In an attempt to halt plans of a massive redevelopment project that will tear down Cineplex Cinemas in Etobicoke, a petition has been created to fight against the demolition.
“The purpose of this petition is not just to save Cineplex Cinemas Queensway (Etobicoke) but also to send a message to city leaders that Toronto needs to prioritize making our city more livable,” reads the petition webpage. “They need to promote building activities that enhance the life quality of residents, rather than focusing exclusively on condos for investors. This is important for a vibrant and dynamic city like ours.”
With city plans to build residential, commercial, institutional and public spaces across several high-rise buildings at 1025 The Queensway, the 20-screen Cineplex Queensway Cinemas & VIP theatre and its parking lot would be knocked down as a result.
In its place, a proposed 4,328 residential units will be built on the 346,000-square metres of floor space. This would result in ten towers and two mid-rise buildings, standing at heights between seven and 46 storeys high.
The petition, which is addressed to City Council and the Toronto City Planning Division, lists several opposing arguments of the redevelopment, including an unsustainable influx of children, increased traffic, and an over-demand for TTC services.
“Add all of this up & you have mayhem & chaos with traffic, with over population of a small neighbourhood & massive crowding on TTC,” reads the petition, which has received more than 2,500 signatures as of Friday afternoon. The petition’s goal is 5,000 signatures.
The organizer is asking people to sign the petition to both stop the proposed demolition of the movie theatre, and to urge city planners to prioritize sustainable entertainment spaces instead of highrise condos.
One petition supporter expressed her opinion on the importance of cultural and entertainment spaces. “There needs to be inclusion of variety of basic services (ie, grocers, schools, medical centres, etc) and cultural, entertainment and sports within the local community,” she wrote. “Without them, the community is an oasis where people won’t want to live or have short term residency where little or no future. Without it, people won’t care to live long-term in a soulless community. Please reconsider.”
“This area needs a movie theatre! I lived in the west end of Toronto and still used this location,” another petition signee wrote.
Meanwhile, the City of Toronto has not yet accepted the proposal of the redevelopment, which was designed by WZMH Architects for Talisker Corporation, according to Urban Toronto.
And so for the time being, the movie theatre will continue to operate and welcome moviegoers at its Queensway location.
