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Spadina-Fort York city councillor announces recommendation for city-owned music venue

A black building with silver letters and windows with white borders. It is on a street with two buildings on each side.
The old SVP Sports and KFC buildings on Queen St. W. are owned by the city, and may be transformed into a new music venue for racialized artists and musicians. Photo courtesy of Joe Cressy's Twitter account.
Daniel Centeno - CJRU - Toronto • ON | 21-03-2022
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Spadina-Fort York City Councillor Joe Cressy announced that he and city of Toronto staff are recommending the transformation of a city-owned building into a ne live music venue hosted by the organization, It’s OK*.

The focus will be on creating a space for Black, Indigenous and racialized artists.

On his website, Cressy writes that the proposal will be heard by the General Government and Licensing Committee on March 22. If approved by city council, It’s OK* can begin facilitating the space for musicians this June. The ownership of the space is expected to be for two years.

“Queen West is at the heart of Toronto's live music scene, which is essential to our city's vibrancy, culture, and economy," Cressy writes in a series of tweets. "I am thrilled by the opportunity for a city-owned building on Queen West to host It's OK* and create a welcoming space for diverse and marginalized artists and musicians."

In Cressy website letter, Brad Bradford, the chair of the Toronto Music Advisory Council is quoted, "After two long years, COVID-19 has hit our city's live music scene especially hard.We must continue to do everything we can to support live music — not just during this pandemic, but long after as well. This proposal does exactly that."

The building unit 468 Queen St. W.,  is former a retail block that housed a KFC fast food restaurant and Si Vous Play (SVP) sporting goods department store, was acquired by the city for a future public parkland.

Cressy goes on to write that this proposal is part of the city’s larger project to create affordable housing and cultural spaces in redeveloped properties.

Further, this initiative is part of a COVID-19 pandemic recovery response, to help the local music industry that was deeply affected by lockdowns and health measures, according to Cressy.

Cressy's office and It’s OK* were contacted to comment on future plans for the space and its reading to city council this week. No response was given at this time.

More details to come following the March 22 vote.

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