear a presentation by Heritage Toronto respecting their "Open Doors" project at its next meeting scheduled to be held on May 21, 1999.

Background:

The Millennium Task Force on May 5, 1999, received a presentation by Dr. Marion Joppe, Chair, Heritage Toronto, and Ms. Catherine Nasmith, Architect, regarding Heritage Toronto's millennium project "Open Doors - Project for May2000". Dr. Joppe advised that using Toronto's built heritage as a theme to address our past and embrace the next millennium, Heritage Toronto is planning a two-day event to be named "Open Doors" which will take place on May27 and 28, 2000. This event is fashioned after similar events held in Scotland and Europe. It is anticipated that:

C25 to 30 buildings will participate throughout the City of Toronto;

Cthis event will attract 10,000 visitors to the City;

Cthe project will become an annual event and will build Toronto's reputation as a great City that has achieved excellence in architectural design both contemporary and historic; and

Cthis event will showcase our city, develop civic pride, and be a lasting legacy.

Heritage Toronto is seeking endorsement of the "Open Doors" project and requested the following:

(1)a letter of support from the Millennium Task Force on behalf of the City to allow Heritage Toronto to solicit additional funding, sponsorship and venues for the "Open Doors" project;

(2)that the "Open Doors" project be identified as a City of Toronto millennium "signature event" in the month of May, 2000;

(3)that the City be requested to consider issuing an invitation from the Mayor and Members of Council to the Patron of the Scottish Civic Trust, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, to attend "Open Doors" in Toronto in May 2000;

(4)that Members of City Council assist "Open Doors" organizers in identifying buildings of historic and architectural significance in their respective wards throughout the City, including properties which reflect ethnic diversity in their communities;

(5)that the City of Toronto be requested to commit City of Toronto resources, where appropriate, to this project;

(6)that the City be requested to approve Heritage Toronto's request for the maximum amount of funding available from the City's Millennium Grants Program; and

(7)that the Millennium Task Force consider and recommend this project for funding from the Province of Ontario's millennium Main Street and Special Projects Funds.

The Millennium Task Force had before it the following communications in support of the "Open Doors - Project for May 2000", as proposed by Heritage Toronto:

(a)(May 3, 1999) from Mr. Robert Glover, Director, Urban Design, Urban Planning & Development Services; and

(b)(May 4, 1999) from Ms. Catherine Nasmith, Architect, Toronto, Ontario.

City Clerk

B. Henderson/co

H:\1999PROD\ML\990505\0505-001.LTR

c.Dr. Marion Joppe, Chair, Heritage Toronto

Ms. Catherine Nasmith, Architect

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

Director, Urban Design, Urban Planning & Development Services

Director, Special Events

Project Manager, Millennium Project

(Communication dated May 3, 1999, addressed to

the Millennium Task Force Committee from the Director, Urban Design,

Urban Planning & Development Services)

On behalf of Urban Design, I am writing this letter in support of the initiative "Open Doors", as proposed by Heritage Toronto. This project, which celebrates historically and architecturally significant buildings, has the potential to generate a greater understanding of the importance of Toronto's built heritage. The concept of "opening the doors' to places that are not normally accessible to the general public is very appealing and should be of interest to a very large audience of both local citizens and visiting tourists.

As a millennium theme, "Open Doors" is a wonderful way to approach the new century by acknowledging the important architectural accomplishments that we have achieved in our past. This is a program that encourages access, awareness, advocacy and excitement about our architectural history, and as such, would serve Toronto's citizens well as we work towards building our new city in the next century.

As an initial means of support, I am in the process of canvassing my staff from across the city to suggest architectural places of significance to the organizers of Heritage Toronto. If you require any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

(Communication dated May 4, 1999, addressed

to the Millennium Task Force from Ms. Catherine Nasmith, Architect)

I am writing to offer my most enthusiastic support for Heritage Toronto's plan to start a "Doors Open Day". This program is offered in many cities in Britain and in Europe, and allows the public to see buildings which would not otherwise be open to them. The buildings selected all have architectural interest, some are old, some are new.

I have a personal interest in seeing the program succeed in Toronto, in that my distant cousin was involved in establishing "Doors Open Day" in Edinburgh, and in Scotland. The program is jointly offered by the local municipalities and heritage organizations. On the continent, Doors Open Days are known as European Heritage Days. In a lecture last summer in Toronto, Professor James Dunbar-Nasmith described the success of the program in Scotland. "Thousands of people spend the day as if it was a sort of carnival, going round the different buildings. It has been a great success and it's something which isn't too difficult to organize, and as effective as anything in introducing people to the enjoyment that can be got out of visiting good buildings."

If the European success is any indications, the event will encourage many visitors to the City. I believe Toronto would be pioneering this program in North America. It is my hope that the program will be widely copied in Ontario and in other parts of Canada and the United States.

Over its history, the City of Toronto has commissioned many fine buildings and public spaces, and has saved many important buildings from destruction. Sadly, Torontonians have also missed countless opportunities to save or build great work. With some wonderful exceptions, Toronto's buildings do not match the quality of Toronto's music, art, literature, stage and cuisine. Architects can only do their best when it is demanded of them. For architects, it is particularly demoralizing to see fine work unappreciated or lost.

Offering this program for the first time as a Millennium project, so soon after the founding of the new City of Toronto will make a strong statement about Toronto as a City which intends to build on the best of its past. In providing a new way to see buildings, a "Doors Open Day" will also be developing new public appreciation for "the best".

In a time when, more and more, cities are being judged on the quality of their physical environment, a "Doors Open Day" program is an inexpensive way to celebrate our architectural successes and encourage new ones. I am very excited that Heritage Toronto is hoping to start this program. I will do everything I can to ensure this program is a success. I hope you will do the same.