In 2007, Artscape, the City of Toronto, Urbancorp and Active 18 announced this pioneering new below-market live/work development for the arts community within Urbancorp’s Westside Gallery Lofts condominium development. The goal of this partnership is to permanently preserve vital artist work and living space in the Queen West Triangle neighbourhood. Artscape Triangle Lofts will serve as a model across Toronto and internationally, where gentrification threatens to displace creative people from their neighbourhoods.

Artscape Triangle Lofts is a non-profit initiative to create a new self-sustaining development model that permits opportunities for both rental housing and live/work ownership, encourages a mixed-use community, and supports a range of incomes in the arts community in perpetuity. Sales for the ownership units opened in August 2009 and were 100% sold by January 2010.

Artscape is excited to launch the rental process for Artscape Triangle Lofts and acknowledges the tremendous leadership of the City of Toronto, and project partners Urbancorp and Active 18 in developing this new model. Without their support and commitment, this project would not be possible.

Established in 1986, Artscape is a not-for-profit, urban development organization that revitalizes buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities through the arts. Artscape projects provide affordable space for creativity while generating positive cultural, economic, social, and environmental impact. Artscape currently operates seven multi-tenant creative complexes in Toronto including the award-winning Artscape Wychwood Barns and studios in the Queen Street West, Liberty Village, Toronto Island and The Distillery Historic districts. Artscape’s current development projects include Artscape Shaw Street Centre, an ownership and rental work space project for artists and not-for-profit arts and community organizations in the West Queen West neighbourhood and the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, located in the heart of the Regent Park community revitalization project. www.torontoartscape.on.ca

NEWS ARTICLES

Creating Affordable Housing Out of Thin Air
Paul Gallant, Yonge Street Media
Tuesday, January 26, 2010

In a Brutal Market, an Unlikely Shark
Nicole Baute, The Toronto Star
Saturday, January 24, 2009

Artscape’s ‘Relentless’ Nice-Guy Negotiator ‘
Switzerland’ Jones
Kelly Grant, National Post
Saturday, November 3, 2007

Redevelopment: Lucrative Condo Deal
Downtown artists prove to be masters in the art of the deal
John Barber, The Globe & Mail
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Deal Signed in Artsy Triangle
Agreement ends city's legal battle with developers
Kelly Grant, National Post
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

City, Builder Reach Artful Compromise
Developer agrees to provide affordable housing for Queen W. artists in exchange for taller buildings
Jim Byers, City Hall Bureau Chief, The Toronto Star
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Artscape Helps Broker Triple-Win Deal in Queen West Triangle
Artscape Website
Tuesday, October 30, 2007