BLM TO to purchase 10,000 square foot building for use as new community hub

[farquhar]

Black Lives Matter to purchase 10,000 square foot building for use as new community hub | CP24.com

A 10,000 square foot building in downtown Toronto will soon be transformed into a new community activism and creative space operated by Black Lives Matter.

The organization, which was borne as a largely grassroots movement, has announced plans to purchase the property at 24 Cecil Street for use as a community hub.

The Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism will replace a much smaller rented space that Black Lives Matter had operated out of a building on Geary Avenue for the past year-and-a-half.

Organizers with Black Lives Matter say that the new space at 24 Cecil Street will include meeting rooms, a community kitchen, a recording studio, a dance studio and will also host a range of programming....

It is not entirely clear how the purchase of the building is being funded, though Coun. Mike Layton is expected to move a motion at a council meeting next week to have the city contribute $250,000 to help fund the project.

A real estate listing for 24 Cecil Street lists the asking price for the building as $8.2 million.

My Opinion: BLM TO may have been borne as a largely grassroots movement, but if the organization can somehow finance the purchase of an $8.2 million piece of Toronto real estate, it is way beyond a grassroots movement now....and I don't know why Mike Layton thinks the City of Toronto should kick-in $250,000 of taxpayer money in order to help a private social advocacy/protest group make this purchase.

 

[Darts]

This has all the making of a "WE scandal". BLM should go legit and re-formed itself as a political party subject to the same rules as a political party.

 

[farquhar]

This has all the making of a "WE scandal". BLM should go legit and re-formed itself as a political party subject to the same rules as a political party.

Between this and the millions to be spent on renaming Dundas Street, all I can say is I'm glad I don't live in Toronto and contribute to the municipal tax base.

 

[Darts]

Between this and the millions to be spent on renaming Dundas Street, all I can say is I'm glad I don't live in Toronto and contribute to the municipal tax base.

Toronto is a hardcore lefty city. Coming soon to your neighbourhood will be a tax on vacant houses. I fear that the lefties will then come up with a tax on "under-utilized" houses.

 

[canada-man]

So instead of planning to purchase or lease multiple lower price buildings where black people in Toronto actually live, you pick one expensive building in an area with a single digit percentage of black people in the community. I wonder where in the US I've seen this before

 

[farquhar]

So instead of planning to purchase or lease multiple lower price buildings where black people in Toronto actually live, you pick one expensive building in an area with a single digit percentage of black people in the community. I wonder where in the US I've seen this before

BLM TO says the location is significant because Marcus Garvey maintained an office down the street when he lived in Toronto

 

[masspref]

I would respect the building more if it was all lives matter. I have mentioned once before in another thread, specific attention like this will draw problems from specifc groups. What year that will occur, who knows. Shame. Good intentions but not the way to do it...

 

[JackBurton]

I’m sure the $ invested in it will be siphoned off and the property quietly sold above market value in 5 yrs.

There is a huge problem with BLM not being transparent with their financial side.

Didn’t the “‘Marxist” founder just buy four LA properties with $earmarked for community development

It’s all about the Benjamin’s. Always has been, always will. Any special interest group can scream and cry and people will donate them that money gets misappropriated.

We’ve all seen this cycle in the past. Nothing new. Hopefully BLM manages to break the back of Marxism for the next generation to learn from.

5yrs from now when the mismanagement has accured so much debt they they have to sell the building for 40% more than they paid: “see, Marxism works!”

I agree with other posters, why didn’t they put this Centre in an area that’s under funded and desperately needed? Jane and Finch could use this kind of programming but it’s innaccessible. You think a mom will put her kid on the TTC to downtown to take art class that eats up 3 hrs round trip?

Its them clearly setting up to sell that property in a few years. Nothing more.

 

[Anbarandy]

Toronto is a hardcore lefty city. Coming soon to your neighbourhood will be a tax on vacant houses. I fear that the lefties will then come up with a tax on "under-utilized" houses.

This 'hardcore lefty city' has consistently elected a majority of right wing, center right and centrist councilors for years.

This 'lefty city' label is a myth.

 

[Anbarandy]

I’m sure the $ invested in it will be siphoned off and the property quietly sold above market value in 5 yrs.

There is a huge problem with BLM not being transparent with their financial side.

Didn’t the “‘Marxist” founder just buy four LA properties with $earmarked for community development

It’s all about the Benjamin’s. Always has been, always will. Any special interest group can scream and cry and people will donate them that money gets misappropriated.

We’ve all seen this cycle in the past. Nothing new. Hopefully BLM manages to break the back of Marxism for the next generation to learn from.

5yrs from now when the mismanagement has accured so much debt they they have to sell the building for 40% more than they paid: “see, Marxism works!”

I agree with other posters, why didn’t they put this Centre in an area that’s under funded and desperately needed? Jane and Finch could use this kind of programming but it’s innaccessible. You think a mom will put her kid on the TTC to downtown to take art class that eats up 3 hrs round trip?

Its them clearly setting up to sell that property in a few years. Nothing more.

The only iota of validity of the above is:

" .... Jane and Finch could use this kind of programming ... "

The rest is rant.

 

[Darts]

It's a hard core lefty city if we give $250,000 to BLM or any private organization.

