The University of Toronto’s plan to build a new 24-storey mixed-use student residence tower at 698 to 706 Spadina Avenue on the northeast corner of Sussex Avenue and Spadina Avenue, has undergone revisions since its initial proposal in July 2016. Partnered with private sector developer The Daniels Corporation, the University’s revised Diamond Schmitt Architects-designed proposal addresses concerns pertaining to the development’s height, its floor plan and setbacks, and the potential heritage value of the existing building at 698 Spadina raised by City staff and the community.

The proposed development forms a part of the University’s ongoing effort to create over 2,000 new student residence units for the University’s downtown St George campus. The revised proposal poses to add 17,300 square metres of residential gross floor space with 242 residence units, four less than initially proposed. Of these, 33 are to be one-bedroom units, 165 will be two-bedrooms, and the remaining 44 units will contain three or four-bedrooms. 480 square metres of retail space is proposed at ground level, as well as a student cafe and/or cafeteria.

Revised 24-storey Residence Tower rendering, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

The tower's height has increased from 23 to 24 storeys, with the first two storeys plus mezzanine in podium form. Initially, an additional two storeys were proposed for the podium, intended to offer some 2,400 square metres of office space, since deleted from the plans. Instead, the ground floor will serve as the student residence lobby, with administrative offices and common areas. Student laundry facilities, meeting spaces, additional common spaces, and other amenities are proposed on the second floor. 

South and East elevations of the Residence Tower, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

While the tower’s number of storeys has increased, the overall height of the development has been reduced to be more in-line with the surrounding built form, which includes 666 Spadina (25-storeys) south of the site, and 732 Spadina (21-storeys) to the north. As such, the tower’s height has been reduced from 83 metres (including the mechanical penthouse) to 78 metres. 18 vehicle parking spaces, as well as 116 long term bicycle storage facilities are proposed in a single underground level under the development. 

Early version, 23-storey Residence Tower including 4-storey podium, image via Diamond Schmitt Architects

Next to but separated from the tower, a three-storey stacked townhouse building, containing 10 townhouse units is proposed to accommodate a ‘like-for-like’ replacement of the site’s existing residential building. These units are to be reserved for families, and Faculty-in-Residence Program members. Entrance ways for the townhouses have been revised so that they are accessible from the south of the development along Sussex Avenue, and to the west, from the Sussex Mews laneway, instead of from the internal laneway as initially designed. 

Site plan of the Residence Tower, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

In accordance with building setback concerns raised in community consultation meetings, additional built form setbacks for the development’s base have been increased to 6 metres from the east property line (fronting Spadina Ave), 11 metres from the north, and 3 metres from the south (fronting Sussex Ave). Likewise, the tower’s floor plate has been revised to be of a more slender form (averaging 750 square metres), meeting the City’s Tall Building Design Guidelines. 

While the heritage designation of the current building at 698 Spadina Avenue—home to ‘Ten Editions’, a used book store—is currently being appealed by the University, the development’s design has been revised to accommodate and incorporate the facade of the building into the podium. 

The 'Ten Editions' bookstore at 698 Spadina, image via The Varsity

Other proposed revisions regarding Heritage Policy have been adopted in line with the Official Plan Amendment 368, concerning intrusions to the silhouette view of the new Daniels Faculty of Architecture building at 1 Spadina Crescent. Originally the U of T's first Knox College building, it is highly protected by its heritage status, to the extent that silhouette views of the building in its entirety, are to be preserved from from the southeast and southwest corners of Spadina Avenue and College Street. Accordingly, a View Corridor Analysis was made in the revised proposal to ensure that no portion of the development will protrude onto views of 1 Spadina. 

Knox College & Daniels Faculty of Architecture Building, image via Craig White for UrbanToronto

The site’s adjacency to the University’s St George Campus makes it a fitting location for a student residence, and a necessary step towards accommodating higher flows of University of Toronto students downtown, and the need for high-quality student housing as articulated in the University of Toronto’s ‘Toward 2030’ strategic plan. The site is well serviced by public transit, including the 510 Spadina streetcar, and is a short walk from the Bloor-Danforth subway line. The area additionally benefits from a well established bike lane network, with many retail, entertainment, and options for eating out in close proximity. In turn, the developers believe that the proposal will ‘contribute to the vibrancy of the area’. 

Site context for the Residence Tower, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

UrbanToronto will provide updates on this project as they develop. For the time being, essential information on the development can be accessed in our dataBase file, linked below. To join in on the conversation, check out our associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

As our annual Growth to Watch For series kicks back into gear, we continue our city-wide tour heading west from last week's Entertainment District feature to the trendy west end neighbourhoods outside of the Downtown Core. This edition tours all the development and construction happening in West Queen West, Parkdale, Roncesvalles, King West, Liberty Village, and Fort York. Meandering through these ever-popular and steadily growing districts, we have compiled a list of all developments nearing completion, under construction, moving through the planning process, or simply proposed as grand ideas for the future.

Boundaries: Bathurst to Parkside, Ulster/Howard Park to the Lake, image via Apple Maps

Our tour begins where we left off last week at Richmond and Bathurst Streets. Heading one block north on Bathurst to Queen Street, we turn westward and come to our first project at 717 Queen Street West. First proposed back in 2013, the project would see a pair of two-storey historic storefronts demolished, to be replaced by a four-storey contemporary building with a retail unit at grade and residences above. Featuring a design from Van Elslander Carter Architects, this proposal has been stagnant at City Planning for quite a few years, and given the recent Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study underway for West Queen West, the future of this small-scale project is uncertain.

