Former Artist Hub at 17 Paton Rd. Hits Market for $4.5 Million
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The industrial building, where 20 residents were evicted during the early pandemic over fire code violations, is now being marketed for redevelopment.
An industrial property located at 17 Paton Rd. in Toronto, once a hub for the arts community, has been listed for sale with a $4.5 million asking price, as BlogTO first reported.
In March 2020, the city of Toronto ordered the evacuation of approximately 20 residents from the circa-1927 brick-and-beam building. City officials determined the property failed to comply with the Ontario Fire Code, specifically citing a lack of required second exits for residential units. According to BlogTO, the city's order came just one day before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Following the eviction, residents partnered with the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust to propose purchasing the building to create a housing co-operative. While the plan gained support from elected officials and community organizations, the sale never materialized, and all residents had vacated by September 2020.
According to the Toronto Star, the building's owners, the Costanza family, claimed they wanted the artists to remain and had invested approximately $250,000 in fire safety upgrades. However, the family told the Toronto Star that the city's evacuation order and a mandatory fire watch costing over $40,000 per month—against roughly $16,000 in monthly rent—made continued operation difficult.
The property is currently marketed as a redevelopment opportunity suitable for residential conversion, creative offices, or studios. The listing notes the building requires "substantial renovations" and is being sold on an "as is, where is" basis. Furthermore, the adjacent properties at 21 and 23 Paton Rd. are also listed, which could allow for a larger development site.