Loblaw, Ryerson and Joe Fresh Style will move into Maple Leaf Gardens

Loblaw, Ryerson and Joe Fresh Style will move into Maple Leaf Gardens

The exterior of the Gardens (Photo by Ian Muttoo)

Finally, some movement on the proposed deal between Ryerson University and Loblaw to rejuvenate Maple Leaf Gardens. Today the federal government said it would give $20 million to the project (the rest of the costs are to be shared by Rye High and the grocer), which will include the construction of an athletic centre, with a rink for the school hockey team.

It’s another huge coup for Ryerson president Sheldon Levy, who also spearheaded the takeover of the iconic Sam the Record Man store on Yonge Street in 2007. Even more exciting for some area residents, the ground floor of the building will house a flagship 70,000-square-foot Loblaws supermarket. The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2011, with construction to begin in January. We’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of a large Joe Fresh section that’s downtown and on the Yonge subway line.

New Maple Leaf Gardens to house Ryerson and Loblaws [Toronto Sun]

Ryerson and Loblaws make a deal for Maple Leaf Gardens [Toronto Star]

• Maple Leaf Gardens deal means renewal [CBC]

• Maple Leaf Gardens gets $20-million boost from Ottawa [National Post]