Here's what's replacing the Guvernment and Kool Haus in Toronto

by Mark Teo

Many electronic music fans—and music fans in general—were dismayed when last May, the Guvernment and the Kool Haus announced they were closing. The venues, after all, were iconic: They hosted big-room dance acts, massive rock shows, and all-night dance parties. For Torontonians, losing both venues were a huge loss—and it hurt even more that by February, the space was demolished.

Toronto-based developer Daniels Corporation owns the land the Guv formerly sat on, and until now, we assumed that the space would be turned into (what else?) condos. But to our surprise, we were wrong—sort of. Yesterday, the developer unveiled plans for the site, and it’s being touted as a mixed-use, $700 million development they’re calling the “City of the Arts.” BlogTO went as far as to call it an arts hub.

It will, of course, feature condos, with a 48-storey residential tower rising in its second phase. But its first phase, which will touch the southern-most portion of the site, will focus on retail, educational and arts spaces: Toronto non-profit Artscape has secured space on the site, as have Last Gang Records. George Brown and OCAD U will also have educational spaces in the City of the Arts.

In total, there will be more than 60,000 sq. m of residential space, 25,000 sq. m of retail space, 26,000 sq. m of office space, supposedly dedicated to incubators and startups. View a gallery of the development above. So, what do you think? Is the City of the Arts an improvement over the Guvernment and Kool Haus? [H/T National Post]