67 Adelaide St E Revovation (Na-Me-Res, 4s, Hilditch)

[AlbertC]

Gentle reminder that there is a community consultation meeting for this tonight:

67 Adelaide St. E.

Location: 67 Adelaide Street East Anticipated client group: Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) men Number of expected beds: Up to 75 beds Opening date: 2024 Service operator: Na-Me-Res (Native Men’s Residence) In 2018, in response to increased demand for shelter services, City Council...

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Community Engagement​

Community Feedback Session

An online and telephone community feedback session will be held on November 2, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. To join the information session, please see the information below:

Join the event by computer or tablet : (if the password field isn’t filled, enter 67Adelaide!)

Event details to join by telephone: 416-915-6530; Access code: 2455 720 1825

 

[ProjectEnd]

This, along with many other downtown Toronto structures which have now left us, is featured in the video for Our Lady Peace' excellent 1999 hit 'One Man Army':

 

[AlbertC]

Not sure if ProjectEnd attended the OLP concert at the recently revived El Mocambo, but that's pretty good throwback Toronto pop culture media trivia of this building making a cameo in that music video.

 

[DOWNTOWNTO27]

Updated render shown below. Architect is Charles Rosenberg of Hilditch Architecture. They seem to specialize in shelters, community buildings etc. Will do my best to accurately recall the details: I commented in the meeting that the architecture/design is quite disappointing and noted that all of the existing materials are being abandoned. I also asked if Heritage has been consulted. The architect replied that the building is currently quite severe/harsh and he wants to "liven up the design" and that heritage has not been consulted and confirmed that this site is not listed/designated (which we knew). Ugh and Sigh. They are going junk this corner up with this design.

 

[egotrippin]

The building is far from severe/harsh, it really just needs a good cleaning. Yet instead the architect's idea of livening it up is replacing quality materials like red brick, limestone and granite with some puke green plastic cladding. And some randomly placed fins inspired by the colours of the German flag, which is the first thing that came to mind when I saw the yellow/red/black combo.

 

[DOWNTOWNTO27]

This new design/architectural treatment looks like it belongs somewhere between 1987 and 1993. If this is permitted to proceed as shown, it is a perfect case study as to why so few older, handsome buildings constructed with high quality materials remain in Toronto.

 

[DSC]

Changes coming to Toronto Preservation Board. See: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2022.PB32.3

PB32.3

ACTION​

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Ward: 13​

Alterations to a Heritage Property Designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act - 67 Adelaide Street East​

The exterior alterations proposed to support the conversion include over-cladding to improve the insulation in the building and to meet the City's commitment to retrofitting all of its buildings to improve their energy efficiency and contribute towards the City's goal of Net Zero Emissions by 2050. The SLNHCD Plan recommends the use of masonry on exterior walls that are visible from the public realm and the proposed over-cladding would not be consistent with this guideline. The proposed new aluminum panel cladding however has been specifically chosen to allow for the incorporation of the colours of the Medicine Wheel which hold Indigenous cultural significance. This is in order to help de-colonialize the appearance of the proposed shelter and make it more welcoming to its staff, and residents. Its use also acknowledges the unique status and cultural diversity of the Indigenous communities and their right to self-determination in line with the City's Statement of Commitment to the Aboriginal Communities of Toronto. Staff recommend approval of the proposed over-cladding to further Truth and Reconciliation and affirm the right of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and cultural expression. The recommendation aligns with several of the City's commitments to Truth and Reconciliation including Action #43 which protects Indigenous cultural expression through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).​

 

[Dr. Snoot]

This is going to be so hideous. The idea of over-cladding the building in the name of indigenous cultural expression is absurd, and I don’t think is what UNDRIP ever intended.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Interesting choice and good purpose. A departure from the condos in the area for sure. Just wondering if the design is out dated.

 

[AlbertC]

Renovations will create Toronto’s first men’s Indigenous harm reduction shelter - Daily Commercial News

A building located at 67 Adelaide St. E. in Toronto is being renovated and converted into a shelter for Indigenous men experiencing homelessness. “Currently there is no shelter in Toronto that can adequately support Indigenous men that includes a harm re

canada.constructconnect.com

The three-storey building, owned by the City of Toronto, is currently being used as a women’s resource centre which is in the process of being relocated to 233 Carlton St. The relocation is expected to occur in late 2022. The building will then be renovated for use as an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) men’s shelter.

The facility will be converted to a 75-bed shelter operated by Native Men’s Residence (Na-Me-Res), which has a long history of providing shelter, housing, health and social supports to Indigenous men.

The project is in the design development stage. The building will undergo exterior and interior renovations, with the most noticeable change being a modernization of the building’s exterior, said Lewis.

The building used to house the York County and Metro Toronto offices. The new exterior, designed by Hilditch Architect, has a dual purpose – to improve energy efficiency and to make the building more welcoming for the Indigenous community.

It will include over cladding with aluminum and colours of the medicine wheel – red, yellow, black and white – to reflect Indigenous culture.

“The over cladding is necessary for that building to be able to achieve the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and to support efforts to make the site more welcoming to Indigenous people,” Lewis explained.

“On the building’s outside façade the existing limestone is also reminiscent of the façades used in a number of residential school buildings. It makes it outwardly unfriendly to Indigenous residents and users of Na-Me-Res service. In order for the space to promote Indigenous culture and safety the exterior must change to reflect the new purpose of the building as well as the spirit and values of truth and reconciliation.”

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As part of the renovations, the entrance to the site will be changed from Adelaide Street to Church Street and the main entrance will be moved to the east. The “eastern doorway” is significant in many Indigenous cultures as the door we enter when we are born in this world.

Both of the entrances on the east and north will have cedar wood, one of the four sacred medicines, near the entrances.

It also includes converting the existing third floor interior space into an infilled fourth floor without raising the height of the building. There will also be a rooftop terrace and a new elevator will be added to provide access to all floors.

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The building is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and is classified as a non-contributing building in the Heritage Conservation District.

“A non-contributing property, it is described in the plan, as one of the properties from the post-World War II era that supports and enhances the district’s physical value through their contextual sensitive use of materials massing and articulation,” Lewis noted.

“In light of the contributing nature this building has towards heritage and in line with the recommendations made to the heritage board, work will be completed to ensure there is limited damage to the underlying brick and that the cladding can be reversible if needed in the future.”

The project is anticipated to be completed in 2024. Public consultations and engagement are planned for later this year.