Olympic Spirit closes in Toronto

[g2fl]

Went there on a recent company outing. I had a feeling it would not last -

CBC Link

[Marcanadian]

Took this long to close? Toronto hasn't even been an olympic city and they just got caught up in the hype from the Athens Olympics and the lost bid to Toronto. People would only visit every 2 years when the summer/winter Olympics are held so that's really limiting the tourism.

Too bad Vancouver didn't help though, probably too busy with their Olympics.
btw does anyone know what the building will be used for now?

[metroboi_nay]

It didn't look professional from the outside, nor did it look finished. The cost to go in was a bit pricey, at $16 for an adult, and i'd rather go up the CN Tower and spend $5 more. So it doesn't surprise me that it got closed.

I hope whoever takes over the new building makes the exterior nice and professional. I was inside Olympic Spirit once, it was ok, its large enough for a nightclub and a restaurant on-top. Wonder what will fill it. Time will tell

[Skybean]

I never went to see it.

[Dusko]

They were actually charging admission? What the hell is going on? Soon it'll be another corporate run building. Just like I can't believe Ryersons' new building will have best buy and Canadian Tire. All that built on a former public park. Maybe they needed to use the education angle to dig up another green space in the city?

I'd rather see it as olympic spirit then le crapeau.

[ratoronto]

this info on the Olympic Spirit building was published today in John Barber's column:

It won't be long, Mr. Soskolne predicted, until the Olympic Spirit building is repurposed.

"There are many models, particularly south of the border, for stores which are that size and are attracted to that kind of location."

James Robinson of the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area is even more bullish, despite the closing of the Olympic Spirit. "It's unfortunate, but it is a new opportunity for us," he said, touting the site as a potential bookstore or as the "front door" Ryerson is looking for.

Then there is the tantalizing possibility of using the building to house the archives of the Black Star photo agency, a collection of iconic 20th century photographs, valued at $100-million, donated anonymously to the university last year.

If the right people get on the phone today, Toronto could see the creation of a genuinely popular museum of international stature within months.

The building is already there. It's empty. And Ryerson has a pressing need to find a new home for the spectacular collection. . .

Ahh, but dreams are dangerous in this terrain. Construction starts, then it stops. New stores open, then close. Attractions fail. Yonge Street is fun street, but never sentimental.

[valantino]

"Just like I can't believe Ryersons' new building will have best buy and Canadian Tire. All that built on a former public park. "

It was a vacant, private plot and I'm quite excited about having a Crappy Tire on the south end of downtown

[Dusko]

What? I remember there being park benches there and people feeding pigeons. Are you sure. I made a student film in that park. There were trees and everything there.

[samsonyuen]

^that doesn't necessarily mean it was a city owned park.

[Dusko]

You're right Samsonyeun, having those stores will be handy and keep people from driving to North York to go to best buy. So I guess it's a good situation in the end.

[Martinsizon]

Some people over at ut suggested a tv studio overlooking the square.

i love this idea

[KGB]

As a quasi-cultural venue, it was such a dud....it deseved to die.




"Yonge Street is fun street, but never sentimental."


That's so true. And that's one of the things I like about it.







KGB

[copan]

The boarded up building beside the Spirit is going to be redeveloped. There is a picture of how it is going to look like hanging on the exterior wall.

[Tuscani01]

Originally Posted by Martinsizon

Some people over at ut suggested a tv studio overlooking the square.

i love this idea

That would be a cool idea.

[metroboi_nay]

Originally Posted by copan

The boarded up building beside the Spirit is going to be redeveloped. There is a picture of how it is going to look like hanging on the exterior wall.

Pen Equity was doing that, the project is dead.
It died last year I think or two years ago.

A TV studio would be cool, but who? CBC, MTV and City are all occupied happily in their buildings. Maybe Global? They have (had) ads on the building already... hmmm.. would make a cool nightclub and restaurant combo. Either way I just hope the outside of the building gets repaired, it looks so unfinsihed.

[Martinsizon]

how about a sports tv station. like abc has