March 23, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:86 and 100 Bloor Street West (University Theatre) - Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan (Midtown)

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to inform City Council of the proposed Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan for 86 and 100 Bloor Street West (University Theatre) and to seek approval for the recommendations of the Public Art Commission concerning this plan.

Source of Funds:

All costs associated with this Public Art Plan are the responsibility of the owners of 86 and 100 Bloor Street West.

Recommendations:

That the Toronto Community Council approve the following recommendations from the City of Toronto Public Art Commission:

a)that, in addition to the main north wall site, as proposed in the 86 and 100 Bloor Street West Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan, the northeast corner be included as a significant site and addressed in the final scheme;

b)that the final budget will identify the public art contribution which will be over and above the base building costs for the north wall;

c)that the owner submit the competition brief for information to the City and the Public Art Commission prior to distribution to the competing artists; and,

d)that Toronto Community Council approve the proposed Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan for 86 and 100 Bloor Street West, subject to the incorporation of the above recommendations from the Public Art Commission.

Council Reference/Background/History:

On March 2, 3 and 4, 1999, City Council adopted, as amended, Clause No. 1 of the Toronto Community Council Report No. 4 respecting Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments which included a requirement for a one percent public art commitment from the development at 86 and 100 Bloor Street West (the University Theatre project). The Public Art Plan was presented to the Public Art Commission at its March 4, 1999 meeting.

The following sections, 1 through 7, represent the Public Art Plan for 86 and 100 Bloor Street West, as presented by Catherine Williams and Donald Schmitt, Public Art Consultants, John Filipetti, (owner representative, Gentra), and Colin Graham, Project Architect.

1.Description of the Development:

The proposed development includes a mix of residential, retail and theatre uses on the north side of Bloor Street, stretching west from Bellair Street, and north to Critchley Lane at the southern edge of the Village of Yorkville Park. Nine new cinemas will be accessed though the historic and restored University Theatre facade to a third-floor lobby with transparent views of the lobby from Bloor Street. The retail stores are each two-storeys in height, directly accessible from the street, and located on all sides of the structure. A 160-unit condominium will rise at the southeast side of the development with the lobby, parking and loading access situated on Bellair Street.

2.Recommended Art Sites:

At the northwest corner of the building is a blank wall which envelopes the movie theatres behind it (hence no windows) and faces the Village of Yorkville Park and beyond to the converted Victorian houses along Cumberland Street. This is the primary art site. There is an opportunity here to orient the building to the park, which is an imaginative landmark and well-frequented spot for lunching, reading and playing. The owners of the development intend to extend the park materials to the edge of the building and envisage the art and architecture presenting an integrated and coherent complement to the neighbourhood.

The winning artist may exercise the option to extend the art site to two secondary locations also located on the north side of the building, a large window at the centre and stepped wall at the northeast corner. Treatment of or around the window would have to be such that the transmission of light to the inside of the building, and conversely the visibility from the inside, would not be impaired.

The northwest corner art site starts 10.5 metres above grade and measures 24 metres (height) by 21.6 metres (width). The window is 27.5 metres (height) by 27 metres (width). At it's highest point, the stepped wall is 5.5 metres high graduating down to 2.1 metres; the overall length is 9 metres.

The "film strip" laneway on the western boundary of the development could be considered as another secondary art site to help make the walkway as "un-lane like" as possible; however, retail signage and fire exits make the space visually congested.

Other sites for the public art were considered and disqualified. The lobby of the condominium with a possible spill over on the sidewalk was thought not to be public enough. Treatment of the glazing on the Bloor Street facade was ruled out as art would be in conflict with the retail functions.

3.Type of Competition:

The jury will interview five artists about their past work, working methods and conceptual approaches or rough ideas each might bring to this particular site. Each artist will be provided with a description of the site, the budget and guideline as to what is expected of them in the interview. The artist will be paid a fee of $1,000 plus travel expenses. One will be chosen to collaborate with the architect, Colin Graham.

Once the artist and architect have started to flesh out their thoughts, they will present the directions they are considering to the jury for comment and for approval, in general, to proceed. It is important that this second meeting of the jury be held as soon in the process to allow for meaningful discussion and reasonable time to make adjustments if necessary, At this stage, the jury will consist of the three art and community representatives only. By then, Mr. Graham, the architect and Mr. Filipetti, the owner's representative, would have been involved in the collaborative process.

The jury's second meeting will help to ensure that the intent of the City's public art program is being carried out. Should insurmountable difficulties arise between the artist and the architect, a pre-determined severance fee will be paid to the artist and the runner-up will be approached to work on the project

We feel this interview and collaboration method is appropriate to achieve a high level of integration between public art and the architecture of the development's north wall.

4.Artists:

Five artists will be chosen from the following short list: Derek Bezant; Jeff Jackson; Greg Murdock; Margaret Priest; Martha Schwartz; Judith Schwarz; Barbara Steinman; and Catherine Widgery.

5.The Jury:

The owners' representatives will be: John Filipetti (Gentra) and Colin Graham (project architect). The remaining three representatives will be drawn from the art and local communities. Names under consideration are: Nicholas Metivier (Director, Mira Godard Gallery); Budd Sugarman (interior designer with a business in the neighbourhood; and on jury for Village of Yorkville Park); Jeanne Parkin (art consultant with experience in public art, collector, local resident); Mark Kingswell (University of Toronto Professor of philosophy and multi-media; has written about the University Theatre); and Fern Bayer, ( former Curator of the Ontario Government art collection including public art; local resident).

6.Budget:

The estimated budget is $550,000, to be apportioned as follows:

10% administration of competition, travel for out town artists, consultants' fees $55,000

10% maintenance $55,000

80% art, including artists' fee, materials, fabrication, installation $440,000

7.Tentative Schedul:

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

This Public Art Plan conforms with the City's guidelines, as published by Urban Planning and Development Services in the Developer Approval Manual. The proposed public art plan is an ambitious one and is being submitted to Council in a timely manner so that the competition can be run and an artist hired as soon as possible to ensure an effective collaboration with the architect. Subject to the recommendations referred to earlier in this report, this plan was unanimously supported by the Public Art Commission. It should be noted that this plan will be of no cost to the City and all the public art expenditures will be the responsibility of the owners.

Conclusions:

I am in full support of this Public Art Plan and look forward to the final outcome of the Public Art Plan.

Contact Name:

Jane Perdue

Public Art Coordinator

392-1304

Robert Glover

Director, Urban Design

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