GPAC Meeting Minutes
GPAC Meeting Minutes from May 21, 2015
Grange Park Advisory Committee Meeting
Thursday, May 21, 2015, 3-5pm
Art Gallery of Ontario
Present:
Councillor Joe Cressy (Co-Chair), Ward 20
Ralph Daley, (Co-Chair) Grange Community Association
Rupert Duchesne, (Co-Chair) AGO
Max Allen, Grange Community Association
Bev Carret, AGO
Lisa Clements, AGO
Aisha Green, University Settlement
Brian Green, Toronto PFR
Sandy Ladouceur, AGO
Mike Mahoney, AGO
Minesh Mandoda, OCAD University
Pesha McKendry, Representative of social housing residents
Raymond Ngu, Ward 20 Office
Vanessa Nicholas, OCAD University
Katie Nikota, Toronto PFR
Pearl Quong, GCA
Ceta Ramkhalawansingh, GCA
Alex Shevchuk, Toronto PFR
Eric Stadnyk, Toronto PFR
Matthew Teitelbaum, AGO
Peter White, Toronto PFR
Raymond White, University Settlement
Margie Zeidler, UrbanSpace (member-at-large)
Regrets:
Mazyar Mortazavi, TAS Design Build (member-at-large)
Joan Heeler, St. George the Martyr Church
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
Approval of the Minutes of March 27
Minutes were approved with the following addition to the discussion regarding the proposed placement of Henry Moore’s Large Two Forms in Grange Park:
It was suggested that consideration also be given to placing a sculpture by a Canadian artist in Grange Park.
Business Arising from the Minutes
- Status of City Approvals:
On March 31, City Council endorsed and approved the alterations to Grange Park as a heritage property, in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, in order to allow for the implementation of the revitalization project. City Council approval came with following conditions:
- Construction drawings are to be prepared in consultation with a qualified heritage consultant, to the satisfaction of the Manager, Heritage Preservation Services;
- Plans are to include:
- a design and planning plan for heritage gardens directly adjacent to The Grange house;
- methods to protect the heritage trees, particularly the horse chestnuts during and after construction;
- re-establishment of some elm trees;
- a plan for the maintenance and replanting of trees to conserve the view to and from The Grange and the Picturesque quality of its landscape as characterized by groves of trees around a grass lawn.
GPAC expressed thanks to Joe for his stewardship in obtaining City Council’s endorsement and approval of the project and for his leadership in working with representatives from City Heritage, City Parks and GPAC to come to agreement on the recommendations concerning the heritage redesignation of The Grange and Grange Park.
Toronto Heritage and Parks staff have deferred providing comment on the proposed relocation of Henry Moore’s Large Two Forms in the park until they receive a formal proposal. AGO will submit this after the community meeting on June 4.
Community meeting – June 4
It was confirmed that the community meeting will be split into two parts: the first half will be a project update, led by the three GPAC chairs; the second half will be a discussion about the DOLA, facilitated by Joe.
The project update for the community meeting will be the same presentation provided at the GPAC meeting on March 27. The items to be presented were reviewed as follows:
- Design Development
- Artist’s renderings of play equipment that evoke elements of Arthur Lismer’s studio
- New seating that also includes loose individual chairs
- Mobile app technology that enhances heritage aspects of the park and also facilitates wayfinding and accessibility.
- John Street promenade with 10-12 granite pavers that would have literary quotations referring to the cultural plurality of the neighbourhood and the city
The meeting discussed the types of quotations that would be appropriate and how they would be selected. It was agreed that for the June 4 meeting, it would be presented as a general concept with no specific recommendations as to the choice of quotations. The community will be welcome to put forward suggestions to GPAC for consideration. Final selection of quotations will rest with the GPAC co-chairs, in consultation with GPAC members.
- Art in the park
The meeting agreed to present the proposal to move Henry Moore’s Large Two Forms to Grange Park, showing 3-4 possible locations.
- Project timeline
Contracts are scheduled to be awarded in September. Pending the receipt of permits from the City, tree removal could happen in early winter 2015. The commitment is to keep some portion of the park open to the public during the entire construction period. Final work would be completed spring 2017; official opening event planned for July 1, 2017.
Other Business
- Grange Park management model post-project
It was confirmed that discussions about the management model for Grange Park post-project will begin after the design finalized, contracts are awarded and the project underway.
- Next GPAC meeting
The next GPAC meeting will be scheduled for July to debrief after the community meeting and discuss next steps.