Old City Hall - Future Uses Analysis

The space was leased for use by the Provincial Courts. OCH has also been home to the Provincial Offenses Courts, managed by the City of Toronto's Court Services Division. The Provincial Courts have relocated to the new Toronto courthouse adjacent to Toronto City Hall at 10 Armoury Street, and the Provincial Offenses Courts will re-locate to St. Lawrence Market North by the end of April 2025, leaving OCH vacant with no further active uses currently planned. As directed by City Council in 2018, staff have utilized a variety of strategies to program OCH in anticipation of this vacancy, including seeking a head lessee to implement a long-term mixed-use property management and tenanting model. These efforts were unsuccessful, given a range of factors detailed in this report, including market conditions and the costs associated with bringing the building to a suitable state of good repair for use. For example, in 2019, it was estimated that a full restoration and upgrade of the building would require approximately $225 million in 2020 dollars. Furthermore, given the historic and complex nature of the building, including an inefficient floor plan and heritage status, any future use will need to consider opportunities to improve the leasable area and the need to conserve and protect the heritage character and attributes of the building. Staff now recommend renewed actions to facilitate temporary, interim uses, along with undertaking new examinations to determine a longer-term operating model and future uses for OCH. Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) and CreateTO have assembled a team to identify both short and longer term uses, in consultation with Economic Development and Culture (EDC), Toronto Public Library (TPL) and other relevant City Divisions and Agencies. CreateTO will advise CREM on options for future uses and operating models, while CREM will continue to maintain the property in its role of asset owner. Previous work to occupy and program OCH will inform staff's next steps for a renewed approach to this historical asset. In addition, the following Revitalization and Management Principles will guide decision-making related to any future long-term uses and programming for OCH: -Increase Public Access and Interest; -Conserve the National Historic Site; -Foster Local Economic Development; and -Achieve Financial Sustainability. Staff will report back to City Council by the second quarter of 2026 on the findings of this renewed analysis. As a responsible asset owner, CREM will continue to undertake work to satisfy any health, safety, and legislative requirements to ensure OCH is safe and preserved in its soon-to-be vacant state, pending a broader restoration and upgrade of the building once a long-term use has been identified.