A Chinatown advocacy group has intervened in the commissioning of a mural for the construction site at 315-325 Spadina Ave. after they published an open letter accusing developer Reichmann International and its partner art organization of “art-washing.”
“Our values cannot be bought and our art will not be used to hide Reichmann International’s ugly profit-driven agenda,” the letter from Friends of Chinatown Toronto (FoCT) stated.
The group describes “art-washing” as the use of art to alter public perception of a development they say will gentrify the Chinatown neighbourhood.
FoCT has been a vocal opponent of the 13-storey apartment building planned for site of 315 Spadina Ave since 2019.
After learning that artists in the Kensington-Chinatown community were being courted for a mural at the site, FoCT published an open letter on Tuesday condemning the commission. The mural would be placed on the temporary barriers, or construction hoarding, around 315 Spadina Ave.
The letter was signed by 140 artists, including former MuchMusic host Sook Yin-Lee, who say they are refusing to allow their work to be used by Reichmann International.
A day after the letter was released, STEPS Public Art, the organization that was tapped by Reichmann International to find an artist for the mural, announced it was backing away from the project.
“We deeply value the trust and relationships we have with artists and communities, and we will be stepping down from this project,” the organization wrote in a comment on the FoCT Instagram page.
In an email sent to artists within STEPS’s network and obtained by TorontoToday, executive director Alexis Kane Speer said that STEPS was “not fully aware of the broader community concerns” surrounding the 315 Spadina Ave. development when they were brought on to assist.
A FoCT member, who asked to stay anonymous for fear of reprisal for their activism, said they were elated to see STEPS back away from the project in response to the open letter.
“I'm very proud and happy that the artist community has come together against this art-washing campaign,” they said. “This is just sort of one example of how workers can come together to speak out against issues of gentrification.”
The FoCT member said they hope the success of the open letter discourages other artists from working with Reichmann International on the planned mural.
Christie Carriere, a Toronto artist and illustrator who signed the open letter, told TorontoToday that STEPS reached out to her in early February to submit a portfolio to be considered for the mural commission.
She said the request was upsetting as she had worked with FoCT in the past to oppose the 315 Spadina Ave. development.
“When art is good and beneficial, it's used to engage with the community. It's used to inspire them and improve their day in some way. In this case, it’s being used to trick them,” she said.
The main issue activists have with the 315 Spadina Ave development is the lack of affordable housing. Of the 229 residential units planned for the building, only 22 units are designated as affordable rental units for a period of 40 years. Rent for these units cannot exceed 80 per cent of the average market rate, which activists argue is still unaffordable.
Activists also take issue with the fact that the building’s developers will get relief from certain fees and property taxes in exchange for offering these affordable units, through the city’s Open Door Affordable Housing Program. The tax cuts are estimated to be worth $1.41 million over 40 years, according to a city report.
If 315 Spadina Ave. eventually opens, the FoCT member who spoke to TorontoToday said they fear for the health of the community.
“We know that gentrification happens as a ripple effect. We know that property value will increase. We know that this will encourage the selling and the amassing of property from other corporate developers,” they said.
This not only presents a threat to working-class locals who rent in the area, but also cultural businesses that serve the non-English speaking population in Chinatown, they added.
“It's really important to understand that Chinatown was built for this community to survive, and if those services and local businesses disappear, the community is going to suffer,” they said.
To make way for the apartment building at 315 Spadina Ave., half a block of Chinatown businesses were razed. Dim sum institution Rol San was forced to move to a new location and Ding Dong Bakery, beloved for its affordable selection of Chinese pastries, was shuttered.
A one-storey business plaza, Spadina Court, was also demolished. Along with it, businesses like a dentist’s office that served Vietnamese speakers closed.
For Carriere, it’s a slap in the face to have these businesses replaced by condos.
“There was nothing about that site that wasn't already serving the community,” she said. “Developers are coming in here and replacing them with these luxury condos that will price out the current residents — at least replace it with something that is still beneficial for the community like affordable housing.”
Reichmann International did not respond to numerous calls from TorontoToday. Podium Developments, another developer of the site, declined to comment.
STEPS told TorontoToday it had not yet confirmed an artist for the mural at the time it backed out of the project. It’s unclear if the developers will continue looking for an artist for the mural commission through other means.
City bylaws dictate if developers want to erect signage on construction hoarding, they must also allocate at least 50 per cent of the surface area to local community art.
Notices of violation and fines can be issued for non-compliant construction sites.
