1990-2001
By the 1990s, many industries had shut down or relocated, leaving behind large, vacant buildings. In 1990 The Toronto Carpet Factory shut down. In 1991 Inglis moved to Mississauga and the entire east side of the village is desolate. Even though Inglis had occupied these lands, a large area had been vacant for 50 years and essentially the neighbourhood was neglected.
The decline in industrial activity prompted discussions about rezoning, as the area was predominantly zoned for industrial use, which limited opportunities for new types of development. The City of Toronto began to rezone parts of Liberty Village to encourage mixed-use development and developers started to repurpose warehouses into lofts and commercial spaces.
At the foot of Hanna Ave., this building was built by John Inglis & Co during WW II for the manufacture of Browning High Power pistols.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Cummins
Preserving the area’s industrial character, while making it functional for modern needs, as well as the large industrial spaces and their affordability, began to attract artists, craftspeople and small startups to Liberty Village. The arts and innovation communities used the spaces as live/work studios and offices and began to establish Liberty Village as a hub for creativity.
The late 1990s saw the first signs of residential development, with former factories being converted into lofts. A few small cafes and pubs also started to appear and the area also became an emerging location for film production and post-production studios. Cinespace Film Studios began to establish itself in Toronto during this period, making use of the industrial spaces inside Liberty Village.