Artscape Distillery Studios
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ARTSCAPE DISTILLERY CASE STUDIOS STUDY Artscape gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation Province-Wide Fund in the creation of Artscape DIY. For more information on the Ontario Trillium Foundation and its work, visit them online at www.trilliumfoundation.org artscape.ca © Artscape 2018 Unless otherwise noted, all content is copyrighted by Toronto Artscape Inc., with all rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, this material cannot be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Toronto Artscape Inc. CASE STUDY: ARTSCAPE DISTILLERY STUDIOS CASE STUDY: ARTSCAPE DISTILLERY STUDIOS 55 Mill Street, Toronto, ON hen Cityscape acquired the old Gooderham and Worts Distillery in Toronto’s downtown east in WDecember 2001, Artscape was among the first calls made by the new owners. They were building a bold strategy to use arts and entertainment as a major driver of the site’s revitalization after numerous retail-based approaches by others had failed to generate interest in the 1990’s. Artscape quickly got on board as the Distillery District’s first anchor tenant, and soon after engaged 63 sub-tenants in the initiative. Working closely with Cityscape and the City of Toronto, Artscape was able to re-purpose approximately 50,000 square feet of space in two buildings into below-market designer/maker retail spaces, theatre and rehearsal venues, and artist studios. Artscape Distillery Studios opened fully renovated and leased just 15 months after Artscape’s first conversation with Cityscape. A few months later, an estimated 70,000 people attended the Distillery District’s grand opening celebrations and a cultural tourism destination was born. By participating in the Distillery District revitalization at an early stage, Artscape helped build critical mass, credibility, and authenticity around the initiative. These seemingly intangible things were fundamentally important in inspiring confidence among other stakeholders and generating project momentum. The lessons learned at the Distillery about the power of arts and culture to drive an agenda for change, growth and transformation were game-changing for Artscape and have formed the foundation of its creative placemaking practice. Artscape’s 20-year lease at below-market rates with Cityscape on the Distillery premises is secured through development agreements with the City of Toronto. In Victorian industrial park. During prohibition in the U.S. exchange for this and a program of other community in the 1920s, Gooderham & Worts grew to become the benefits, Cityscape and partner Dundee Realty are able to largest distillery in the British Commonwealth. generate additional value on the site through increased The Distillery changed hands several times over the years, height and density. as did the products manufactured there. In 1957, the THE PLACE last batch of whiskey was made in the Distillery District, Located in the east end of downtown Toronto in the although rum and later industrial alcohols continued King-Parliament area, the Gooderham & Worts Distillery to be produced there for many years. In 1988, the represents the largest collection of early industrial Distillery District was designated a National Historic Site, buildings in Canada. Constructed at a time when Toronto and described as “an outstanding example of Victorian was a capital of alcohol production, millers James Worts industrial design in terms of integrity, historical association and William Gooderham built the first structure, a 70-foot and aesthetic qualities.” On June 4, 1990, the last alcohol brick windmill on the edge of Toronto Bay, in 1832. In was produced at Gooderham & Worts, marking the end of 1837, a distillery was added to the mill and, in 1861, the 158 years of industrial activity on the site. well-known Stone Distillery was completed. Over the next The King-Parliament area developed as a traditional 60 years their success in the alcohol business spurred manufacturing district during the 19th century, but by the construction of a sprawling complex encompassing the 1970s had entered a long period of gradual decline 47 warehouses and factories. The building materials as manufacturing activity migrated to suburban areas. used in the Distillery District range from stone to brick This mass departure resulted in increased vacancy rates, and concrete, and together they create a unique 13-acre and property owners began to demolish buildings with 1 CASE STUDY: ARTSCAPE DISTILLERY STUDIOS traditionally occurred in the City of Toronto, whereby the focus of the new approach was on built form, rather than on density or land use. Because of the emphasis on built form, this approach was especially well-suited to areas of special character that were in transition and required the sensitive integration of different types of uses, such as the Gooderham & Worts Distillery. In addition, the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) adopted in 1997 for the King-Parliament area encompassed the Gooderham & Worts site, and focused on improving the public realm. The plan encouraged the Archives photo of the Gooderham & Worts Distillery enhancement of heritage character, public safety, and the quality of public spaces. heritage value in order to reduce realty taxes. By the mid 1990s, it was obvious that the single-use industrial district Heritage architect Michael McLelland (ERA Architects) could not compete as a location for manufacturing and played a key role in the sale of the Distillery property, would become deserted if action was not taken. acting both as an advisor to Allied Domecq and the City of Toronto. Given that several attempts to revive the site Shortly before the Distillery ceased operations, it had during the 1990s had failed, it was important to find a been purchased by the pension fund of Allied Domecq, new owner with the vision, capacity and tenacity to bring a global alcohol conglomerate. The empty industrial it back to life. In 2001 Cityscape Developments, backed landscape and heritage buildings were a popular by silent partners Bill Weiner and Lillyann Goldstein, destination for film production, eventually becoming the successfully bid to purchase the site. Their vision was to: number one film location in Canada. During the 1990s, Allied Domecq worked with the City of Toronto to find …turn this 13 acre site, with its wonderful 19th century a new owner that would redevelop the site to attract buildings and brick paved courtyards, into a historic residents and business investment to the community. As “precinct focused on arts and cultural activities. The site will a former industrial area, little attention had been paid to become an important cultural mecca for the City, which public spaces and pedestrian amenities. will include galleries, artists’ studios, artisans’ workshops and venues for the performing arts. Restaurants, retail Between 1988 and 1994, a series of heritage reports and market uses will augment the cultural focus and were prepared for the City of Toronto, documenting the help to bring the precinct to life. The complex of historic site’s historical significance. A planning study and heritage buildings and the courtyard spaces that connect them, assessment was also completed by the city of Toronto provide a unique opportunity to create linked indoor and in 1990. Recognizing that improvements to the public outdoor spaces supporting daytime and evening activities realm would be required to make industrial districts year round. Loft residential and office space for creative more attractive to new business and residents, the City industries will be located in the above grade portions of of Toronto imposed strict requirements for the site’s several of the historic buildings, and new space will be redevelopment. constructed on the perimeter of the precinct to provide additional space for people who want to be part of this It was not until 1996 that the district was officially dynamic environment.” designated a Regeneration Areaby the City of Toronto to encourage reinvestment, create housing opportunities –REAL ESTATE NEWS, NOVEMBER 23, 2001 and offer creative spaces for new businesses. This Revitalizing historic industrial areas as cultural tourism designation allowed a wide variety of land uses to be destinations is an established economic development permitted in the Distillery, including light industrial, and planning strategy, with successful local and commercial, entertainment, retail, residential and live/ international precedents. The Distillery District is work. This zoning bylaw amendment represented modelled on similar projects such as London’s Old a dramatic departure from the way planning had Spitalfields Market, Vancouver’s Granville Island and 2 CASE STUDY: ARTSCAPE DISTILLERY STUDIOS the Fanueil Hall Marketplace in 28 not-for-profit performing arts organizations. A wide CLICK Boston. Revitalization transformed HERE range of artistic disciplines are represented among the Distillery from a collection of 47 Click here to view Artscape’s tenants in the Distillery District - sculptors, derelict Victorian industrial buildings interior, exterior, painters, goldsmiths and furniture makers all populate to an internationally acclaimed village and historic photo the studios. The third floor of the Cannery (connected by galleries of Artscape of one-of-a-kind shops, galleries, Distillery Studios. an overhead walkway to the third floor of the Case Goods studios, restaurants, cafes and building) is home to performance studios operated by theatres known today as The Distillery