A project aimed at transforming a public property into a community hub – featuring a pool, gym, concert hall, and movie theatre – is currently stalled due to uncertainty about who owns the site.
The Bickford Centre sits on Bloor Street opposite Christie Pits park and spans a large one-hectare area. The ongoing negotiations focus on whether the city, which owns the land, or the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), which has been using and managing the building for over 60 years, has control over it.
<p. Local resident Darlene Varaleau and her neighbors proposed the redevelopment plan around two years ago. "I do nothing but work on this day and night, figuring out how to move this forward," says Varaleau.
The school shut down in the late 1980s, according to the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, and since then, the TDSB has repurposed it for various uses. Currently, adult education and English as a Second Language classes operate there alongside rentals for at least one sports league, as noted by Coun. Dianne Saxe.
Funding Will Be Another Challenge: Councillor
Saxe mentioned that while she understands that the city owns the land, it’s unclear who owns the building itself; both she and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario identify TDSB as its owner. Despite inquiries made by CBC Toronto regarding ownership clarification from TDSB and city officials, no responses have been received from either party.
Saxe added that even after clarifying control over the site and building is achieved, cost will remain another significant hurdle.
“It belongs to the school board and the school board is not willing to give it to the city for free,” Saxe said. “It would be very expensive for the city to front.”
Coun. Dianne Saxe believes that creating a community hub at Bickford Centre could be beneficial; however, progress won’t happen until negotiations between TDSB and city officials are finalized-a process she expects will take at least a year. (Sue Goodspeed/CBC)
Regardless of cost concerns, all parties involved agree that determining control of Bickford Centre must precede any plans for establishing a community hub.
<p"Right now," Varaleau explains, "neither side has taken steps toward advancing this project. No one’s done an assessment because no one’s intending to do anything." She describes it as being "invisible."
CBC Toronto reached out to TDSB; they provided a short response stating: “The TDSB continues to use Bickford Centre for a variety of purposes that benefit the community,” according to spokesperson Ryan Bird’s email.
Historical Property Issues Create Confusion
Typically across Toronto, school boards own both their schools’ buildings and land; however, Bickford Centre stands apart from this norm.
Built in 1965 as Bickford Park High School on land owned by the city, there seems never to have been an official lease established between what was then known as The Board of Education and City Hall-leading directly into today’s confusion about management rights over this site says Saxe.
“The city’s hands are tied in that we cannot unilaterally tell the school board what to do with the building,” she said. “There needs to be some coordination.”
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Saxe informed CBC Toronto that preliminary discussions between staff from both parties are underway but formal negotiations resulting in an official lease may still take up to another year before commencing.
The exterior courtyard at Bickford is quiet yet overgrown these days while interior areas host classes along with other community events organized by TDSB (Sue Goodspeed/CBC)
An Urban Planner’s Ideal Site
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This vast complex represents an urban planner’s dream come true-it features two large interconnected buildings facing busy Bloor Street while tranquil Bickford Park lies behind them offering greenery contrast. Inside remains gyms , a theater along with an abandoned indoor swimming pool waiting restoration efforts.
Currently though according Varaleau conditions appear neglected ; she reports finding weed-strewn courtyards , dusty windows plus rotting basketball nets hanging forlornly against outer walls.
A rotting backboard and basketball net are mounted on an exterior wall at the centre. (Michael Smee/CBC)
Though upgrading costs could be substantial , Saxe expresses hope seeing atleast revival efforts begin focused towards restoring complex ’ s indoor swimming pool since University-Rosedale lacks any public pool available throughout entire year.
To consider reopening such facilities , Saxe explored using Section 37 funds – money obtained through developers paying cities granting construction rights-but was advised subsequently regarding expense concerns rendering those projects nonviable presently.
Even so , she agrees creating exciting opportunities through potential new developments like forming vibrant hubs here deserves attention despite timing uncertainties looming ahead.”I’m not closing door ,”Saxe stated firmly adding “All I know is [the negotiations with TDSB] will definitely prove challenging given financial limitations existing everywhere involved.”
“That’s not exactly encouraging.”
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