Thousands have signed a petition to save the Cinesphere Cinemas Queensway from condo towers.
More than 12,000 people have signed a petition calling on the City to halt a plan to demolish the beloved Cineplex Cinemas Queensway to build 10 huge condo towers.
The online petition states the movie complex has been an entertainment cornerstone for the South Etobicoke community and there is no guarantee it would be saved.
The matter will be decided by Etobicoke York Community council on June 4 and then considered by City Council at their meeting on June 25, 26 and 27.
A City report recommends approval of an application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a mixed-use development consisting of 10 buildings ranging in height from 18 to 46 storeys and two 7-storey non-residential buildings .
Ten condos (above) ranging up to 46 storeys are planned for the Cineplex site.
The proposal includes 4,077 dwelling units, including affordable housing units; a minimum of 2,893 square metres of non-residential floor area, with the two seven storey buildings proposed for employment uses.
The complex will have three new public streets and parking for about 2,000 vehicles.
The developer has agreed to provide as a community benefit a 900-square feet daycare facility and a 4,350 square feet park, which will be turned over to the City.
“It is yet mostly another concrete jungle,” explained the petition. “There is no support for infrastructure to accommodate additional density such as transportation, schools and health options.”
Artist conception of what the new community will look like if completed in years down the road.
The report said the massive construction work will be conducted in three phases to keep the theatre open for movie lovers.
“The phasing takes into consideration the desire to maintain the Cineplex on the site for as long as possible,” according to City staff. “To support the continued operation of the Cineplex, a minimum amount of surface parking spaces will be maintained.”
There has been a lot of feedback from angry area residents about the multi-year development.
One woman wrote on social media that she has been taking her family to the Cineplex for three generations and ‘it saddens me to lose this movie theatre that has so many great memories.’
Residents are concerned that more than 4,000 housing units are planned without upgrades to transit or infrastructure.
“It’s part of the glue that holds this amazing community together,” another person wrote. “Condos can be built anywhere, but the kind of memories and experiences that this Cineplex provide, can only happen here.”
Many of the residents complained of the density and the site may struggle to handle such an influx of residents with infrastructure limitations and no increased transit capacity on the horizon.
The north end of the complex, previously home to low rise businesses fronting The Queensway, is already in the process of being developed with new mid-rise residential buildings.