Historic Toronto theatre slated for demolition to make way for 76-storey tower

[Civilization]

Historic Toronto theatre slated for demolition to make way for 76-storey tower

https://www.cp24.com/news/historic-toro ... -1.6293646

A Toronto theatre built more than a century ago has been slated for demolition.

Mirvish’s CAA Theatre, located at 651 Yonge St., is among a number of businesses along the Yonge Corridor set to be demolished and redeveloped into a 76-storey mixed-use tower in the coming years.

Abraham Plunkett-Latimer, a community planner for Toronto and East York with the city, confirmed to CTV News Toronto Tuesday that the city is reviewing an application to demolish the interior of the theatre, while retaining the front facade, to make way for the new development.

The new tower will include a "community cultural centre," the city says, along with 53,988 square metres of residential space and 678 dwelling units, if approved.

“The intention is not to retain the theatre, but instead to create a community cultural space to contribute to the cultural life of the community,” Plunkett-Latimer said in a written statement, adding that “the applicant [is] still exploring the specifics of what that cultural space would entail.”

The process is still in the early stages, however. Plunkett-Latimer said it could be anywhere from under a year to more than two years to complete the process and see the theatre demolished.