Rendering of 717 Queen West, image courtesy of Van Elslander Carter Architects.

Continuing westward, we duck one block south on Niagara Street and turn west on Richmond, where we come to a pair of intriguing proposals from TAS that would see two existing three-storey buildings expanded into 5-storey office structures within the quiet neighbourhood just south of Trinity-Bellwoods Park. The first is located at 822-838 Richmond West on the corner of Walnut Avenue, and would see the existing three-storey historic structure maintained with a 5-storey addition constructed immediately to the west. Designed by Giannone Petricone Associates, the new office building is anticipated to house tenants that include artist studios, software design firms, communication and broadcast companies, clinics, and a publisher.

Rendering of 822-838 Richmond West, image courtesy of TAS Developments.

A few doors down, TAS is proposing a second office building at 860-862 Richmond West, which would see the facade of the existing three-storey historic structure maintained with a two-storey addition on top. Featuring an edgy design by Suulin Architects, the office building is anticipated to house tenants that include advertising and design agencies, technology companies, and other creative industries. This building is being grouped together with 822-838 Richmond West as a single development application, and both are currently working their way through the planning process.

Rendering of 860-862 Richmond West, image courtesy of TAS Developments.

Turning south on Stafford Street and west on Adelaide, a small contemporary salon and residential building is proposed on a narrow lot at 852 Adelaide Street West. The four-storey building will house W Lifestyle Salons, the patrons of the project, as well as the owner's private residence, and features a unique design from Thomas Payne Architect, one of the founders of KPMB Architects. The salon will be located on the first and second floors, while the private residence will be situated on the third and fourth floors. The project is currently seeking Site Plan Approval at the City.

Rendering of 852 Adelaide West, image courtesy of Thomas Payne Architect.

Heading west on Adelaide to Shaw Street, we turn north back up to Queen Street and come to one of the slowest-moving construction projects on our list at 940 Queen Street West. The two-storey building on the northwest corner of Queen and Shaw has been under construction for quite some time with little visible progress having been made over the past year. It is unknown who the builders or architects are, or what the uses of the building will actually be, but its prominent location has us all waiting in anticipation for the day that it is finally complete.

View of 940 Queen West from May 2017, little progress has been made since; image by Forum contributor PMT.

A few units westward we come to 952 Queen West, where Hullmark is repurposing the former location of the Museum of Contemporary Art into its own offices as well as offices for advertising agency Sid Lee. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the retrofit of the two existing buildings is now largely complete, however, construction continues on a new two-storey structure along the eastern edge of the property. Retail and restaurant spaces are anticipated in the new building, including a patio and dining area in the courtyard, so look for the building to rise out of the ground throughout the year.

Rendering of 952 Queen West, image courtesy of Hullmark Developments.

On the south side of Queen Street, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is expanding their campus with two new 7-storey buildings being constructed along the Queen frontage. The Infrastructure Ontario redevelopment will add an acute care building and a complex care building to the campus, while incorporating new retail spaces at grade to activate this open stretch of Queen. The contract was awarded last year to a team led by PCL and Stantec, and excavation is now underway with construction expected to continue through 2018.

Aerial rendering of the CAMH redevelopment, image courtesy of Infrastructure Ontario.

Continuing along Queen, another small proposal to demolish a pair of two-storey storefronts and construct a new two-storey restaurant at 1040 Queen Street West is working its way through the planning process. This property was first proposed for redevelopment back in 2013, but original plans were scrapped in favour of the current proposal, which first appeared in 2016. Given the ongoing HCD Study, it is unlikely demolition will proceed in the immediate future, so it is unknown when or if this project might materialize.

Rendering of 1040 Queen Street West, image obtained via submission to the City of Toronto.

Just down the street, another small-scale development is proposed for the parking lot at 1056 Queen West. First surfacing in 2016, no development application for this property has yet to be submitted to the City, but the marketing images depict a one-storey retail building built up to the lot line along Queen Street. It is unknown whether or not this project will materialize, but perhaps 2018 will bring some good news.

Rendering of 1056 Queen West, image courtesy of CBRE.

The first mid-rise condo building on our list is taking shape at the corner of Queen and Dovercourt, where Ten93 Queen West has topped off as work on the exterior is nearing completion. Led by Pemberton Group and featuring architecture by RAW Design, the 9-storey building will add 134 residential units and retail at-grade to the busy stretch of Queen. As work moves to the interior, look for construction to wrap up by late 2018 or early 2019.

View of Ten93 Queen West from December 2017, image by Forum contributor PMT.

We veer off of Queen again, heading south on Dovercourt Road to Cabin, another RAW Design project that will see a 6-storey wood-framed residential building constructed just north of Sudbury Street. Headed by developers Curated Properties, the building will add 25 two-storey units to the dense neighbourhood. Construction is now underway, with Cabin expected to top off later this year.

View of Cabin under construction, image by Forum contributor innsertnamehere.

