While the owners of the Empress Hotel battle with City officials over demolition, Ryerson University has expressed interest in taking over the site.

Part of the 122-year-old landmark took a bit of a tumble in April, and its Mumbai-based owners want to see it demolished. The City, however, wants the building designated a Heritage site, and Ryerson is looking to get involved.

"We are always interested in exploring opportunities to buy land in our precinct," Janet Mowat, Ryerson's director of public affairs, told the Toronto Sun. "If the price were right, we might well be interested in it."

Ryerson is already constructing a new Student Learning Centre on the northeast corner of Yonge and Gould, former home of Sam the Record Man. Ryerson also struck a deal with Loblaws and the federal government last November to build a new Sports and Recreation Centre at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The Empress Hotel is currently blocked off by hoardings, partially blocking off the Yonge entrance to Ryerson University and restricting northbound and southbound traffic.

"What happens, long term, what we are very interested in having happen immediately is that the corner of Yonge and Gould be fixed," Mowat said.

I bet drivers are too.