Tower Automotive

By World War II, the Northern Aluminium Company had cornered about three-quarters of the aluminum production market across the British Empire. Despite lower sales following the end of the war, the Northern Aluminum Company remained in the Junction Triangle neighbourhood for over fifty years. After 2000, the building changed hands, becoming home to Tower Automotive, which manufactured aluminum-based auto parts. However, by 2000, many of the other industrial tenants had already left the neighbourhood, and Tower Automotive only lasted a couple years before following suit. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2006.

Repurposing

Even before the MOCA announced its plans to relocate to the area in 2018, changes to the neighbourhood were afoot. With Junction Triangle industries in sharp decline since the 1970s, many artists and entrepreneurs moved to the community for its cheap and ample workspaces, often located in former industrial sites. Many factories and industrial warehouses were repurposed and redesigned to accommodate studios and galleries, such as the Division Gallery which now occupies a former Ontario Hardwood warehouse – which in turn was once the site of Gilchrist’s Mill up until the 1930s.

What's next?

The Junction Triangle’s new reputation as a hotbed for artistic activity brought many changes to the neighbourhood, and in recent years some of these changes have had a negative impact on the affordability of the area. As with many neighbourhoods in Toronto, an influx of people to the the area caused the surrounding residential neighbourhoods to expand. This attracted developers to the Junction Triangle, causing property values and rent to increase, pushing people out – including artists. According to an article in the Toronto Star from January 2016, some art studios saw an increase of over 55% on their rent, and this was before the MOCA moved in. With the addition of the museum, and the planned development for the area, the neighbourhood’s desirability will only continue to increase. But, while people flock to the area to appreciate its art and culture, many artists and cultural workers are gradually being driven out.

Sources

Murray Whyte, “Soaring rent threatens Sterling Road’s creative vibe,” The Toronto Star, Jan. 31, 2016.

Murray Whyte, “Sterling Road: Artistic hotbed, but with development plans looming, for how long?” The Toronto Star, Aug. 12, 2012.

Niko Block, “Alcan Incorporated,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, Nov. 21, 2016.

Tanya Mok, “This street is about to be Toronto’s next big thing,” blogTO, April 15, 2018.