Immediately to the south of Cabin, another proposal from Curated Properties along with Windmill Development Group is in the works with The Plant, a 10-storey mid-rise condo building at the corner of Dovercourt and Sudbury Streets. Designed by SMV Architects, The Plant will add 78 new residential units to the area, and is notable for its two floors of ground-level retail spaces designed specifically for smaller-scale retailers. Demolition on the site is already complete, so look for construction to get underway in 2018, with an expected completion date in 2020.

Rendering of The Plant, image courtesy of Curated Properties and Windmill Development Group.

Turning west onto Sudbury Street, we come to 99 Sudbury, a somewhat controversial development designed by Giannone Petricone Associates that went to the OMB last year. The proposal would see a combination condo-hotel tower constructed on the site of a one and two-storey warehouse building that currently houses a popular event venue. Originally proposed at 26 storeys and 190 residential units, the City and developer came to an agreement that saw a reduction of the building to 18 storeys and 121 residential units, and also allocated space for the extension of the West Toronto Railpath into Liberty Village. The settlement was intended to be ratified at an OMB hearing in May of last year, but the hearing has come and gone with no recent news or updated renderings of the proposal. Perhaps the proposal will see some movement over the course of the year.

Previous version, view across the rail corridor to 99 Sudbury, image from Giannone Petricone Associates

Turning north on Abell Street, we come back to Queen Street and find the iconic Drake Hotel, whose expansion plans made waves when they first appeared in 2016. The popular boutique hotel is looking to add 32 new rooms to its existing 19 suites with a 4-storey Diamond Schmitt Architects-designed addition on its east side that would replace a pair of existing three-storey storefronts, whose imprints will appear on the new brick facade. There has been no recent news on the development, and given the HCD Study and perceived resistance from the City to the demolition of the two buildings, it may take some time for this building to materialize.

Rendering of the Drake Hotel Expansion, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

Heading west again on Queen, Skale Developments' 1181 Queen Street West made progress last year after it survived its OMB hearing, albeit with some significant design changes. Designed by Quadrangle, the new iteration rises 15 storeys, only one floor less than the previous design, but the massing has been reorganized in a series of large stepbacks that pushes the bulk of its height away from Queen. Located on a prominent site directly across from the Gladstone Hotel, the new development will replace a strip mall and parking lot, and will add 112 residential units to the dense neighbourhood. The redesigned proposal is now back at City Planning after the OMB hearing, and since the two parties seemed to be in agreement, expect plans for this building to further progress in 2018.

Rendering of 1181 Queen West, image courtesy of Skale Developments.

At the corner of Gladstone and Queen Street, construction of Streetcar Developments' Carnaby set of buildings has since been completed, but work on the new public park along Dufferin Street north of the rail corridor is still ongoing. Pessoa Park, voted by local residents to be named after a Portuguese writer and poet, will provide new community and recreation spaces for the local residents, and will also provide a link in the coming extension of the West Toronto Rail Path. Construction is currently ongoing and it is expected that the park will be completed in the near future.

Plan of Pessoa Park, image by Forum contributor innsertnamehere.

A block to the north, on the west side of Dufferin Street, revised plans have been submitted by Fitzrovia for 390-444 Dufferin, where a trio of mid-rises are proposed to replace a one-storey workshop and studio building. Measuring 12, 10, and 9 storeys in height, the three buildings comprise a total of 421 residential units and are designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects. The northernmost building will have five floors of office space at its base, while the two southern buildings will have retail integrated at grade. A Site Plan Approval application was submitted last year, so stay tuned for updates as the planning process continues.

Rendering of 390-444 Dufferin, image courtesy of Fitzrovia Capital.

Heading back down to Queen, we pass under the rail corridor into Parkdale and come to 1266 Queen Street West, where a proposal was submitted last year to construct two additional storeys to the existing commercial building. Designed by First Union, the new addition would house office space, complementing the commercial and studio uses of the existing structure. The proposal is currently working its way through the planning process.

Renderings of 1266 Queen West, image courtesy of First Union.

Just across the street, and a bit north from Queen, 6 Noble Street has undergone a significant design change since it was first proposed back in 2016. Initially calling for a 14-storey, 172-unit residential building with space for a Performing Arts Studio who currently occupies the site, revisions surfaced late last year that illustrate an 8-storey 101-unit mid-rise building as the latest iteration. Both iterations of the building are designed by Sweeny &Co Architects, but appears that in the most recent redesign, the Performing Arts Studio has been removed from the proposal, and the building now houses only residential uses. Details of how the building will look are sparse at this point in time—it's just a massage model you're looking at below—so stay tuned for updates in the coming year.

Preliminary rendering of 6 Noble, image courtesy of Sweeny&Co Architects.

Our tour continues along the rail corridor, heading west on Noble Street and then north on Brock Avenue, where we come to 57 Brock Avenue, a proposal for a 7-storey mid-rise building on the current property of the Beer Store. Headed by Block Developments and featuring architecture from RAW Design, the building underwent a redesign after its rezoning applications met with disapproval from City staff. The new iteration has reportedly been approved at the OMB, so expect further progress on this proposal as it works its way through the planning process.

Rendering of 57 Brock, image courtesy of Block Developments.

Zig-zagging our way northward, we head west on Seaforth Avenue and north on Macdonnell Avenue to 35 Wabash Avenue, a 4-storey stacked townhouse development from Zinc Developments in Roncesvalles Village. Designed by RAW Design, the building will contain 60 residential units on the narrow brownfield site. Construction began in 2017. Curated is now planning another development next door at 41 Wabash, with a pre-liminary public consultation being set up for later this month.

