Toronto to Get a New DIY Music Venue and Rehearsal Space on Queen West

In recent years, Toronto has seen an increasing shortage of practice spaces and venue closures—with Rehearsal Factory shuttering several buildings in the city being the latest example.

In an effort to better the situation, the city is considering turning a Queen Street West storefront into a rehearsal space and venue for live music.

It’s OK*, a local non-profit organization, would run the new venue and lease it from the city for two years.

Toronto City Councillor and Board of Health Chair Joe Cressy announced the news in a Twitter thread, calling the space a place for “new and emerging artists.”

Cressy shared an image of the space, which was previously acquired by the city. Torontonians will recognize it as the former location of sportswear store SVP Sports, which was attached to a KFC, located between Bathurst and Spadina at 468 Queen Street West.

Just last year, Cressy announced in a tweet that the space was going to be a public park, affordable housing, and a “cultural space.”

However, a city report says that “due to the complexities of the multiple properties involved,” demolition and construction won’t begin at the location until at least 2024. In the meantime, city staff recommends that the property be leased out as “a DIY live music venue focused on Black, Indigenous, and racialized artists, with space for rehearsals & performances,” tweeted Cressy.

If council approves the plan, It’s OK* could launch the space by June.