Item - 2011.TE5.18

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the One Bloor Street East - Public Art Plan attached to the report dated March 3, 2011, from the Director, Urban Design.

The purpose of this staff report is to seek City Council approval of the One Bloor Street East - Public Art Plan.  The plan has been prepared by the owner in compliance with the development approval provisions.  The plan, which is included as Attachment 1 of this report, outlines the method by which the owner will commission public art in the publicly-accessible, privately-owned area of the development site.

The development building site is in a prominent area in downtown Toronto located at the southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor Street. This neighbourhood is an established commercial shopping area and it is also the interchange of the two subway lines at this busy urban intersection. To reinforce the equal importance of these streets the public art site will be located in the privately owned property but highly accessible and visible area. The proposed site will be along the east-west frontage of Bloor Street and the north-south frontage of Yonge Street further enhancing the public realm.

The One Bloor Street East - Public Art Plan provides a framework for a public art commission including the introduction and background; the site context and public art site; the artist selection method; the documentation, communications and public relations;  the estimated art budget; and schedule.  The attached plan meets the objectives of City Planning’s Percent for Public Art Guidelines and is supported by the Toronto Public Art Commission.