Rendering of 35 Wabash, image courtesy of Zinc Developments

Heading north on Sorauren Avenue and west on Dundas and Howard Park, we come to Howard Park Residences, a mid-rise development from Triumph Developments featuring architecture from RAW Design. Phase One of the project has been completed and occupied, but construction is continuing on Phase Two, which topped off at its final 8-storey height last year. The second phase will add a further 96 residential units to the area, in addition to the 81 units of the 8-storey Phase One. Cladding is currently being installed on the exterior, so look for construction to wrap up and occupancy to begin later this year.

View of Phase 2 of Howard Park Residences from October 2017, image by Forum contributor AlbertC.

Heading west on Howard Park Avenue to Roncesvalles, we arrive at The Roncy, a proposal by Worsley Urban Partners for an 8-storey mid-rise at 422-430 Roncesvalles Avenue. Designed by RAW Design, the 89-unit building cleared a hurdle when it was settled for rezoning at the OMB early last year. More recently, updated drawings were submitted to the City for Site Plan Approval at the end of December, so stay tuned for updates as the planning process continues.

Rendering of The Roncy, image courtesy of Worsley Urban Partners.

Just down the street on the southeast corner of Howard Park and Roncesvalles, a proposal to redevelop an historic bank building at 421 Roncesvalles is currently in the works. The 7-storey office building is designed by superkül for Propeller Developments, and would retain the existing former bank while constructing the new building behind and above it. The proposal is currently at the OMB with a hearing scheduled in March 2018, where the City is preparing to oppose the development.

Rendering of 421 Roncesvalles, image by Forum contributor smably.

Heading south along Roncesvalles all the way to King, we turn east to the intersection of King and Dufferin, where a pair of kitty-corner developments at 1182 & 1221 King West are causing quite the stir from local residents. Proposed by Lifetime Developments and designed by Core Architects, the two buildings on the northeast and southwest corners will rise 17 and 14 storeys respectively while adding 701 new residential units to the area. The pair of developments were met with fierce opposition from some Parkdale residents who were apprehensive of the gentrification that the two new buildings could bring. City Council, however, approved the rezoning application in December, so look for design to further progress on these buildings during the coming year.

Aerial rendering of 1182 & 1221 King West, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments.

Continuing east on King, construction is quickly progressing on Kings Club (formerly King HighLine). Built on a wedge-shaped property between King Street and the rail corridor, the First Capital project will add 506 new rental units to the neighbourhood, along with several large-scale retailers at grade. Designed by TACT Architecture, the trio of connected towers rise 18, 14, and 12 storeys, all of which have now topped off. Included in the development are extensions to the local pedestrian and cycling network, with a bridge at the west end slated to cross the rail corridor, landing at 99 Sudbury, while another bridge is to be built at the east end across King Street, connecting the West Toronto Rail Path into the Liberty Village area. Exterior cladding is currently being installed on all three buildings, so look for construction to continue and possibly wrap up this year. The cycling infrastructure will take longer.

Photo of Kings Club, image by Forum contributor smuncky.

Our tour now brings us to the bustling Liberty Village neighbourhood, where a slew of proposals and developments are continuing the transformation of this former industrial area. Turning south on Atlantic Avenue, we come to our first project at 99 Atlantic Avenue, where an existing 5-storey factory building at 40 Hanna Street is being repurposed into an office and retail complex by Kevric. Adjacent to the refurbished 40 Hanna, a new 8-storey office building is proposed at 99 Atlantic, designed by WZMH Architects in a compatible style to the neighbouring historic structure, in addition to a new POPS proposed at the corner of Hanna and Liberty Streets. The development was approved at the OMB, and while Kevric is actively looking for tenants, retail and restaurants have already started occupying the existing spaces, and construction on the new building is starting up now.

Rendering of 99 Atlantic Avenue, image courtesy of Kevric

Directly across the street is 80 Atlantic Avenue, a 5-storey office building developed by Hullmark and designed by Quadrangle that will replace a surface parking lot and includes retail at grade level. 80 Atlantic is notable as the first commercial wood frame building to be constructed after Ontario rewrote the Building Code to allow for taller timber frame structures a few years ago. Construction is well underway, with crews approaching ground level at the end of 2017. Look for work to be largely complete by the end of this year.

Rendering of 80 Atlantic Avenue, image courtesy of Hullmark

Heading south across Liberty Street, 58 Atlantic underwent a redesign in 2017, as the new office and retail complex by The Fuelling Station has been simplified and slightly scaled down in size. Originally proposed at 12 storeys, the height has been reduced to 10 storeys, while a heritage building at the corner of Liberty and Atlantic will be preserved. The building is designed by Sweeny &Co Architects, and features another set of iconic splayed columns that allow the new building to cantilever over the historic structure. Stay tuned for updates as this proposal works its way through the planning process.

