21 Don Roadway: An expo, eventual redevelopment, and a lot of soap.

Early in October, I had the pleasure of visiting the old Unilever Soap Factory at 21 Don Roadway to participate in EDIT: Expo for Design, Innovation and Technology. It was a unique experience that exposed me to the power of collective action in an unlikely place. EDIT crew were able to plan and execute this event in the chemical-laden shell of a factory that allowed organizations to present their projects that better the world. It was exhilarating to see visitors engaged in thought and conversation about topics that do not get as much attention as they should.

To scratch the surface of mountain of exhibitions and installations I interacted with… I tried kale that grew out of a shipping container on a vertical soilless farm wall – a process that uses LED recipes (photosynthesis, anyone?) to enhance flavours and nutritional levels. I played with a motion-controlled sink to change water temperature and flow rate, designed for those with mobility issues. I wrote a letter to the mayor that will be hand-delivered along with the dozens of others written by local planners and architects. I walked through the 4-level expo several times, and each time a previously-missed nuance caught my attention and taught me something new.

The initial draw to the event for me, however, was the awesome building itself. Opportunities to visit abandoned factories are hard to come by in Toronto, so I jumped at the chance. It’s been nearly 8 years since Unilever moved out of the 6-storey factory, and it now belongs to First Gulf Corp., who plans on redeveloping the area into an office park and transportation hub. The factory itself will be repurposed into office space, and the nearby warehouse will be refurbished. The entire plan seems idealistic, as most redevelopments do, but grasps at the immense potential of the waterfront – just consider the recent announcement of Google’s Sidewalk Labs coming to the Port Lands! The factory is a much-needed piece of history that will represent the waterfront’s origins and add heritage to the new. I also appreciate the existing waterfront developments, and I highly recommend exploring the nearby Canary District and Corktown Commons. Both are good examples of walkable multi-use spaces that can be extended along the lake.

In the meantime of waiting for shovels to break ground, the factory being rented out for the low price of $10,000 a day.