Heritage Masonic Temple at 888 Yonge Street up For Sale by Bell Media

Looking to buy a Masonic temple? The storied concert hall and, most recently, home to MTV Canada is up for grabs 

Looking to buy a Masonic temple? Apparently, Bell Media are entertaining bidding offers on the Masonic Temple’s building, Located at 888 Yonge Street, the 43,180 square feet building sits on an irregular floor plate.

The Masonic Temple has been a staple at the corner of Davenport Road and Yonge Street ,since 1917. Bell Media purchased the building in 1998, first using it as a studio for the late-night show Open Mike with Mike Bullard and then home to MTV Canada, the building has its own wealth of rock ’n’ roll history and was an intimate stage for the likes of Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Black Sabbath and many other that played a part in the Masonic Temple’s storied history.

The next step for the brick-and-limestone building, is anybody’s guess. with it’s elaborate interior of Masonic carvings and a patterned tile floor, it is stymied by the building’s protection under the Ontario Heritage Act, which includes a stringent 30-metre height limit.

Related story: A brief history of the Masonic Temple at Yonge and Davenport, Toronto

It doesn’t mean the site can’t be developed, but there is an appropriate type of use for it.

Most of the time, Developers in Toronto have always found ways to get around at buildings with designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, buildings like this building, have been transformed into mid- or high-rise condos using the building as an entranceway to a condo tower next door.

Given the Yorkville address, and the panache that would go along with living at the Masonic Temple, a developer has the potential to transform it into a high-end luxury loft space.

The building is currently surrounded by many new condos towers, the new Four Seasons Hotel and Residence, an office building and a Toronto Community Housing Corp building.

Prospective buyers are to consult the city planning department, neighborhood associations and Heritage Preservation Services before submitting a bid as to understand just what can and can’t be developed on the site.

The price is unlisted and the company is accepting open bids until April 2, 2013. It is being sold on the open market to all that are interested.

For further information or to submit a bid Contact me Samir Safadi

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