Looking southwest to 58 Atlantic, image courtesy of The Fuelling Station

Turning west on Liberty Street and south on Fraser Avenue, we come to 7-15 Fraser Avenue, another office proposal along the Lakeshore rail corridor that would see a new 7-storey building designed by SvN Architects replace a disused industrial building. As part of the development, a heritage structure along the south edge of the site will be preserved and refurbished. First proposed at the end of 2016, there has been no movement on this proposal since, perhaps due to the fact that part of the development would construct a parking garage underneath the right of way that the City has earmarked for a new public street along the rail corridor. There has been no word on if the City would be open to this unusual request, but hopefully there will be movement on this proposal over the course of the year.

Rendering of 7-15 Fraser Avenue, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

Heading back up to Liberty Street and turning east, Lifetime Developments is proposing a mixed-use tower dubbed the Liberty Market Tower at 171 East Liberty Street. Designed by Wallman Architects, the building would rise 28 storeys and add 281 residential units to the densely built area, with grade-level retail and office spaces integrated into the 7-floor podium. Having undergone a redesign early last year, the development is still working its way through the planning process.

New rendering of Liberty Market Tower, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

Continuing along East Liberty Street, the eastern end of Liberty Village is poised for some intense densificiation over the next few years with several large projects underway. Beginning at 49 East Liberty Street, Phase Two of CanAlfa Group's Liberty Central by the Lake is beginning construction now. The second tower will rise 27 storeys, two storeys higher than its twin neighbour, and is designed by IBI Group Architects. Crews are reportedly already on site, so look for construction to kick into full gear this year.

Phase 2 of Liberty Central will begin construction later this year, image courtesy of CanAlfa Group

Just next door, CanAlfa Group is proposing another residential tower at 39 East Liberty Street. Once again enlisting IBI Group for the design of the building, the tower will rise 25 storeys and add 440 new residential units to the area. The proposal is currently working its way through the planning process.

Rendering of 39 East Liberty, image courtesy of CanAlfa Group.

Across the street from 39 East Liberty, CentreCourt Developments has just started to build ZEN King West, a 32-storey condo building also designed by IBI Group. The tower will sit atop a 5-storey podium and will add 481 new residential units to the area.

Rendering of ZEN King West, image courtesy of CentreCourt Developments.

Just across Strachan Avenue to the east, five new towers are coming to the triangular plot of land squeezed between the two rail corridors to the north and south. The first two, located in the southwest corner of the site, are headed by Bentall Kennedy and are dubbed Novus at Garrison Point. Originally part of the Garrison Point master plan (see below), Bentall Kennedy acquired these two plots along with a third one from Cityzen, Fernbrook, and Diamond Corp back in 2015. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the two towers will rise 34 and 25 storeys and contain rental units. Several retail spaces are included in the podium levels. Excavation of the site is currently underway, so expect construction to get into full swing during 2018.

Rendering of Novus at Garrison Point, image courtesy of Bentall Kennedy.

The next two towers in the area are part of Cityzen, Fernbrook, and Diamond Corp's original Garrison Point master plan, and construction has begun. Hugging the northeast corner of Ordinance Street, the pair of towers are designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and rise 35 and 29 storeys. Construction on the south tower has now reached the podium levels, with the pouring of the concrete structure now at the second and fourth floors. Construction of the north tower, at ground level, will be held to podium levels, with the tower proceeding later. Once complete, the pair of towers will house a combined 746 condo units with a single retail space located at grade.

Garrison Point in the background, with the pit for Novus in the foreground in December, image by Forum contributor tcbdz.

Rounding out the Garrison Point community, a fifth tower is proposed for the northeast corner of Strachan and Ordnance by Bentall Kennedy, but rumours have circulated for a 49 or 39-storey tower, suggesting that the design is still evolving.

The eastern portion of the Garrison Point triangle is earmarked for a new public park, through which will pass Garrison Crossing, a new pedestrian and cycling bridge across the two rail corridors that will connect an expanded Stanley Park to the north to Garrison Common and Fort York to the south. Overseen by DTAH, Pedelta, and AECOM, construction of the bridge foundations began last year, and off-site assembly of the bridge components is currently underway, with an estimated completion date of Summer 2018 for the new bridge. It is unknown whether the new park will be completed along with the bridge, or if it will come at a later date once the adjacent towers are complete.

Garrison Crossing bridge components being assembled off-site, image by Forum contributor smuncky.

Following Wellington Street east of Strachan, we arrive at one of the more interesting areas on our list. The former Quality Meats abattoir at 2 Tecumseth Street is the site of a recent redevelopment proposal from TAS to construct one tower and two mid-rise buildings on the site. The oddly-shaped property stretches westward along the rail corridor, and would see most of the abattoir demolished save for the heritage structure at its core, still intact, which was subsumed by many additions over the years. Designed by KPMB Architects, the proposal would see a 13-storey office building constructed on top of the heritage podium at the east end of the site, a 38-storey residential tower located at the centre of the site, and a 15-storey residential mid-rise constructed along the rail corridor to the south and west. A total of 651 residential units are proposed, with retail integrated throughout the ground level and an enhanced public realm. The proposal was just submitted for rezoning at the end of last year, so stay tuned for updates as it makes its way through the planning process.

Rendering of 2 Tecumseth, image courtesy of TAS Developments.

Also noteworthy in the vicinity is the Wellington Destructor, adjacent to the abattoir site, which is an historic abandoned garbage incinerator that the City has earmarked to be transformed into a community hub as part of the local planning context. The City is currently exploring options on what to do with the building, so stay tuned for possible announcements later on the year regarding the future of this site.

