Casa Loma needs $20 million for external repairs, and because the castle only nets about $1 million a year from entry fees and rentals, no one is quite sure how to raise the necessary funds. Rob Ford, who generally likes the idea of selling things, floated the idea of putting a “For Sale” sign up on the front lawn after the city took over the stewardship of the property from the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma last year. But Trelawny Howell, great-grandniece of Sir Henry Pellatt, the Toronto titan who built Casa Loma, has a more swinging vision for raising money: turn the mansion into a venue with a theatre, an exhibition space, a jazz supper club and a dance hall, like it had back in the day. Sounds like fun—though probably not $20 million worth of fun. [Toronto Star]
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