October 9, 2009
Posted by Ted Avery
Oshawa’s Regent Theatre Bought by UOIT
Get ready to come for class and stay for a musical, because UOIT just got the OK to buy the Regent Theatre for class space in downtown Oshawa. It’s a logical next step in UOIT’s expansion to downtown Oshawa and will feature classes running during the day and at least 100 music/dance/theatre acts to run each year during the nights.
The theatre has been doing pretty much nothing since it showed up, having had only a few shows over the span of a few years, and there were some legal struggles between the city and theatre owner as well. It’s a fairly new and nice looking building too, so it’s nice to see UOIT take it over.
The back lot is going to be used for a five-storey building, also used by the school for classrooms, offices, and meeting space. The school is also asking for a 99 year lease on a total of 250 parking spaces, which is good news to the many students concerned about the lack of parking in downtown Oshawa.
Making an acquisition like this is a great way to quickly expand the school, and it is not uncommon. I remember when going to Ryerson University that a deal had just been made for the school to even use parts of the newly built AMC Theatre as class space, but I think we’re lucky to have a bit of extra class with the Regent Theatre.
Source: Council OKs transfer of Regent to UOIT (newsdurhamregion.com)