The Entertainment district will be booming in a few short years. It will definitely live up to its name.
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I actually think the exact opposite. The more residential buildings that are approved for the area, the more likely existing regulations against new clubs will be strengthened. The land those clubs sit on is much too valuable to be zoned for what they are now. Same for the parking lots. And given that a large percentage of the clientele of those places are driving in from the 905, it makes no sense for the city to pander to them by allowing those lots to remain the way they are. The city can accomplish so much more by zoning the club district out of existence, such as more residential and commercial development (i.e. increased tax revenues). The potential is huge and is being wasted right now. The city knows this.

Coupled with all the problems those clubs bring (weekly shootings/stabbings, garbage, traffic, police costs, etc), I highly doubt the residents of all those buildings will put up with it indefinitely. So month by month, lot by lot, development by development, it will change. Many of the buildings those clubs are in are not particularly noteworthy architecturally anyway, so no loss there. The land they sit on is more valuable than they are.

We also don't know what long-term plans the city has for King, Adelaide, Richmond and Queen. If that changes, either through transit-only ROWs, bi-directional streets or who knows what, that will change things as well. Adelaide and Richmond will no longer act as funnels for 905 clubbers once residents in the area demand more neighbourhood and pedestrian-friendly amenities. And it will happen. Those residents will vote, 905 clubbers don't. So all I'm saying is, enjoy it while you can.
 
I have to admit that when in Toronto I almost never go out in that area--as fiendish suggets, I think the crowd is mostly from the 905/inner suburbs, while those who live in the central city head more to King, Queen, or (my favourite) College.

But I have to say that nonetheless I love that TO has a neighbourhood like Clubland, with all the noise, crowds, and garbage entailed. It has a great late-night energy across a fairly large area that does not exist in such a concentrated fashion in most cities, and I think that's great--admittedly, it may not be the most hospitable environment for condo development, but in any case most of the present condos are going up somewhat off the most beaten track of the nighclubs. (Wellington and Simcoe is not exactly party central, for example).

I hope there's a way to preserve some density of nightlife in Clubland proper (John, Richmond, Adelaide, Peter, Duncan etc.) while still allowing development--for example, by keeping the zoning of new building to offices. It would be a shame to see the area go, particularly since the city seems in no hurry to allow it to relocate at similar density, as evidenced by the constant struggles west of Spadina.
 
Areas come and go. That's urban life. "Clubland" is no different from hippie Yorkville, or old Cabbagetown, or porn/body rub Yonge street from the 1970s, or any other place you can think of.
 
Clubland is rather a unique place but I'd prefer more residents and less parking lots
 
We passed through there very late one night in the summer and couldn't believe the crowds. The streets were more crowded at that time than most American cities are during the day! There is definately a 'touristy' feel to the whole area, with its theatres and concert venues as such. Not a bad thing though, there is definately a lively vibe.
 
I agree. Enjoy it while you can. Ten years hence, when all the clubbing echo boomers have swum upstream and spawned, and tumbleweed blows through the former Entertainment District, all that will remain are fond memories of a unique time in Toronto's history.
 
Clubland has been going strong for 20 years, what makes you think its gonna disappear in 10?
 
Well, nothing lasts forever, caltrane. For instance, the old warehouse buildings that are temporarily "clubland" were home, in the late 1970's, to arty/designy enterprises and lefty publishing groups such as Pink Triangle Press, most of which were forced out long ago by rising rents. Clubland as you know it certainly wasn't there twenty years ago, though one or two clubs were. One day these buildings will be used for something else again, don't you think? The next generation of "young people" wont want to party in the architectural sloppy seconds of a clubland that their elders - the echo boomers - will soon be growing out of.
 
Surely it will still be a lively entertainment district 10-20 years from now. However it will likely cater less to the under 30's. There will still be plenty of theatre, restaurants and pubs, art galleries and ritzy hotels- move over kiddies.
 
I think the geriatric baby boomers will inherit the Entertainment District from their echo spawn. After the symphony, the opera, the ballet and the film festival we'll push our walkers across the road, pop a few pills, and party there like it's 1967.
 
as long as there are teenagers who want to drink and dance foolishly and make out with uglier people than they, there will be dance clubs - and the people behind them who want to make money.

though initially the thought of losing the club district to me is a sad thing - because though I would never be caught dead walking down that street now, there was a time when that was considered a good time to me - I have to say that thankfully toronto and its entertainment is growing up and diversifying.

clubs and lounges and bars and pubs are no longer found just in one concentrated area, but all over the city, east to west. from bloor to dundas to college to queen to king to church (that sounds weird when lined up like that...) now all sorts of drunken good times can be had all over the city with disastrous results in bedmates.

here's to the youth of the future and their morning afters.
 
Clubland does have a unique vibe that I like, but overall I'd prefer for Toronto to have more and smaller scatterings of clubs and lounges around the city. I could recommend a visitor maybe 5 decent streets to check out in Toronto, but as a visitor in Montreal I found double that just walking around. I don't think they have that many more clubs and bars, just that they aren't so concentrated in one place.
 
I walked by the site last night on my way home from work. Excavation equipment was on site, and the sales centre was completely dismantled. Break-neck speed!

Also, as regards Clubland, I have to agree that I can't see it lasting more than another five years in its present form. The movement over the last decade has been away from clubs to more upscale entertainment. Even going to the Paramount and the Chapters on a Friday night, you have two distinct crowds mingling, and it's not an easy cohabitation. The aggressive youth seem more like an abberation than anything.

I live a ten minute walk from the district, and I've heard a lot of local residents complain (rightly or wrongly) about the noise, the hooliganism, and the crime emanating from the clubs. I think City Council will come under increasing pressure, as the area around Clubland continues to explode and to cater to "20-something professionals" and "30-somethings with a kid" to get tough with Clubland. A few more shootings would be the nail in the district's coffin.

I frankly won't miss it, if it goes. College and Bloor West are far more fun and varied. Clubbing is so suburban 90s.

/one more post to 1000... I'll be throwning a party in General Discussions to celebrate.
 
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