After sitting abandoned and boarded up for over a decade, there are high hopes that Scarborough’s landmark Guild Inn may soon reopen its doors.

The City of Toronto has approved Dynamic Hospitality and Entertainment to redevelop the historic inn.

Dynamic plans to convert the inn into a restaurant, remove additions that were added over the years and build a new banquet hall and outdoor pavilion.

“I think getting this rebuilt, it’s just getting the crown jewel back on the grounds,” Councillor Paul Ainslie said of the restoration plans, which come after years of failed dealings with developers. “I think it’s going to be a great partnership.”

The inn was built in 1914 by the Bickfords, a wealthy military family which used it as a summer home and kept a stable of polo ponies.

On the 36-hectare grounds of rich, green Guild Park sit the ruins of old Toronto; pieces of the city’s oldest landmarks, such as columns from early bank buildings, were brought there by Spencer and Rosa Clark, the last private owners of the hotel. The Clarks also ran an artists’ colony on the grounds.





During the Second World War, the Canadian government took over the site and used it as a training centre for the Women’s Royal Naval Service and later as a hospital for returning veterans. Long a favourite location for wedding photos, the Greek theatre was featured in the rapper Drake’s 2011 video “Headlines.”

The company with plans to bring the property back to life is, however, currently embroiled in a legal dispute over another banquet hall in Mississauga. In June, Dynamic Hospitality and Entertainment was locked out of the Grand Metropolitan, where the landlord posted a notice on the door stating the company was over $240,000 behind in rent.

Two weddings scheduled for that day showed up for their receptions and were not able to get in the building.

In a $4.5-million lawsuit filed in Hamilton, the landlord is suing Dynamic for rent and damages. According to a statement of defence and counterclaim obtained by the Star, Dynamic denies owing the money, says the lockout was illegal and is countersuing for over $10 million.

Sam D’Uva, managing director and president of Dynamic, said the company rebooked all of the almost 90 weddings that had been scheduled there and fully refunded all couples who wanted to book elsewhere.

“Not an employee missed a pay cheque, not a supplier was not paid, not a customer was not reimbursed or relocated depending on their choice,” he said. “Everybody’s been paid and this is a legal issue. We got blindsided by it.”

Landlord Jit Sharma said he will not comment as it is a legal matter. Ainslie said he’s aware of the incident but doesn’t have any concerns about Dynamic.

“First and foremost they have to put forward a performance bond, which is basically a guarantee that they’re going to do the work,” said Ainslie.

He said the company has been fully vetted by the city’s financial staff.

“So I think whatever happened in Mississauga, they’re very confident it’s not going to happen here,” he added.

According to current plans, the city would pay for removal of the hazardous mould and asbestos inside the Guild Inn and Dynamic would renovate it, preserving the heritage aspects. The outside of the white stucco inn would be restored to match what it looked like in 1932.

“There are a number of historical features like a grand staircase that will go back to the original house,” said Ainslie.

Under the plan, the city would sublease the restaurant, banquet hall and pavilion to Dynamic, as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority owns the Guild Inn. The city leases it from the authority.

Ainslie added the plan must still be approved by city council and he hopes that Dynamic will be able to “have a shovel in the ground” by next spring.

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Janet Heise of the Guild Renaissance Group, an association that works on cultural events on the grounds, said the community is eager to see the site’s former glory restored.

She said that although details still need to be nailed down, the neighbourhood is happy to see something planned for the park.

“I think it will work. I think it’s going to be delightful,” she said.

“This is the closest we’ve been so far. Please God let it work.”