Reviving
The Friends of Old City Hall
Citizens serving a Common Good
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ACTIVISTS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
WHY TORONTO NEEDS A NEW FRIENDS OF OLD CITY HALL
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.
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. However, I didn't have the skills or connections to form such a group.
DETAILS FROM CITY STAFF - March, 2021
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.
* 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.
* If a group like Friends of Old City Hall was formed, its suggestions won't necessarily override those of other individuals or groups.
* 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.
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 16, 2023
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."
UPDATE: 2024
The City of Toronto is billions in debt... City tax increases are scheduled... Toronto has a homelessness crisis and an affordable housing crisis...
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?
UPDATE: JANUARY, 2025
The City of Toronto is still in a quandry about what to do with Old City Hall and the costs of its restoration has soared to $225 million.
The City's Commercial Real Estate Division has been given $16 million to maintain OCH and do yet more analysis about how it can be used.
Isn't it time for grassroots Torontonians to once again save Old City Hall by bringing it to life?
UPDATE: MAY, 2025
Denizens of Toronto can help in various ways:
1) Urge your Toronto City Councillor to fund the continuing opening up of Old City Hall to the public
Great news!
Tour No. 1 of Old City Hall when it is completely empty will be self-directing tours during "Doors Open 2025" on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Will visitors be able to explore OCH from graffiteed cells to dusty attics? Time will tell.
But many visitors will appreciate learning the highlights and secrets of the building with the help of knowledgeable tour guides.
After Doors Open, it will be up to Torontonians to support the opening up of Old City Hall for organizing tours with the help of an army of volunteer tour guides.
Future Tours might include: "True Crimes: Famous Trials of Old City Hall" from 124 years of legal history, "Art, Architecture and Restoriations of Old City Hall" and a "Ghosts" tour with some very sad, shocking stories.
Later, as hundreds of people pour through Old City Hall, pop-up shops may eventually offer Toronto-centric merchandise from Toronto History Museums, the TTC and the Spacing Store. For the eventual Old City Hall/Museum of Toronto Shop, reproductions based on antique Toronto commercial art could be developed (see: www.caribouconcepts.ca for a few ideas).
Pop-up cafes could eventually turn into permanent restaurant/catering services and bars.
2) Join with other fans of OCH to form a Friends of Old City Hall support group (see Blog Post: "Friends Report").