Top 3 Abandoned Places In Toronto

There are so many abandoned places in Toronto! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in Toronto. Browse through all abandoned places in Toronto

1. Linseed Factory

Linseed Oil Factory during Industrial Revolution 

The property was purchased and the foundation was built by the Montreal-based Canada Linseed Oil Mills in the spring of 1910. Linseed oil was used in the production of many different things, such as oil paints, linoleum, wood finisher, canvas bags, tablecloths, livestock feed, and even some cough syrups. 

Why was the Linseed Oil Factory shut down

The factory closed down in the 1960s when the demand for linseed oil was in its steady decline. As many substitutes arrived for linseed oil, or the linseed oil products that it was used to make were replaced. The factory and land sat vacant until the year 2000 when the City of Toronto purchased the land for $2 million. 

The building has been vacant for nearly the same amount of time it was used. Productions ran from 1910 to sometime in the 1960s. Say, 65 years. It has sat vacant from the time it closed until 2000. About 45 years.

Current / Future of Linseen Oil Factory

For 45 years, the City of Toronto has owned this building and has made few plans for its future. So far the only plan they have come up with is to convert the abandoned linseed oil factory into a community center.

In 2010 they wanted to restore the building as it was before, without breaking it down, along with restoring its soil as it was before contamination of chemicals used for linseed oil manufacture, but lack of financial resources caused them to leave it as it is. Some reports suggest that by 2023 Some projects may start on the factory ruins, as the buildings around it have been renovated.

2. Kodak (Eastman Kodak)

Kodak’s move to Canada

After achieving success in the USA, Kodak Eastman set its eyes on the Canadian market.  In 1899 they started the business and opened this building in 1913, purchasing 25 acres of land for 4000$ per acre. And constructed what is today known as Kodak Heights. Kodak was responsible for bringing many memories to a camera roll, as well as being a major leader in cutting-edge technology for that era from Kodak cameras to photos. 

Might and capacity of the Kodak establishment

It served as a multipurpose site, for production as well as the main hub of business for Kodak, with several buildings and a 200 feet chimney, serving as a landmark. To meet the needs of the production, more than 50 ton of coal was consumed. The last remaining building of the Eastman Kodak company complex off of Eglinton Ave. 

The 4 story office structure has various rooms that are semi-lit through the large windows, serving as an employee building,  it contains an auditorium, cafeteria, gymnasium, club room, locker room, and camera studio and has an adjacent lawn bowling green and nowadays lots of graffiti. Closed in 2005, when the company moved its operation to another location. 

Kodak building’s current situation

Caution: If you plan to visit the building, you can be charged with illegal trespassing, and with security and police that often parole near the building. It to be noted that even some executives or company men come by here, 

However, if you visit it, an N95 mask is recommended, along with proper shoes, as the basement can be a bit muddy or flooded, which may or may not have some hazardous chemicals and molds used by the company. 

In 2005, a large percentage of the building was brought down, leaving only the employee building intact. Purchased by Metrolinx, and access to the inside of the building is blocked off, not to say that there aren't any trespassers as you can see a lot of graffiti, both inside and out. However the inside can be very dark with a large hall and a grand staircase, the upper floor has a gymnasium as well. You might find other forms of trespassers, like animals, cats, raccoons, dogs, a lot of crickets, and other kinds of pests.

3. ABC Lumber

Abandoned lumberyard in west Toronto. Uncertain when it was abandoned, but graffiti on the main building is dated 2014 (and likely early 2014, given how much it's faded). Parts of the site are currently being overrun with creeper vines, and a humane-style animal trap was present as well (indicating that there is/was an issue with raccoons, though the trap looked as old as everything else on the site).

All sorts of interesting stuff to be found - there are several large saws of various types in one of the outbuildings, as well as strange lightbulbs, car parts, and rusty tools. There are also some work vehicles (a mid-size flatbed cargo truck and a forklift) sitting out in the open and rusting. Some of the lumber is still present, and shows evidence of fire damage. Unfortunately, the main building is boarded up and appears to be inaccessible, as are the upper levels of the outbuildings. Running water could also be heard through an open manhole (though you'd have to be a raccoon to get into it because it's been built over).

No security or surveillance that I saw or know of (the gate in the fence has become very overgrown, and has concrete barriers placed in front of it for added fun). Watch out for rusty nails and barbed wire - there's lots of degraded/rusty barbed wire around the perimeter, and some of it is pretty tangly. Also, fair warning: the site is fairly open, and a lot of the outdoor portions are visible from a busy intersection.

[b]EDIT 15/10/2015:[/b] Grammar pass and slight location refinement.