Across the street from 2 Tecumseth, a proposal was recently submitted for Site Plan Approval for West Condos at 89-109 Niagara Street. The property is currently occupied by the historic National Casket Company factory, known locally as the Coffin Factory, a 4-6 storey former industrial building. The proposal from Aspen Ridge Homes would see the existing building retained, with a pair of 12 and 14-storey mid-rise towers constructed in behind. The two Core Architects-designed towers would sit on a 6-storey podium, matching the height of the factory, and would contain 320 condo units, while the historic factory building would be repurposed to house primarily commercial spaces. The project is in sales, its Site Plan Approval making its way through the planning process.

Rendering of West Condos, image courtesy of Aspen Ridge Homes.

On the north side of Niagara, Fieldgate Homes is building a 5-storey mid-rise at 90 Niagara Street that will add 45 new residential units to quiet neighbourhood. Designed by Giannone Petricone, the building is currently under construction, with pouring of the concrete structure now having reached grade level. The owners are aiming for a December 2018 occupancy date, so watch for the building to rise out of the ground in the coming months.

View of 90 Niagara, image by Forum contributor Red Mars.

Heading east on Niagara to Bathurst Street and turning one block north, news has reached us of an intriguing upcoming proposal for 64-86 Bathurst. No images have surfaced yet, but rumour has it that Hines has enlisted Danish architecture firm 3XN to design a mixed use mid-rise building at this location. Given 3XN's knack for trendy eye-catching designs, this proposal has grabbed our attention; hopefully news will surface in the coming months!

View of the 64-86 Bathurst property, image via Google Maps.

Turning back south on Bathurst Street, the vacant lot on the west side of the road at the intersection with Front Street was designated as future parkland by City Council in Spring 2017. In the interim, however, an even more exciting proposal will come to fruition this year with Stackt, a temporary market and cultural hub constructed of shipping containers that will occupy the site for the next two and a half years. The brainchild of Matt Rubinoff and Tyler Keenan, Stackt will be comprised of public space, retail, and cultural spaces, with both long-term and flexible-term leases to allow for pop-ups and temporary uses to occupy the sprawling complex alongside permanent tenants. Roughly 15% of the available space will be for retail, while the other 85% will be earmarked for culture and programming. An unnamed craft brewery is a confirmed tenant, while other potentials include fitness providers, urban farm companies, artists, event curators, non-profits and social enterprises. Stackt is slated to open in Summer 2018, so stay tuned for the arrival of Toronto's newest public space.

Rendering of Stackt, image courtesy of Pomp and Circumstance.

Hopping across the rail corridor, we come to Toronto's hottest new public space with The Bentway, the linear park located underneath the Gardiner Expressway. The skate trail opened earlier this month to huge crowds and fanfare, but this represents only one small portion of the eventual 1.75km-long public space stretching from Bathurst to west of Strachan. Designed by PUBLIC WORK and Greenberg Consultants, construction is continuing throughout the year on subsequent phases, so look for more exciting openings coming up in 2018.

Preliminary concept plan for The Bentway, image courtesy of the City of Toronto.

Walking through the Bentway to Fort York Boulevard, we come to the final tower under construction in the Fort York neighbourhood, where excavation is well underway for Fortune at Fort York at 19 Grand Magazine Street. Led by The Onni Group and designed by IBI Group, the 24-storey tower will add 459 new condo units to the dense neighbourhood, completing the master-planned district. Look for the tower to rise out of the ground before the end of the year.

View of the site of Fortune at Fort York, image by Forum contributor Red Mars.

Heading south to Lake Shore Boulevard and east into Exhibition Grounds, Hotel X is making its annual appearance on our Growth to Watch For list, hopefully for the last time. Designed by NORR Architects, the finishing touches are now being put on the 27-storey hotel, which is slated for a 2018 opening. The project has been marred with delays and set backs, but now seems poised to finally open its doors in the coming months.

View of Hotel X, image by Forum contributor smuncky.

Heading south from the Exhibition Grounds, we arrive at the final project on our list, the ongoing efforts to revitalize Ontario Place. Last year, the new Trillium Park opened along the waterfront at Ontario Place to much fanfare, adding to Toronto's continuous network of green spaces along the lakeshore. The Province of Ontario then issued a call for development proposals for the revitalization and reuse of the Eb Zeidler-designed theme park that has fallen into disuse and disrepair over the years. It was revealed that PARTISANS along with Janet Rosenberg + Studio won the commission to provide a master plan and vision for the site, which began with the reopening of the Cinesphere last year. No announcements have come since, but a series of events are planned to be hosted there over the next year, and hopefully plans will surface soon as to what will come of this historic Toronto landmark.

View over Ontario Place.

*  *  *

That's it for all the development happening in Toronto's trendy west end neighbourhoods, so come back next week as we continue moving west to explore all the development activity in South Etobicoke and Humber Bay Shores. If you would like to learn more about a specific project, click on the project databases, linked below. Want to share your thoughts on this list? Drop a comment in the space below, or feel free to join in the ongoing conversations in the associated Forum threads.

Today's Photo of the Day features a dusk view showing the latest addition to Toronto's St. James Town neighbourhood. Submitted by Forum contributor 111, this view shows the new 43-storey IBI Group-designed purpose-built rental tower at 561 Sherbourne Street and its newly-installed roofline lighting feature.

