Extreme Makeover Toronto

Image Credit: Gehry International Inc

Toronto is abuzz with the announcement by David Mirvish that he intends to demolish a block of his properties along King Street West, including the Princess of Wales Theatre, to erect three towers designed by Frank Gehry.

The three towers would be condos with a total of 2,600 units, and they would rise from 80 to 85 stories--among the highest residential towers on the continent.

The lower levels of the staggering complex would be multi-use and include retail, a 60,000 square-feet public gallery for Mirvish's art collection, as well as 25,000 square-feet dedicated to OCAD University for a new Public Learning Centre for Visual Art, Curatorial Studies, and Art History.

There is a chorus of voices both in support and in objection to this proposed development. As the key players navigate the planning and approval processes it will be very interesting what comes out at the other end.