short version of 17 Paton Road's unfinished story

it is now summer 2020. 17 Paton Road is a group of 20 mostly artists who lost their homes, following an order to vacate our building by Toronto Chief Building because the building does not comply with the Ontario Fire Code. the March 10, 2020 evacuation order one of the letters of support we got shortly after this evacuation order, that nobody seemed to have the power to overturn, this despite the beginning of a global pandemic, should never have been released. we had already started to advocate for a long-term solution to keep our housing before the order and so, we tripled energy and continued with all sorts of amazing collaborations and at some point, we hoped that our landlords would accept to sell the building to the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT). the idea was that we would manage it as a co-op. our story in the Toronto Star at that moment (April 29, 2020). letter from artist and co-op founder Tanya Mars (May 9, 2020) letter to the Editor by our Councillor (May 13, 2020) after that, our hopes of a purchase grew even more as our Councillor mobilized significant public money and PNLT entered into closer conversation with our landlords, but that led nowhere and our landlords refused PNLT's offer. then, we mourned and the dignity breach that takes place when one looses home and a space to do their art manifested itself, but the task was to keep healthy while trying to find another place in the middle of a global pandemic crisis and affordable housing crisis, and while still continuing our advocacy work, but now shifting to a legal phase to claim our rights at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). we will all be out by September 1st, 2020. can art change something in the housing politics of Toronto?

this is the home i lost, after living there for 15 years at $800/month for 610 sq ft. Fire Chief should know that i felt safe