City council gives its go-ahead to the Mirvish + Gehry towers

At a meeting yesterday, city council gave its expected approval to the Frank Gehry–designed tower complex proposed by theatre impresario and Honest Ed’s scion David Mirvish. The council vote was the culmination of nearly two years of behind-the-scenes struggle, as Toronto’s city planners worked to wrench concessions from Mirvish and his business partners. The approved proposal calls for just two towers at King West and John streets (as opposed to three in Gehry’s original design) and preserves the Princess of Wales Theatre, as well as elements of two heritage properties on the site. There are still more details to be worked out, but the project’s developer has already issued a celebratory press release. Pre-construction condo buyers may as well start lining up now.