Space Project

The Canadian Urban Institute is working on Space Project in partnership with Why Not Theatre, an award-winning performing arts organization based in Toronto. A challenge within the arts and culture sector is access to space. As real estate becomes increasingly expensive, spaces become more difficult to access and operate for artists.

With support from the Metcalf Foundation, CUI and Why Not Theatre are exploring the potential of “meanwhile uses” to build a space-use model and framework that can be replicated throughout Toronto and eventually across Canada.

 

 


Market Scan

The University of Toronto School of Cities was commissioned to undertake a market scan in order to establish a baseline of data that provides key information about vacancies in the commercial, retail and industrial space sectors in select geographies across Toronto. This data will be used to inform the development of a business model for Space Project, as well as to provide reliable evidence to support policy and advocacy efforts around meanwhile uses of space.

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Resources

Resource: Activating Empty Storefronts with Arts-Based Activities

Description: A June 2019 document prepared for Arts Habitat and MacEwan University Social Innovation Institute. Includes a best practices scan, recommendations, and resources.

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Resource: Exemption of municipal taxes for non-profit organizations in Quebec

Description: An overview of tax exemptions for non-profit organizations that provides information on eligibility and details on the application process.

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Resource: Property Tax Exemption (Calgary)

Description: City of Calgary website explaining eligibility for property tax exemptions for non-profit organizations meeting certain criteria.

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Resource: Stephenson, G. (2018). “Legal Considerations of Pop-Up Operations”. In Pop-up Retail Strategies in an Omnichannel Context, Chapter 13. Ryerson University.

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Journal/Research Articles

Source: Mandipour, A. “Temporary Use of Space: Urban Processes Between Flexibility, Opportunity, and Precarity.” In Urban Studies Vol 55 (5). SAGE.

Description: This article examines the concept of temporary space and how it can be economically sensible and socially progressive when offered to those who are otherwise unable to use it.

LINK: PDF available upon request


Source: Rosenbaum, M., Edwards, K. and Ramirez, G. (2021). “The Benefits and Pitfalls of Contemporary Pop-Up Shops”. Kelly School of Business, Indiana University. Elsevier.

Description: A report that examines the benefits and challenges of temporary retail space/pop-up shops. One finding of the report revealed that 80% of companies that implemented a pop-up shop considered it a success.

LINK: PDF available upon request


Source: Rogers T., Blake, M. (2012). “Empty Shops, What Does The Future Hold for Town Centres?”. Oxford Economics.

Description: An analysis of retail void rates in the United Kingdom’s town centre high streets and in town shopping centres. The report provides an overview of the structural drivers of higher voids, information on the latest developments and variations of voids, and the financial impact of voids.

RETRIEVED FROM: Empty Shops, What Does The Future Hold for Town Centres?


Source: Hill, K., Light, A., Dearden A. (2013). “Meanwhile use as performance – rehearsing and performing community in temporary spaces”. Sheffield Hallam University.

Description: This paper explores the use of performance theory as a framework to conceptualise temporality and opportunity in a design research project examining community use of meanwhile space. In this report Meanwhile has developed as a term to describe the use of temporarily available space, typically due to stalled building projects or business failure.

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Source: Lehtovuori, P., Ruoppila, S. (2017). “Temporary Uses Producing Difference in Contemporary Urbanism.” In Transience and Permanence in Urban Development. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Description: This paper focuses on temporary use of space as it relates to global capitalism, appropriation, the Right to The City, and socio-spatial analysis.

LINK: PDF available upon request


Source: Scott, M., Szili, G. (2018). “Pop-up Polanyi: Cultural entrepreneurs and the ‘vacancy fix’.” In City, Culture, and Society. Flinders University. Elsevier

Description: This paper focuses on the rise of ‘pop-up shops’ and its impact on the urban cultural economy and gentrification. The paper argues that ‘pop-up’ programs contribute to creative city vibrancy, enable entrepreneurial subjectivities, and illustrate how vacancy fixes are addressed via small-scale cultural projects.

