ProjectEnd said:
Star write up on the above: https://www.thestar.com/real-estate...cle_8b9c02e6-08af-11ef-b5bd-df750b679ff4.html

Imagine your neighbourhood could be getting a Siamak Hariri theatre renovation and you're fighting the effing thing at the OLT?
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I don't agree w/this being fought for practical reasons.

But as someone who really enjoyed watching movies in that cinema growing up, I do feel its a shame to lose it. And it is important to say, its a loss, not a renovation. This will be a new build behind the old facade with a few artifacts brought back in to the interior.

Its a lovely proposal, btw. But it doesn't really retain the heritage here.

I support it, however, from the perspective that its continuing on as a one-screen movie house is not viable, at least as a for-profit operation; and the building does have challenges in terms of needs for repairs and accessibility that no one can justify pouring money into except via government grant, which there isn't here.

So, opposing it doesn't serve to keep the existing and this is about as nice a replacement as you're going to get.
 
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Note to locals: It could be a lot worse.

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Source
 
To their credit, they kept the marquee complete with the old backlit lettering. It's pretty rare that chains resist the opportunity to plaster their garish signage all over a building. Window film is unfortunate though.
 
I am getting very cynical about these groups. This is nothing that an envelope of cash wouldn’t solve! 🤔
 
streetsoftoronto.com

Could a group of local residents kill the Regent Revival theatre project?

Nearly a year ago, the Regent project faced its first major setback at the Committee of Adjustment, where the developers sought approval.
streetsoftoronto.com streetsoftoronto.com

Nearly a year ago, the project faced its first major setback at the Committee of Adjustment, where the developers sought approval for minor variances.

Despite being a standard part of the city’s process, the committee ruled against the project. Terra Bruce decided to appeal the decision, bypassing the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB) in favour of the Ontario Land Tribunal, which functions more like a courtroom, requiring factual and evidence-based testimonies.

The hearing is underway right now.

“It’s not the majority of the community (who are against the project). We have the support of the South Eglinton Residents and Davisville Residents associations. We’ve received a letter of support from the BIA. We have heritage approval from the North York Preservation Board. We have a lot of support,” said Franco Boni, executive and program director for the Regent Revival project.

“It’s going through the democratic process, I suppose, whatever you want to call it. We are seeing it through and hopefully it won’t impact the outcome. We are still interested in building a theatre, but they have delayed us a year, and it’s been at significant cost to the owner. It’s a shame if it doesn’t happen.”

Boni said that Terra Bruce’s efforts to address residents’ concerns have been met with resistance. The company has made concessions, such as removing a proposed community room to limit public access from the back, but these measures failed to satisfy the opposition.

“We’ve tried, we’ve reached out to them several times, and we’ve had meetings with them,” Boni said. “The last meeting we had, they just ended up shouting at us and yelling at us.”

Despite these challenges, the developers remain hopeful that the Ontario Land Tribunal will rule in their favor. They emphasize the philanthropic nature of the project, highlighting the city’s gain of a new theatre without taxpayer dollars. However, the protracted battle has already delayed the project by a year, according to Boni, which comes with significant costs.
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