June 29, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:Options for Homes - 39 Parliament Street, 80 Mill Street (Gooderham and Worts)

- a Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to inform Toronto Community Council of the proposed Options for Homes Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan and to seek approval of the recommendations made by the Public Art Commission concerning this plan.

Source of Funds:

All costs associated with this Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan are the responsibility of the owners of Nos. 39 Parliament Street and 80 Mill Street.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that the Toronto Community Council approve the following recommendations from the City of Toronto Public Art Commission:

1) that upon determination of the actual budget, the owners re-consider the budget allocations and direct more funds to the more publicly accessible and highly prominent site of 39 Parliament Street;

2)that the competition brief be provided to the Public Art Commission for comment prior to distribution to the artists; and

4) that the Toronto Community Council approve the proposed Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan, subject to the incorporation of the above recommendations from the Public Art Commission.

Background:

In April 1994, the former City of Toronto Council approved the Gooderham and Worts District Public Art Plan, which was a requirement of a Section 37 agreement for these lands. Subsequently, in 1997, Gooderham and Worts provided the City with a revised District Public Art Plan that addressed the buildings and lands adjacent to the Gooderham and Worts Distillery complex. This District Public Art Plan provides a framework for conceptualizing, planning, commissioning and implementing public art throughout the district as the overall development progresses over the years. This framework elaborates on the public art principles, the site context, the administrative procedures and available budgets.

The Gooderham and Worts development is a national historic site that is currently divided into a number of phases in the anticipated build-out of the property. It is a mixed-use development of approximately 2.2 million square feet that will include residential, retail, cultural, and light industrial facilities. Development of the site began in 1997 with the construction of affordable housing on the site. Two housing projects have been implemented, and at present a third development proposal to be located at 80 Mill Street is being reviewed by City Staff.

At the meeting of the Public Art Commission on May 27,1999, Options for Homes submitted its Public Art Plan and was represented by the Haley Group and David Dennis of Gooderham and Worts. The first locations that will include public art are being developed by Options for Homes at 39 Parliament Street and 80 Mill Street in the Gooderham and Worts complex. Following the presentation, the Public Art Commission made the recommendations as included in this report. This Public Art Plan, as prepared and presented by Options for Homes, is attached to this report.

Discussion:

Proposed sites for public art projects:

39 Parliament Street is a residential building that occupies the southwest corner of the Gooderham and Worts site. The owner would like the design of the entrance canopy to be developed by an artist.

80 Mill Street is a residential building that occupies the northeast corner of the Gooderham and Worts site. There will be a small open space which is closed to the general public, but is visible from Mill Street. It will incorporate a large outdoor shade canopy over past of the garden. The owner is interested in having the design of the fencing and the large shade canopy be developed by an artist.

Estimated public art budget:

At this stage, Options for Homes is estimating that the budget to be applied to both sites will be approximately $175,000. This is a preliminary estimate and will be confirmed by the value of the building permit upon issuance by the City.

Art selection method:

The owner is proposing one limited competition to address the public art components of both sites from the following list of artists: Jane Buyers; Carlo Cesta; Mark Gomes and Susan Schelle; Brian Groombridge; John McKinnon; David Merritt; Bernie Miller; Kim Moody; Jan Poldaas; and Judith Schwarz. Five artists will be short-listed from this selection.

A jury of five will select the artist. The Owner and District Architects will be represented by Ron Bolt, for Options for Homes and David Dennis for the Gooderham and Worts District. The following representatives with extensive knowledge in the visual arts and/or public art field are under consideration for participation on the jury. Three of the following will be invited by the owner: David Hylinski (artist); Kim Kozzi (artist); Marc Mayer, Director of the Power Plant; Christina Ritchie (curator - Art Gallery of Ontario); Virginia Wright (curator - Royal Ontario Museum); and Shirley Yanover (artist).

Public Relations Program:

Gooderham and Worts and Options for Home will undertake to promote the appointment of the artists and the installation of the public art component through media releases and a public unveiling of the installations. It is hoped that as the public art program continues to be developed that a brochure or a catalogue will eventually be produced that will document all of the public art in the Gooderham and Worts complex.

Conclusions:

This Public Art Plan conforms with the City's guidelines, as published by Urban Planning and Development Services in the Development Approval Manual. This proposed plan also conforms to the Gooderham and Worts District Public Art Plan. Subject to the recommendations, this plan was unanimously supported by the Public Art Commission.

I am in full support of the recommendations from the Public Art Commission and look forward to the results of this Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan.

Contact Name:

Jane Perdue

Public Art Co-ordinator, Urban Design

Tel: 416-392-1304

Fax: 416-392-1744

Email: jperdu@toronto.ca

Robert Glover

Director, Urban Design

JP/RG/ms

Attachments

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