LINK: PDF available upon request


Source: Rabianski, J. (2002). “Vacancy in Market Analysis and Valuation”. In The Appraisal Journal.

Description: This paper addresses issues related to vacancies within the context of a cash flow and market analysis. The paper also examines underlying causes and requirements for efficient market operation.

LINK: PDF available upon request


Source: Berman, B. (2019). “Flatlined: Combatting the death of retail stores.” Hofstra University. Kelly School of Business, Indiana University. Elsevier.

Description: This paper highlights strategies to address the decline of retail stores through utilizing omni channel based synergies to increase store sales, make stores more attractive and engagement through personalization and interactivity, and by promoting small scale store formats and downsizing larger stores.

LINK: PDF available upon request

Source: Andres, L. Zhang, A. (2020). “Transforming Cities Through Temporary Urbanism, A Comparative International Overview.” Springer.


Description: This book highlights temporary processes of space and the phenomenon of temporary urbanism in cities around the world. This book was written throughout 2020 and includes the implications of temporary space use within the COVID-19 context.

LINK: PDF available upon request


Source: MacDonald, J. and Stokes, R. (2020). “Gentrification, Land Use, and Crime”. In The Annual Review of Criminology.

Description: This paper looks at the impact of gentrification and land-use changes on neighbourhood crime. This paper maintains that gentrification and associated changes to land-use tend to reduce crime in neighbourhoods.

LINK: PDF available upon request


Pilot Projects / Examples

Project / Location: Projet Young, Montréal

Description: Transitional occupancy pilot project developed by Entremise.  This project was a proof of concept demonstrating that it is possible for about twenty organizations to occupy and sustain a large vacant public warehouse during the 22 months preceding its demolition.

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Project / Location: NVRLND, Calgary

Description: An artist run foundation that transforms abandoned buildings into artist studios and community event spaces.

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Project / Location: Voltage Garage, Calgary

Description: Voltage Creative Garage is an art incubator providing affordable room rentals and co-working space for artists.

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Project / Location: Seafood Market Studios, Calgary

Description: A report on Calgary Arts Development’s plan to establish an entrepreneurial multi-tenant arts space development initiative.

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Project / Location: Courtepointe, Montréal

Description: A project developed in partnership with the Société de développement Angus (SDA) aimed at the temporary and collective occupancy of vacant premises in the heart of Vieux-Pointe-aux-Trembles.

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Project / Location: Fonderie Darling, Montréal

Description:  Fonderie Darling is a visual-arts venue that was founded and is directed by the not-for-profit art organization Quartier Éphémère, which has the mandate of supporting the creation, production, and dissemination of contemporary art. Fonderie Darling makes low-cost studios available to Montréal artists, one of its priorities being to contribute to the advancement of the visual arts and to make the trade of artist a full-fledged profession.

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Canada Space Network Resources

Pénurie de places en services de garde. (2021). URBA.

PDF Available.


Fiches thématiques autour des occupations transitoires. (2020).

PDF Available.


Espaces urbains vacants et urbanisme transitoire. (2021).

PDF Available.


L’urbanisme transitoire à Montréal: entre innovation et préservation. (2020).

PDF Available.


Mémoire présenté dans le cadre de la consultation publique sur les locaux vacants sur les artères commerciales. (2020).

PDF Available.


Impact social et enviornnemental HUJE. (2020).

PDF Available.


Plant Climat 2020-2030.

PDF Available.


Rapport d’activités 2017-2018. Maison de l’innovation sociale.

PDF Available.


Rapport d’ activités 2019-2020. Entremise compressé.

PDF Available.


Rapport Montréal transitoire. (2017).

PDF Available.


Le Projet Young à Griffintown. (2020).

PDF Available.


Préserver un bâtiment, bâtir une communauté

PDF Available.


Urbanite-automne 2018 MONTRÉAL TRANSITOIRE Une nouvelle façon de penser et d’habiter la

Ville p34-35.

PDF Available.


Synthèse. Avis sur l’utilisation des espaces vacants à Montréal : une perspective jeunesse.

PDF Available.