Developer, theatre leaders see possibilities after years of talks. Deal also could see new residential tower built near Richmond and Dufferin.
A London development company has jumped on board a plan that could lead to a big expansion at The Grand Theatre.
Key to how far — and how quickly — the proposal moves will be whether city officials agree to a land deal.
Landlocked on three sides and unable to build upward, the only option for expanding The Grand (471 Richmond St.) is a parking lot owned by Sifton Development. The lot — with frontage on Dufferin Avenue — abuts the back of the theatre. Leaders of the arts venue have been eyeing it for years.
With no money to buy the lot in The Grand’s coffers and Sifton hesitant to give up parking for its nearby office building, plans were at a standstill, said Deb Harvey, the theatre’s executive director.
“Without that parking lot, we really cannot expand,” she said.
Now, the ball’s rolling again.
Theatre officials and Sifton have approached the city with a proposal: They want control of a municipal parking lot on Queens Avenue, east of the London Club (just east of Richmond). Richard Sifton, the development company’s president, said that would allow the company to give The Grand its Dufferin lot without losing parking spaces.
If the city is willing to give up the lot, it would be an important step to making the expansion a reality.
Earlier this week, members of a city council committee forwarded a letter explaining the proposal to staff for review. Harvey said the idea — plus architectural renderings — has been pitched to city leaders, including Mayor Joe Fontana.
Things started to pickup steam in the fall when a multimillion-dollar plan for downtown was unveiled, she said.
With Fanshawe College developing its downtown arts campus and UWO considering taking over the block including Centennial Hall, it’s a good time to put ideas on the table, Harvey said.
“We are one of many people presenting proposals to the city these days,” Harvey said. “We have to dream a little bit and plan for our city. … I think that is happening right now.”
Source Metro - Grand plan to expand theatre gets boost