[Northern Light]

This beautiful old theatre is apparently set to be restored.

Rumours were recently rampant of 'redevelopment', but a new (yes I know) BlogTO story offers some hope.

Toronto movie theatre that was sold to be reborn as something new

An old Toronto movie theatre has been sold, but the people who bought it are planning on turning it into something totally new that will hopefully ...

www.blogto.com

Two excerpts:

and

Gorgeous theatre, and pleased to see it may be properly saved.

For those unfamiliar w/this cinema, this a relatively recent photo, sourced from the cinema's FB page:

Source:

https://www.facebook.com/theregenttheatre/photos/1804520279827172

An older pic:

from:

https://www.facebook.com/theregenttheatre/photos/1735016576777543

 

[interchange42]

I believe the previous owners were using the Regent as a sound mixing studio for films and shows (when it wasn't actually showing films). You can see boards set up in the balcony for that in the FB pic that NL included above, along with speakers here, there and everywhere, plus sound absorption panels. The Royal is used for the same purpose, AFAIK, so it's not the only cinema in town where that takes place. I have no idea how lucrative that business is, but as The Regent has been purchased by Terra Bruce Productions, which is basically entertainment industry, I imagine that sound mixing may continue to be part of what goes on here in the future.

42

 

[AlbertC]

New owners of historic Regent Movie Theatre to return venue to former glory

A Newfoundland-based production company will revive midtown fave

streetsoftoronto.com

A production company based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, has purchased the Regent Theatre in Toronto’s Davisville community and hopes to return it back to its former glory.

Terra Bruce Productions purchased the Regent for $7.4 million and plans to use the space for live theatre — the venue’s original use when it first opened in 1927, before it became a movie theatre.

The production company was started in 2018. They have since created a wide variety of content, from live theatre to music videos and web series.

They just finished a big run of their musical No Change in the Weather that ran in both Toronto and St. John’s. Now the company is making its first foray into Toronto’s venue scene with the Regent.

“We believe that breathing new life into this historic theatre will be of enormous benefit to the city, the arts community and to Davisville,” Terra Bruce’s chief operating officer, Bob Hallett, told Post City. “There’s going to be a huge investment in time and resources to bring the building back to its former glory.”

The theatre is heritage listed, which means that further evaluation must be done if there are plans for demolition. However, Hallett said that any work on the building will be “more cosmetic” and focus largely on its interior to allow for live productions.

He said that design plans are currently being considered and are in the “early stages,” and he does not have a timeline for when the theatre will reopen.

 

[AlbertC]

Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.2

Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.2

app.toronto.ca

551 Mount Pleasant Road - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act

Summary​

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 551 Mount Pleasant Road (including the active entrances at 549, 553 and 555 Mount Pleasant Road) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value. Constructed in 1927 to the designs of architect Murray Brown as a vaudeville theatre and cinema for Famous Players Canada, the property at 551 Mount Pleasant Road is located on the east side of Mount Pleasant Road, north of Belsize Drive. The property is a fine and surviving example of an early 20th-century purpose-built theatre along a neighbourhood main street, a typology that was once common but is becoming increasingly rare. In addition to the association with Murray Brown and his designs for a series of atmospheric theatres in Ontario, Saskatoon and Halifax, the property has significant historical associations with the Crest Theatre, an influential repertory theatre company founded in 1953 with a mandate to "contribute to the cultural life of Canada by providing opportunities for the development of Canadian artistic directors, playwrights, designers, managers and technicians."[1] For the thirteen consecutive seasons that the Crest Theatre leased the property at 551 Mount Pleasant, they presented a full range of dramatic productions, including classical, contemporary, and original works. The property has been a landmark in the Mount Pleasant Village neighbourhood for nearly a century and is beloved for its cultural heritage as a theatre. The property at 551 Mount Pleasant Road was listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register on May 28, 1984, and contributes to the intact historic village streetscape of this section of Mount Pleasant Road, as identified in the Midtown in Focus Planning Study. On May 2, 2017, Toronto and East York Community Council requested Heritage Planning staff to report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council on the possibility of designating The Regent Theatre at 551 Mount Pleasant Road under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. Staff have completed the Research and Evaluation Report for the property at 551 Mount Pleasant Road and determined that the property meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act under all three categories of design and physical, historical and associative, and contextual values. As such, the property is a significant built heritage resource. In June 2019, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108) received Royal Assent. Schedule 11 of this Act included amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act. The Bill 108 Amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act came into force on July 1, 2021, which included a shift in Part IV designations related to certain Planning Act applications. Section 29(1.2) of the Ontario Heritage Act now restricts City Council's ability to give notice of its intention to designate a property under the Act to within 90 days after the City Clerk gives notice of a complete application. An application under the Ontario Building Code to partially but substantially demolish the property at 551 Mount Pleasant Road was submitted on June 13, 2022 and, as of the date of this report, is incomplete. A Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report (CHER) dated August 26, 2022 was completed by ERA Architects Inc. in advance of any planning application and was submitted to support the demolition permit. A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is required for all development applications that affect listed and designated properties and will be considered when determining how a heritage property is to be conserved. Designation also enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.​

 

[Northern Light]

Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.2

Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.2

app.toronto.ca

551 Mount Pleasant Road - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act

Summary​

An application under the Ontario Building Code to partially but substantially demolish the property at 551 Mount Pleasant Road was submitted on June 13, 2022 and, as of the date of this report, is incomplete.​

How did we all miss this?

