Spanier Group selected to oversee Old City Hall revitalization
Following the relocation of court services, the landmark building will be repurposed.
Key Takeaways:
- The City of Toronto has selected the Spanier Group to lead a real estate strategy and Monumental to oversee public engagement for the revitalization of Old City Hall.
- Following the relocation of court services, the landmark building will be repurposed with a focus on public access, heritage preservation, and local economic development.
- A long-term redevelopment plan will be delivered to City Council by the second quarter of 2026, guided by key principles including financial sustainability and community engagement.
The Whole Story:
The City of Toronto has selected a team led by the Spanier Group and Monumental to guide the future of Old City Hall, a National Historic Site and prominent downtown landmark that recently became vacant after serving as a courthouse for decades.
The Spanier Group, working alongside partners CBRE, Turner & Townsend, Bespoke Collective, and Artuitive Group, will lead real estate advisory efforts to develop a long-term strategy for the site. Their work will include market analysis, vision development, and financial modelling aimed at identifying the building’s highest and best uses, in line with a City Council directive issued earlier this year.
“This initiative aims to enhance public access, drive economic development, and ensure the long-term preservation of this nationally significant site,” said Meghan Wong, vice-president of the Spanier Group, in a statement.
To complement that work, Monumental will lead public engagement efforts with support from CreateTO, the City agency overseeing real estate and development. The firm, which specializes in socially equitable urban planning, will focus on building relationships with local stakeholders and prototyping potential future uses of the building.
“We’re thrilled to be opening the doors on the next chapter of Old City Hall,” said Zahra Ebrahim, co-CEO of Monumental. “We’re committed to an engagement process that acknowledges the building’s colonial past and stimulates our collective creativity in imagining its future.”
CreateTO CEO Vic Gupta called the initiative a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to transform the space into a vibrant public asset.
Old City Hall, located at Queen and Bay Streets, was completed in 1899 and functioned as a courthouse from 1972 until this year, when operations moved to a new facility at 10 Armoury Street. The building is currently vacant, and no long-term use has been designated.
The revitalization effort will be shaped by four guiding principles: increasing public access, conserving the heritage site, fostering local economic development, and achieving financial sustainability. A strategic report is expected to be presented to City Council by the second quarter of 2026.
