January 14, 2021: Demolition crews arrive at the Dominion Foundry Buildings that are deemed “historically and architecturally significant as a good example of an industrial enclave in the area adjoining the lower Don River” and listed as such on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register since 2004. Demolition of Building 153 began Jan 18.

The City’s powers to regulate planning, heritage and demolition were suspended for this property by Minister of Municipal Affairs Lisa MacLeod who issued a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) on the site, without consulting with City, community, or heritage experts.

January 15, 2021: ACO Chair Kae Elgie and ACO Toronto Chair Matt Zambri to Minister MacLeod

“You have spoken many times of the value you place on Ontario's heritage, and how proud you are to have rebranded your Ministry to put Heritage first. We need your help to protect this part of Ontario's heritage from imminent demolition. As you are aware, many heritage properties have been successfully repurposed for quality housing. The benefit to the environment of avoiding needless demolition and landfill costs while taking advantage of already manufactured building materials cannot be overstated. Finding a solution which re-uses these buildings will set a provincial example for conserving the environmental and cultural value of existing heritage buildings, creating more jobs than new construction, retaining the significant embodied energy in the existing building fabric and preserving the sense of place and heritage in the community.”

Councillor Ward 13, Toronto Centre, Kristyn Wong-Tam: "The demolition of these heritage assets would be an incalculable detriment to proper city planning. It signals to municipalities and developers across the province that the Ford Government is unwilling to follow its own recently updated heritage planning policies. If the Province refuses to respect its own heritages policies, why should anyone else?"

January 29, 2021: Justice David Corbett stays demolition pending a decision at the end of February.

February 14, 2021: Show your love for the Foundry on Valentine’s Day, with Councillor Wong Tam, Toronto Centre MPP Suze Morrison, and Green Party of Canada leader Anamie Paul.

February 22, 2021: Provincial government is refusing to disclose the identity of the prospective buyer or the purchase price for the Dominion Wheel and Foundries property on Eastern Avenue in the West Don Lands. 

Friends of the Foundry: Key issue before the court will be whether the province violated the Ontario Heritage Act and the 2010 subdivision agreement between the city and province when it began demolition of the Foundry buildings earlier.

February 25, 2021: Urban Strategies City Building at the Foundry.

Dominion Foundry Demonstration Project: Heritage+Affordable/Market Housing+Community Space = Vibrant Neighbourhood.