 

[JackBurton]

The only iota of validity of the above is:

" .... Jane and Finch could use this kind of programming ... "

The rest is rant.

Thanks!

I still think buying downtown property is a way for them to hide assets. The communities that really need a facility like this are in the more radicalized neighborhoods.

Why not put it where the need is?

 

[y2kmark]

Between this and the millions to be spent on renaming Dundas Street, all I can say is I'm glad I don't live in Toronto and contribute to the municipal tax base.

So are most Torontonians. You might be happier in Nevada or Idaho or someplace...

 

[y2kmark]

Black Lives Matter to purchase 10,000 square foot building for use as new community hub | CP24.com

A 10,000 square foot building in downtown Toronto will soon be transformed into a new community activism and creative space operated by Black Lives Matter.

The organization, which was borne as a largely grassroots movement, has announced plans to purchase the property at 24 Cecil Street for use as a community hub.

The Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism will replace a much smaller rented space that Black Lives Matter had operated out of a building on Geary Avenue for the past year-and-a-half.

Organizers with Black Lives Matter say that the new space at 24 Cecil Street will include meeting rooms, a community kitchen, a recording studio, a dance studio and will also host a range of programming....

It is not entirely clear how the purchase of the building is being funded, though Coun. Mike Layton is expected to move a motion at a council meeting next week to have the city contribute $250,000 to help fund the project.

A real estate listing for 24 Cecil Street lists the asking price for the building as $8.2 million.

My Opinion: BLM TO may have been borne as a largely grassroots movement, but if the organization can somehow finance the purchase of an $8.2 million piece of Toronto real estate, it is way beyond a grassroots movement now....and I don't know why Mike Layton thinks the City of Toronto should kick-in $250,000 of taxpayer money in order to help a private social advocacy/protest group make this purchase.

The picture indicates this is quite an old building, like over 100 YO maybe. Wonder what the plumbing and HVAC are like?...

 

[lomotil]

This 'hardcore lefty city' has consistently elected a majority of right wing, center right and centrist councilors for years.

This 'lefty city' label is a myth.

The councillors reflect the 25 seats in the city and they run the gamut of right wing to to left wing. The left wing is more vocal, gets more local media attention and less financially well off.

 

[luvyeah]

 

[Anbarandy]

The councillors reflect the 25 seats in the city and they run the gamut of right wing to to left wing. The left wing is more vocal, gets more local media attention and less financially well off.

Being the majority, the right, center right and the centrist councilors through their votes in council, make the decisions.

They really don't have to be more vocal, nor advocate as much since:

1) They run the "show'.

2) They don't represent ridings that have issues that are more media worthy. { ie: downtown, lakefront, density, landmarks, tourism, shelters, housing, homelessness etc etc etc}

 

[bluecolt]

So are most Torontonians. You might be happier in Nevada or Idaho or someplace...

How can you speak for Torontonians? You are an American living in the U.S. and commenting on a Canadian website as a some kind of a pseudo-expert.

 

[richaceg]

Don't have a problem with whatever they purchase, but does it benefit the black communities in TO?

 

[TimeOutCalled]

Black Lives Matter. Indigenous Lives Matter. And yes, you can say All Lives Matter but that is disingenuous when the topic is systemic racism. White middle class folks have it easy relative to visible minorities. (I'm white, male, middle class).

But ... I take issue with the reluctance of both these communities to mitigate their problems.

A basic education, close family ties and hard work continue to be the fundamental blocks of success. The literacy rate, divorce rate, single parent family rate and unemployment levels in these communities continues to be worse than the general population including other visible minorities such as Asians, Indians, Middle Eastern.

More importantly is the issue of violent crime. Today, the greatest danger to a young black or indigenous man is another young black / indigenous man. Not the police (though I denounce the treatment the community has received from LE over the last 100 years.). If and when I hear BLM and Indigenous Leaders honestly address this topic in addition to their other grievances I'll start to pay more attention. And if they encouraged education and familial responsibilities as well.

And before you blame the stupid white guy ... all the points I made above were made by Obama and MLK.

Don't have a problem with whatever they purchase, but does it benefit the black communities in TO?

Black Lives Matter to purchase 10,000 square foot building for use as new community hub | CP24.com

A 10,000 square foot building in downtown Toronto will soon be transformed into a new community activism and creative space operated by Black Lives Matter.

The organization, which was borne as a largely grassroots movement, has announced plans to purchase the property at 24 Cecil Street for use as a community hub.

The Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism will replace a much smaller rented space that Black Lives Matter had operated out of a building on Geary Avenue for the past year-and-a-half.

Organizers with Black Lives Matter say that the new space at 24 Cecil Street will include meeting rooms, a community kitchen, a recording studio, a dance studio and will also host a range of programming....

It is not entirely clear how the purchase of the building is being funded, though Coun. Mike Layton is expected to move a motion at a council meeting next week to have the city contribute $250,000 to help fund the project.

A real estate listing for 24 Cecil Street lists the asking price for the building as $8.2 million.

My Opinion: BLM TO may have been borne as a largely grassroots movement, but if the organization can somehow finance the purchase of an $8.2 million piece of Toronto real estate, it is way beyond a grassroots movement now....and I don't know why Mike Layton thinks the City of Toronto should kick-in $250,000 of taxpayer money in order to help a private social advocacy/protest group make this purchase.