Where Toronto's Past Meets The Future

 IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ACTIVISTS 

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When it was completed in 1899, Toronto's combined city hall and courthouse was the second largest municipal building in North America after that of Philadelphia.

 

As Toronto outgrew the building and New City Hall was being built in the 1960s, the T. Eaton Co. department store chain proposed tearing down Old City Hall (OCH) to build an office and shopping complex.  A majority of Toronto city counsellors supported the idea.

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However, a grassroots group of citizens realized the historic and architectural value of OCH and sprang up to save it for future generations.  Friends of Old City Hall -- chaired by James Acland, professor of architecture at the University of Toronto -- at one point formed a human chain around the building.  

 

​Eaton's threw in the towel in 1967.  The City was able to rent Old City Hall to the Government of Ontario to house criminal courts.  In 1984, OCH was designated a National Historic Site.   In 1999, Eaton's went bankrupt.   

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  THE PLAN FOR OLD CITY HALL'S ADAPTATION 

 

In January, 2018, Toronto City Council voted to create within OCH: a Museum of Toronto, a Toronto Public Library branch, the Marriage Registry office which had been moved to New City Hall and commercial space for cafes, restaurants and shops.  

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Unfortunately, no one at the time seemed to realize that the building's layout of many rooms surrounding a large inner courtyard made it hard to adapt for new purposes.  So great idea; not great planning.

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Yet the City deserves credit for spending millions over the years to improve OCH by cleaning the exterior, making it accessible, upgrading the lighting, giving it a new roof and even replacing the gargoyles removed in 1938.  

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 WHY TORONTO NEEDS A NEW FRIENDS OF OLD CITY HALL 

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In the 1990s, I, Cathy Schaffter, was working in OCH as a court reporter (the kind that ensures that there is a record of court proceedings).  Because I could see the immense potential of the building, and knew that it would soon vacated, I grew concerned that there wasn't a huge fund-raising campaign underway to pay for its adaptation.

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In November, 1999, I learned from City staff that there would be public hearings into how to develop OCH in the following DOOMED, COVID SPRING OF 2020.   So nothing happened at that time.

 

I created this site in January, 2021, in the hopes of stirring citizens' imaginations about the possibilities of Old City Hall and to try to form a group to raise funds for it and/or become volunteer tour guides in it eventually.   

 

As of 2025, I have the emails of a number of people who are interested in getting involved. ​​​

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PLEASE NOTE:  In the spirit of inclusivity, the colours of this site's layout and lettering are meant to serve people with colour blindness.

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 DETAILS FROM CITY STAFF - March, 2021 

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From two City staff who met with me by phone, I learned that:

 

* I was way ahead of time with trying to form a museums "Friend" group.

 

* The estimated cost of OCH's transformation at that time was $60 million.  If all that amount was not immediately available, work on OCH would take longer.

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* City staff were seeking donations from foundations, corporations and higher levels of government.   A grassroots group such as the one I was hoping to form was welcome to raise funds from individual donors.

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* If a group like Friends of Old City Hall was formed, its suggestions won't necessarily override those of other individuals or groups.

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* No decisions about the building's development would be made until there were hearings to be held for public input. 

 

As of March, 2025, no such public consultations have taken place despite keen public interest in Old City Hall's future.​

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 UPDATE: FEBRUARY 16, 2023 

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The Commercial Real Estate division of the City of Toronto -- CreateTO -- was in charge of the redevelopment of OCH.  Jason Chen is the Development Lead for the project and sent this email: 

 

"We are currently undertaking due diligence and feasibility studies to determine the options for the future uses for Old City Hall, as both the Provincial and Municipal Courts will vacate the building later this year. 

 

"Upon completion of our due diligence work we will bring a report to City Council in the fourth quarter of this year, with recommendations that include budget requirements."

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 UPDATE: 2024 

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The City of Toronto is billions in debt...  City tax increases are scheduled...   Toronto has a homelessness crisis and an affordable housing crisis...  

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Meanwhile, the estimated annual cost of just maintaining OId City Hall so that it would not rot was $300,000 as of several years ago.   WHERE can the City find that kind of money?  

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