Toronto L-Tower | 204.82m | 58s | Cityzen | Daniel Libeskind

[Tewder]

Hume is right on with this one. Even when the condo is done the centre will still be there empty. I don't see how this solves any existing problems.

Wasn't Dancap Productions looking for a main stage venue? I thought they were looking at a deal with Sony?? Toronto can definitely support another theatrical venue. It only takes one or two successful long-running shows for there to be a shortage of commercial stage space in the city.

 

[Automation Gallery]

Let's just ignore this post.

You just do that.

 

[DaninToronto]

But didn't they try and get donations to help fix up the Sony centre? I figure they would only have resorted to pairing with a developer because the city and province weren't going to step in. What choice do they have unless Hume has the money to help them.

 

[Granny]

Sorry Mr. Hume. This time you are so dead wrong, it is breathtaking.

The Sony was doomed. That is reality. A few more years of on it's present course would have had it staring at the wrecker's ball. That is reality.

Accepting change is what todays world is about. If accepting a condo graft at it's ass end means survival well then, that is the pragmatic painful distasteful reality.

Yes. It is truly sad what has happened to this once beautiful building but it happened. Now, with this compromise and infusion of cash, perhaps my grandchildren will grow up with this building as a continuing part of their heritage.

And you know what? This condo tower is still a very exciting structure. Good Lord. Compared to the the high probability of getting something like the god awful crap that has gone up around the Rogers Dome, I personally am breathing a sigh of relief.

This city continues to evolve, and I for one am saying "Bring it on".

 

[Condo George]

I am looking forward to Oct 21. Its about time they break ground

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

The Sony was doomed. That is reality. A few more years of on it's present course would have had it staring at the wrecker's ball. That is reality.

Between SARS and the recession the Toronto theatre/live venue scene has suffered (along with tourism). Prior, Toronto's live venues were well booked and drawing huge crowds for years. Now of course with the Four Seasons in the mix that certainly didn't help the Sony Centre but I think once the economy picks up and the renovation of the Centre is complete new life can be breathed into the Sony Centre as a mid-sized venue that if booked well, can rise to it's former glory and turn a profit.

 

[Tewder]

Sorry Mr. Hume. This time you are so dead wrong, it is breathtaking.

The Sony was doomed. That is reality. A few more years of on it's present course would have had it staring at the wrecker's ball. That is reality.

To claim that the viability or relevance of the Sony Centre had gone the way of the butter churn or a distillery rack house is hard for me to accept. Toronto is a theatre town and no matter how bleak things may have looked in a post-SARS, post-911 climate bums are still sitting in seats in long-running productions (both Jersey Boys and The Sound of Music are in their second years and others have done well too) and this is in an economic recession to boot! Also, to be fair there have been a few other shows the city had high expectations for but that were closed as critical and popular flops - remember Lord of the Rings? - but hey that's showbiz All that is needed in Toronto is about three successful sit-down productions and all of a sudden producers are scrambling for theatre space to open new shows, to honour their subscription seasons or mount new works that are often booked well in advance. Could the new Phantom be destined for Toronto? Remember what the last one did for the city???

Furthermore, it is hard for me to accept that the Sony is doomed when in fact a viable solution has already been proposed. Dancap Productions has already approached the centre with plans to lease the space year-round (http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/639074). Dancap has desperately been trying to give the Mirvishes a run for their money in Toronto but do not have a house of their own to host a subscription series, the Mirvishes having bought up most of the few major commercial venues available.

Writing the Sony off would be short-sighted. Even in the absence of the Dancap option the right theatre managers could book the Sony for travelling productions and/or local events like Luminato or TIFF or World Stage or all kinds of performance events, and have already had some success the past few holiday seasons with productions like White Christmas and the Rockettes etc.

This city continues to evolve, and I for one am saying "Bring it on".

I agree, and the theatre scene in Toronto will continue to grow too. Destroying the integrity of a much-loved heritage building for dubious reasons would be a crime against this city. I'm not suggesting that a tower is wrong here, but not any tower for any reasons. Hume is correct that we are a little too willing to trust that our politicians always know what's best and always act in our interests. Not all development is good development and we should have learned this lesson many times over in Toronto. And what next for the wrecking ball? Massy Hall has been dark for a few weeks...

 

[adma]

I agree, and the theatre scene in Toronto will continue to grow too. Destroying the integrity of a much-loved heritage building for dubious reasons would be a crime against this city. I'm not suggesting that a tower is wrong here, but not any tower for any reasons. Hume is correct that we are a little too willing to trust that our politicians always know what's best and always act in our interests. Not all development is good development and we should have learned this lesson many times over in Toronto. And what next for the wrecking ball? Massy Hall has been dark for a few weeks...