561 Sherbourne Street, image by Forum contributor 111

Want to see your work featured as Photo of the Day? Head over to the City Photos & Videos section of the Forum, or submit your images to our Instagram or UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page.

After years of neglect, Old City Hall deserves Toronto’s attention; Yonge St. bike lane plan for North York to be debated next month; TTC unveils strategy to grow transit ridership; and more news:

Mayor John Tory backs 2026 World Cup bid (Toronto Star)

After years of neglect, Old City Hall deserves Toronto’s attention (Globe and Mail)

Yonge St. bike lane plan for North York to be debated next month (Toronto Star)

The King Street Pilot: Sorting Fact From Fiction (Part IV: Headway Reliability) (Steve Munro)

Public Works: How 2018 Will Redefine Toronto’s Use of Public Space (Torontoist)

TTC unveils strategy to grow transit ridership (Toronto Star)

Photos: Thousands join Women's March in Toronto, hoping to 'change the system'(Metro News)

Take a look at the curiously beautiful art installations taking over the Gladstone Hotel right now (Toronto Life)

Should exclusive bus lane make way for traffic? (Toronto Star)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Teaser Website Accompanies New Rendering for Brooklyn's Quay Tower (New York)

Art on 6th Transforms Fairview Corner (Vancouver)

SkyriseCalgary Heads to the Top of Fram+Slokker's Verve (Calgary)

Retirement Residence in Southwest Edmonton Breaks Ground (Edmonton)

Towers, mid-rises, and low-rise homes make up the bulk of Toronto development activity, though a small number of elusive "missing middle" style projects—or projects that fall between low and mid-rise density—are being proposed. The latest of these is a residential development submitted in the final days of 2017 by developer Percy Ellis, seeking Site Plan Approval and a Minor Variance for a five-storey rental apartment building at 8 De Grassi Street, just north of Queen Street East.

Location of 8 De Grassi Street proposal, image via Apple Maps

Designed by Brander Architects Inc., the building would rise from the west side of De Grassi Street, a vacant site that contained a home improvement retail store up until its 2012 demolition. In its place, the proposed building would reach a height of 18.57 metres (61 feet), containing just 17 bachelor rental units, with average sizes of 31.14 m², or approximately 335 ft². 

East elevation, 8 De Grassi, image via submission to City of Toronto

Elevation diagrams for the project provide details of the material finishes being planned for the building's exterior, to include a combination of red brick and black aluminum window framing, chosen to blend the project in with its context—an established heritage commercial strip to the south, and a low-rise neighbourhood to the north.

Colour elevation diagram for 8 De Grassi, image via submission to City of Toronto

Due to the proposal's location by the Queen streetcar route, 8 De Grassi has been designed to cater towards transit users over drivers, offering 24 bicycle parking spaces—at a rate of 1.4 per unit—housed in three storage rooms. Vehicle parking is proposed to be limited to three spaces in a parking stacker system.

South elevation, 8 De Grassi, image via submission to City of Toronto

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment suing the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Tridel's Ten York Street Condos topped out on the Toronto skyline at a height of 224 metres at the end of 2017, with concrete at the top of the Wallman Architects-designed condominium tower now hinting at the building's signature pitched roofline, to be completed with glass and steel framing in 2018. 

Ten York topped out on the South Core skyline, image by Forum contributor Jasonzed

With the near completion of concrete work on the building, the bright red Tridel-branded covering around the automated climbing system (ACS) is being removed, revealing behind it the top of the tower. Recent photos show that sections of the concrete pump have been removed from the site, and the crane is expected to follow shortly. Cladding installation is now racing towards the tower's roofline, with windows installed up to the 59th floor. Interior work, such as drywall installation, now stretches up to the 45th floor, while plumbing and electrical work have reached the 29th and 30th floors respectively. Finishing touches are also progressing for suite interiors, with final coats being painted on 17th-floor units.

A new video posted by Tridel offers views yet of the tower's pitched roof, with drone-captured angles that allow the feature to be seen without the angular distortion seen in street-level captures of the project. In the coming months, this roof feature will be further accentuated with the installation of curtain wall glazing, which will extend beyond and enclose the current concrete roofline.

Ten York celebrated the completion of structural forming last month with a Topping Off party for construction crews and key players in the project. During the party, someone at Tridel captured these panoramic views from a west-facing 55th-floor balcony. By next year, these views will be enjoyed by residents of Ten York's upper floors.

Additional information and renderings of Ten York can be found in the project's database file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

Ryerson Architecture's 2017-2018 lecture series will continue this week, with talks from Ontario's first Chief Energy Conservation Office, Peter Love, and Helena Casanova, a partner at Rotterdam-based architecture firm Casanova+Hernandez.

On Wednesday, January 24th, Peter Love will deliver a lecture titled Climate Change, Conservation and What You Can Do, exploring climate change and the role of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. The lecture will look into the primary sources of these emissions, and ways we can minimize energy use to contribute to a cleaner environment.

Peter Love, image courtesy of Ryerson University

This lecture will take place at noon on Wednesday in The PIT (ARC 202) at Ryerson University's 325 Church Street building.

