Plan to demolish historic Toronto theatre for new condo development to be considered by council

A plan to demolish a nearly century old, heritage-protected theatre will be considered for approval by Toronto and East York Community Council on Thursday.

If approved, the Carlton Theatre at 509 Parliament Street in Cabbagetown would be knocked down to make room for a new 10-storey mixed-use condo building, with just the front of the theatre remaining to be used as the new building’s façade.

The new development is being brought forward by developer Streetwise Capital Partners and architect RAW Design.

Constructed in 1929 as a movie theatre, the historic one-storey brick masonry building was later shut down in 1955, then revitalized by CBC as a recording studio for radio productions.

After about four decades, it was eventually turned into the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre.

While the theatre is protected under the Ontario Heritage Act, its current protections under sections 33 and 34 of the Act allow for applications to be made to alter or demolish designated heritage properties.

This application will go to council for approval at the next council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Cover photo courtesy of Archives Ontario