Well, maybe the O'KeefeHummingbirdSony air rights can be transferred elsewhere. (Any practical logistics behind building atop or even redeveloping 33 Yonge?)

 

[Jayomatic]

I'd love to see a permanent Cirque Du Soleil show somewhere in Toronto. It could be a great addition to the Toronto scene and probably attract quite a large number of tourists. Wasn't there plans for a permanent show in Montreal down by the Casino?

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

I'd love to see a permanent Cirque Du Soleil show somewhere in Toronto. It could be a great addition to the Toronto scene and probably attract quite a large number of tourists. Wasn't there plans for a permanent show in Montreal down by the Casino?

Those shows are extremely expensive to mount, need a large room with significant seating to turn a profit and a space designed or significantly altered to put it on. I'm not sure we have a venue that could do or support Cirque.

 

[Irishmonk]

those shows are extremely expensive to mount, need a large room with significant seating to turn a profit and a space designed or significantly altered to put it on. I'm not sure we have a venue that could do or support cirque.

mlg?

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

mlg?

That's a good idea. I wonder if that would violate Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment's lock on MLG's events and if Toronto could support a considerable run of Cirque.

 

[Irishmonk]

That's a good idea. I wonder if that would violate Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment's lock on MLG's events and if Toronto could support a considerable run of Cirque.

Probably not long enough to make back the investment, which would be huge.

Sorry moderators for being off topic. Won't happen again.

 

[Cityzen]

Dear Editor

Dear Editor

Christopher Hume: Architectural jewel goes straight to L – October 16th, 2009

Despite previous attempts to correct inept and misleading reporting, Star critic Chris Hume insists Libeskind’s uniquely sculptured tower design beside the Sony Centre is “atop the theatreâ€. We fired two architectural firms before hiring Daniel Libeskind because their designs were literally “atop the theatreâ€, and even in their blandness too invasive. Hume says “the place is a mess†but this is nothing less than the commencement of over 30 million dollars in new investment to first save the Dickenson designed theatre from the wrecking ball and completely preserving it: everything from the original brass doors, Wilson York’s lobby mural of the Seven Lively Arts to updating all of its dated mechanical and technical facilities.
Hume writes the Dickenson theatre “may be a few years short of becoming a heritage site†but in fact it was designated a heritage building in July of 2007 through our joint application for the LTower development. Your critics should do their homework. While Hume decries any building at the Sony Centre, Peter Dickenson himself was deeply disappointed (he threatened to burn his original concept drawings) when E.P. Taylor reduced his much grander scheme for the site, including towers, to the singular structure that was built. Now, 50 years later, part of Dickenson’s more fully urbane concept is being realized. We love the Sony Centre too Chris, but please, less thoughtless vitriol and more informed, responsible critique.

Alfredo Romano
Castlepoint Realty Partners
Daniel D. Brambilla
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

 

[Granny]

Dear Editor

Christopher Hume: Architectural jewel goes straight to L – October 16th, 2009

Despite previous attempts to correct inept and misleading reporting, Star critic Chris Hume insists Libeskind’s uniquely sculptured tower design beside the Sony Centre is “atop the theatreâ€. We fired two architectural firms before hiring Daniel Libeskind because their designs were literally “atop the theatreâ€, and even in their blandness too invasive. Hume says “the place is a mess†but this is nothing less than the commencement of over 30 million dollars in new investment to first save the Dickenson designed theatre from the wrecking ball and completely preserving it: everything from the original brass doors, Wilson York’s lobby mural of the Seven Lively Arts to updating all of its dated mechanical and technical facilities.
Hume writes the Dickenson theatre “may be a few years short of becoming a heritage site†but in fact it was designated a heritage building in July of 2007 through our joint application for the LTower development. Your critics should do their homework. While Hume decries any building at the Sony Centre, Peter Dickenson himself was deeply disappointed (he threatened to burn his original concept drawings) when E.P. Taylor reduced his much grander scheme for the site, including towers, to the singular structure that was built. Now, 50 years later, part of Dickenson’s more fully urbane concept is being realized. We love the Sony Centre too Chris, but please, less thoughtless vitriol and more informed, responsible critique.

Alfredo Romano
Castlepoint Realty Partners
Daniel D. Brambilla
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

I'm guessing you probably forgot to invite Mr. Hume to the Groundbreaking ceremony.
...so, he was probably was a little ticked off when he wrote that article.

Levity aside, thanks for setting the record straight!