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Pinewood Toronto Studios has announced a 135,000 ft² expansion of its film and television production facility in the Port Lands. Already the largest film studio in Canada, the 300,000 ft² facility's expansion will come as the first phase of a long-term plan to eventually double the size of the complex to 600,000 ft².
Together with the Toronto Port Lands Company, Pinewood Toronto Studios will enter into a long-term lease for an additional 1.75 acres of land, adding to the approximately 14 acres currently occupied by the studio. The eventual plan would see to studio expand to cover nearly 30 acres of land, with a possibility of including park land and a hotel as part of the long-term growth strategy.
According to Pinewood CEO Paul Bronfman, "[t]his is a much anticipated milestone which serves as a reaffirmation of our growth and commitment to attract and support all levels of production in Toronto. I'm proud we're leading the way in adding more purpose-built facilities to our city's thriving film and television industry."
Although Canada's favourable tax structure has long been a factor in making cities like Toronto and Vancouver into major centres of Hollywood film production, the historically low Canadian dollar is now making Canadian film shoots particularly lucrative to major American studios.
For Toronto's Port Lands, the studio expansion could represent an important element of the area's long-term redevelopment, particularly if the project eventually continues as a mixed-use development. Although only 3 kilometres away from the Downtown core, the Port Lands have long remained stuck in the relative peripheries of our perceived civic landscape.
Perceptions of the area are now beginning to change, however, as the area is becoming increasingly lucrative as public investment rejuvenates Toronto's waterfront. The Port Lands' potential as part of the urban realm is particularly emphasized when the size of the area is taken account. For example, if the geographical boundaries of the Port Lands are superimposed over Downtown Toronto, the entirety of the financial district and the fringes on both sides are easily engulfed in an area stretching north from Front Street all the way to College Street.
For more information, check out Pinewood Toronto Studios' official website, or join in the ongoing discussion on UrbanToronto's associated Forum thread.