What happened to the announced plans for restoration..........?

This theatre should be saved, in whole, in tact!

Hmm.............the above may be poorly worded. I have found the permit application:

 

[Northern Light]

So this one was the subject of a designation report at Council today.

Report link: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-229555.pdf

It was adopted.

From the report:

As it is today: (exterior front)

***

Break for comment, to think, I love this theatre even as I last saw it, but I never saw it like this...........this was covered up, damaged, molested.......what a shame.......

Still, there's a lot that can be rescued and resuscitated, see below:

***

 

[Doppleganger]

What a great asset to the community this one will be! Can't wait to see this gem all shined up!

 

[AlbertC]

Iconic theatre gets heritage designation ahead of renovations

The building, formerly home to the Regent Theatre, was purchased by Terra Bruce Productions for $7.4 million

streetsoftoronto.com

The City of Toronto, alongside local councillor Jaye Robinson, is making a move to designate the building at 551 Mount Pleasant Rd. as a heritage property.

The building, formerly home to the Regent Theatre, was purchased by Terra Bruce Productions for $7.4 million. The plan was to use the space for live theatre — the venue’s original use when it first opened in 1927 before it became a movie theatre.

“Everybody involved recognizes that it has significant heritage value both for the community and the City of Toronto,” said Bob Hallett, Terra Bruce’s chief operating officer. “And that maintaining as much of the various heritage aspects as we can is desirable.”

Hallett also confirmed that there is no plan to add a residential component to the facility.

And that is Robinson’s vision as well. “We don’t want a condo here. We want a theatre,” she said.

“Midtown lacks arts and culture desperately — it’s all downtown. And midtown is growing by leaps and bounds,” said Robinson. “We need amenities and we need infrastructure, and part of the amenities is some arts and culture in this area. We want the theatre, so we’re going to push them [Terra Bruce] and keep them on the straight and narrow on it.”

The new heritage designation, which was scheduled for a vote by Toronto City Council in late September, would afford the property much more protection than the previous heritage listing, Robinson said.

“We’ve been working over the summer with them, the heritage staff as well as the owners. And I think we’ve come to a good place,” she said. “A lot of people really push back when you go to designate because it’s a lot more a clamp down, a lot more forceful, but if there’s some flexibility, then you collaborate. They’ve been great.”

The heritage designation still allows the new owners to do a lot of work on the site, including the interior and back of the building while protecting the heritage attributes and facade.

The theatre was constructed “in 1927 to the designs of architect Murray Brown as a vaudeville theatre and cinema for Famous Players Canada,” reads a city staff report. “The property is a fine and surviving example of an early 20th-century purpose-built theatre along a neighbourhood main street, a typology that was once common but is becoming increasingly rare.”

“This is a very prominent piece of the Mount Pleasant strip that’s been there for a long time,” Robinson said. “And so we’re going to do everything we can to maintain it.”

 

[Northern Light]

BlogTO ( I know, I hear the groans).......has a story up on this, for which they they get credit as they have a render I haven't yet seen.

Toronto movie theatre getting major revamp with glass-enclosed rooftop

The latest renderings for a movie theatre that's getting a serious facelift in Toronto show the building updated with a glassed-in area added on to...

www.blogto.com

The piece suggests talks between Heritage Toronto and the proponent have gone well and been cooperative with restoration set to proceed.

 

[AlbertC]

Development Applications

City Planning COA Application Information Center

app.toronto.ca

551 MOUNT PLEASANT RD
Ward 15: Don Valley West

Proposal to fully renovate and partially reconstruct the existing theatre. The existing historic front (west) facade fronting on Mount Pleasant Road will be retained. Construction plans include a new roof, full/new excavated basement, replacing the north, east and south walls, and full interior renovation. A new, 3 storey building addition to the rear (east) is proposed of approximately 1,076 sqm, which includes back of house and new loading area. A small addition is also proposed at the front of the building to create a third floor seating and lobby area. No parking spaces are proposed.

 

[jozl]

Bravo! This is great news. When I moved to Toronto in 1970 there were still many small, old neighbourhood theatres. Many had a certain charm. One of the things I miss are the old ticket booths, especially those from the Art Deco era. Ticket booths have now been replaced with computer terminals used for marketing and data gathering, sans charm.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

...stripped the signage right back to original building. So they're off to a good start here, IMO.

 

[longfortheoldview]

New Info Here via the Globe & Mail

 

[MacT]

Just got a flyer there will be a community meeting at the Manor Road United Church (240 Manor Rd E) on April 13th 7pm to "share our vision for the building, new design and connect with you about our plans for this historic neighbourhood theatre"

Send an email to info (at) regentrevival.com to obtain details to attend via zoom.

 

[Northern Light]

New Info Here via the Globe & Mail

Some bits from the article worth a perusal:

***

I have to say, they have an interesting pipeline of product in the offing and an intriguing business plan of developing musicals in Newfoundland at relatively low cost and then sending them to Toronto to make back their investment.