In March 2023, councillors hailed the approval of plans for a new cinema in downtown Brunswick Centre as “a turning point for Scarborough”.
Scarborough Group International (SGI) bought the “mostly empty grocery shopping center” in 2021 as part of a multibillion-dollar plan to turn the 1990s downtown into a premier film and recreational destination.
A resolution on the cinema operator was expected in the months following the board’s approval and in November last year, SGI announced that it had selected a spouse to run the cinema.
However, the selected spouse has yet to be publicly named amid ongoing “legal issues. “
The developer told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that while he can’t provide additional main points at this time, he’s making “significant progress in moving the task forward. “
He said this included “inspections” and that “soft pickling paints [have] begun on some of the vacant sets in preparation for the planned start later this year. “
It also said it will continue to provide updates as the task develops.
The Scarborough LDRS Group:
“We fully appreciate the interest in the progress of the redevelopment of Braunschweig, especially with regard to the variety of cinema operators in the center.
“However, at this time we are unable to provide further details on the identity of the operator until the legal issues have been resolved. “
Added:
“We recognize the importance of transparency and will continue to provide updates as the task develops. “
SGI, a foreign real estate developer and regeneration specialist, said the cost of the task would be financed through a combination of public sector investments, adding allocations from the Leveling Up Fund.
The conversion of the troubled Brunswick Mall aims to turn it into a recreational destination, with national chains of bars and restaurants, indoor sports and recreation and increased parking space.
The cinema will occupy up to 2,700 m² of Brunswick’s almost 14,000 m², the exact number of rooms and length of which will be agreed with the operator.
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