Not much is written about this old Linseed Oil Mill located in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto. Shut down in the 60s, it’s a 3-level structure that features enormous wooden doors on slider rails, extremely tight staircases that lead all the way up to the rooftop, a defunct elevator, and graffiti – both tagging and artistic – on every inch of wall space. There is a basement – but when I photographed the location for Building Storeys 2010 on a blistery, sleet-driven day in November it was flooded and freezing cold.

This location is in great structural shape and, with some vision, time, and effort, be converted into an amazing work/live space akin to 401 Richmond. There is a community group – Build Wabash Now! – that is rallying to reuse the building and turn it into the Wabash Community Recreation Centre. At a cost of between $13-$20 million, the concepts are bold and incorporate ideas of renovation to the building and addition of new space. It is interesting to not that the most expensive scenario involves demolition of the historical site instead of restoration.

Whatever happens, it will be a slow process – the group presented their design ideas back in 2003. The longer the city takes to move on this project, the more the building will deteriorate from neglect and vandalism. With holes in the roof on the top floor letting in waterfalls of water whenever it rains, the great potential of saving and reusing one of the last remaining industrial buildings in the city rots slowly away, taking with it not only a piece of Toronto’s industrial history, but an underserved neighbourhood’s hopes for a stronger, healthier, more vibrant community.