Announcement in progress - from David Rider (Star)'s Twitter:


AoD

From the above:

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I wonder if there is a map floating out there that keep track of all the studio projects in the Portlands. I thought Bell is having one somewhere in the area (by Don Roadway)?

AoD
 
Details:

News Release

November 16, 2021

City of Toronto and CreateTO announce development partner for the $250 million Basin Media Hub

Today, Mayor John Tory announced that Hackman Capital Partners (HCP) and its affiliate The MBS Group (MBS) will develop and operate the Basin Media Hub; a $250 million, purpose-built, state-of-the-art film, television and digital media hub to be located on an 8.9-acre waterfront development parcel in Toronto’s Port Lands, located at 29, 35, 41 Basin St.

The HCP-MBS proposal approved by CreateTO last month and City Council last week includes eight purpose-built sound stages, production office space, along with workshop and production support space. This $250 million investment in the development will be one of the most significant contributions to Toronto’s film and television production ecosystem in more than two decades.

In addition to providing much-needed studio and production space within the city, the proposed development will provide the opportunity for HCP-MBS to partner with the City to deliver a public promenade along the water’s edge, helping to further transform this area of the Port Lands into a healthier and more liveable space for workers and visitors alike.

The Basin Media Hub presents an important opportunity to support the ongoing development of Toronto’s film industry and the Media City District. After completion of the construction phase, the expected economic impact of on-going film studio operations includes $280 million in economic activity, $119 million in net contribution to GDP and $32 million in tax revenues across all levels of government. The partnership is expected to create 750 jobs on-site as well as 880 indirect or induced jobs in the broader community.

Construction is planned to begin on the Basin Media Hub by 2023.

Through its proposal, HCP-MBS has committed to establishing a Basin Media Hub endowment for a local training program with a $1 million initial investment and funding for a Program Coordinator. HCP-MBS will provide training space onsite and support site visits, talks and work experience opportunities for local schools in order to promote a diverse range of careers in the film industry and support training and jobs for people from equity-seeking groups. The training program will be managed by MBS University (MBSu), a division of MBS that has a wealth of experience in creating customized programs for hands-on practical crew training.

HCP-MBS has also committed to establishing a $1 million fund to support and encourage Canadian content creation.

The HCP-MBS partnership was selected through a competitive market offering process launched by CreateTO, on behalf of the City, in 2020 and concluded in 2021. HCP is a privately-held real estate investment and operating company that specializes in buying, renovating and re-imagining commercial, vintage industrial and studio properties. MBS is an industry-leading studio operations, production services and studio-based equipment provider.

Artist renderings of the Basin Media Hub can be viewed in the web release here: https://www.toronto.ca/news/city-of...-partner-for-the-250-million-basin-media-hub/
 
That aerial rendering also suggests that this new build is going to be, when done anyway, substantially larger than Pinewood. That's impressive as hell. And great news for those of us in the east end who don't exactly love the commute to places like Hamilton, north-west Mississauga, Downsview, Oakville...
 
Looks like it's 12 stages, two office buildings, a large parking structure, and some other building I can't make out. Pinewood according to their website has 11 stages right now, so that's one more than Pinewood. Pinewood is also expanding again as well..
 
Not necessarily stages though - at Pinewood some of the numbered buildings have acted as dedicated support shops rather than actual sound stages - a large central carp shop, for example, or a building that's taken over entirely by wardrobe or sets.

In any case, it's a very promising development. It kind of provides an interesting balance of mixed usage to the Portlands, which will down the road play host to parks and recreational facilities alongside film and television production, as well as continue to provide a home for legacy industries like cement production and massive storage of aggregates and road salt.
 
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Not necessarily stages though - at Pinewood some of the numbered buildings have acted as dedicated support shops rather than actual sound stages - a large central carp shop, for example, or a building that's taken over entirely by wardrobe or sets.

In any case, it's avvery promising development. It kind of provides an interesting balance of mixed usage to the Portlands, which will down the road play host to parks and recreational facilities alongside film and television production, as well as continue to provide a home for legacy industries like cement production and massive storage of aggregates and road salt.

I wonder how they will reconcile the (what looks like) public promenade with restricted access for the rest of the property.

AoD
 
I wonder how they will reconcile the (what looks like) public promenade with restricted access for the rest of the property.

AoD

In addition to public access at the edges of the site, there will a public connection between the promenade and Basin Street, roughly mid-site. (shown in the last image)

That section and at least some of the Promenade will have public-facing buildings (retail/restos/public office accesses/tours)

The balance of the site will either be secure buildings or secure perimeter via fencing, I'd assume.
 

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