Wellington Destructor

The Wellington Destructor site presents an important opportunity for the adaptive reuse of an existing City-owned building as a cultural space, community hub and employment uses that could generate new income, as well as complement and support the existing and proposed employment uses of the surrounding area.

Project Details

Type: Parks & Open Spaces and Heritage
Ward: Spadina-Fort York
Councillor: Ausma Malik
Current Phase: Pre-development
Current Use: Vacant
Major Intersection: Bathurst Street and Wellington Street West
Site Area: 2 acres
Proposed Use: Parks and Open Spaces
Surrounding Use: The Wellington Works Yard and Stanley Park South is to the west; residential areas are to the north and east, and a new mixed use development is planned to the south of the Wellington Destructor at 2 Tecumseth.

projects.list.skipToList

Type: Parks & Open Spaces and Heritage
Ward: Spadina-Fort York
Councillor: Ausma Malik
Current Phase: Pre-development
Current Use: Vacant
Major Intersection: Bathurst Street and Wellington Street West
Site Area: 2 acres
Proposed Use: Parks and Open Spaces
Surrounding Use: The Wellington Works Yard and Stanley Park South is to the west; residential areas are to the north and east, and a new mixed use development is planned to the south of the Wellington Destructor at 2 Tecumseth.

Project Overview

Built in 1925, the Wellington Destructor is a large purpose-built brick garbage incinerator structure that was in active use until the incineration of solid waste was halted in the mid-1970s. The building was adapted to be used as a transfer station until 1986, at which time it was decommissioned. The building has been vacant since. The property was listed on the City of Toronto Heritage Register in 2005 by City Council and is subject to policies for its conservation.

Building repairs were undertaken by the City of Toronto in 2016 that included mothballing and securing the site to protect the building until such time as permanent and appropriate uses have been determined.

In 2017, public engagement consisting of a community meeting and online survey was held to collect feedback on potential new uses and vision for the building. This feedback was used to develop the vision and guiding principles in seeking a development partner for the re-use of the Wellington Destructor.

In April 2018, City Council directed City staff to seek and secure a Head Lessee for a long-term lease of the Wellington Destructor. Staff were directed to report back to Council on the results of the call process and with final recommendations for the Head Lessee. The results of this process were the subject of a report to the City’s General Government and Licensing Committee in October 2021 and to City Council in November 2021.

TAS, a Toronto-based real estate development company, was selected as the preferred proponent. However, that proposal is no longer moving forward.

At this time, CreateTO is undertaking due diligence work to understand the building condition and the costs to repair, rehabilitate, or restore the Destructor site.

As the agency begins to reassess the site’s potential uses we will be working with our City colleagues, the local Councillor and the community to determine a new vision.