The next day, Spanish architect Helena Casanova will deliver a lecture titled Building Knowledge in Interdisciplinary Design, co-sponsored by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Margery Winkler Lecture Fund. Based in Rotterdam, Casanova co-founded Casanova+Hernandez with Jesús Hernández in 2001, with a focus on creating vibrant cities while promoting environmental and social sustainability. 

Helena Casanova, image courtesy of Ryerson University

Helena Casanova's lecture will take place on Thursday, January 25th at 6:30 PM, located in The PIT (ARC 202) at Ryerson University.

Both events are free to attend and open to the public, though attendees must register for a spot at the Helena Casanova lecture by following this link. 

This past weekend saw the return of Toronto’s Interior Design Show (IDS18). The 2018 show was hosted at Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre from Thursday, January 18th to Sunday, January 21st, featuring exhibits from designers and industry experts from across Canada and beyond. Panels hosted by television personalities and professional designers gave insight to design trends of 2018, while workshops allowed attendees to gain experience and get style advice. New to the show this year were interior tours giving the public a chance to explore some of Toronto’s finest interior spaces.

Interior Design Show 2018 exhibit, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

The event kicked off Thursday evening with a lively opening night party, with attendees getting a first look at the shows products and exhibits. Energetic exhibitors were given a chance to showcase their vision, inspiration and final designs as visitors enjoyed drinks, snacks and entertainment provided by various sponsors. Performances from Toronto producer Harrison and artist RALPH (aka Raffa Weyman) hit the Caeserstone stage as guests made their way through the showroom. The preview allowed attendees to mix with other design enthusiasts and meet designers and influencers from North America and beyond, setting the tone for the weekend.

Kroft at IDS 2018, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

Exhibits continued throughout to Sunday featuring the latest products and designs, from entire kitchen innovations and technological advancement in appliances to sleek and modern furniture and accents. Several local Toronto-based designers highlighted the weekend, showcasing their latest creations. Hollis + Morris, a local handmade furniture and lighting company from designer Mischa Couvrette featured their signature bolt sconce and newest custom designs. Having debuted at IDS in 2014, Dustin Kroft, designer at Kroft returned to showcase his latest solid-wood designs. Simon Ford, co-designer at Charuk & Ford spoke the craftsmanship and process in creating “unobtrusive and timeless” small-batch designs, displaying his work throughout the weekend. 

Hollis + Morris at IDS 2018, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

New this year, Saturday’s sold out Interior Tours allowed the public to explore interiors at three locations in the city. Attendees were given insight into the process behind creating functional and stylish spaces. Sunnylea Residence, the Broadview Hotel and Bisha Hotel opened their doors, showcasing architecture and design from local agencies.

The Broadview Hotel, photo by Jack Landau

Joe and Sarah Knight, owners of Sunnylea Residence and principals at blackLAB Architects invited guests to immerse themselves in the modern reimagination of their 1940s residence. The 1219 sq m home received a complete renovation and large rear addition, while retaining the home’s original front facade. While the option for demolition and complete reconstruction of the home was considered when the project began in 2014, the Knights understood the value of character consistency in the neighbourhood and had grown attached to its charm.

Living Space at Sunnylea Residence, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

Taking roughly 9 months, the home was completed in July of 2015. The space draws you through the original home to the addition, featuring a large kitchen, dining and living spaces filled with natural light from floor to ceiling rear windows and central courtyard. The modern space is filled with personality, styled with contemporary furniture and art, creating a comfortable space the Knight family has grown to love.

Dining Room at Sunnylea Residence, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

Kitchen at Sunnylea Residence, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

The Broadview Hotel was completed in 2017 by Streetcar Developments with ERA Architects, preserving and highlighting many heritage features. Jamie Phelan of DesignAgency, the hotel’s interior design team, toured guests through the extensive and exciting redesign. Originally built in 1891 for entrepreneur and soap manufacturer Archibald Dingman, the building has been home to a wide range of occupants, with tenants from office spaces to strip clubs. 

Rooftop Lounge at the Broadview Hotel, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

Phelan explained how DesignAgency spent nearly 3 years to “bring back the building's Romanesque style” while referencing the hotel’s rich history. Terracotta brick arches and high ceilings are complimented with modern design solutions. As you enter the main floor cafe space, patterned wallpaper and neon lighting give a striking impression, with a central rounded bar guiding the space. Guest suites contain original artworks curated specifically for each room, featuring works and decor referencing the history of the building and neighbourhood. With priority given to creating a space consistent with the neighbourhood, the hotel has become a contemporary and inviting community landmark.

Suite Interior at the Broadview Hotel, photo by Nathan Petryshyn

The show came to a close on Sunday, leaving attendees with fresh ideas and style trends to watch for in the coming year. The Interior Design show will return to Toronto in January of 2019 in partnership with IIDEX Canada, launching as IDS Contract—offering an “unparalleled trade show experience” remaining focused on architecture and interior design.

Did you have a chance to attend the Interior Design Show this year? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment in the space provided below.

At first glance, everything seems as usual at the southwest corner of Toronto's Bathurst and Bloor intersection. A closer look reveals that not much is left of the iconic Honest Ed's retailer. The longstanding landmark and several adjacent structures are in the process of being brought down to make way for Westbank's Mirvish Village community, an ambitious mixed-use project containing five rental towers, as well as low and mid-rise buildings and public spaces.

South-facing aerial view of the site, image by Sean Galbraith via Twitter

Crews from Rafat General Contracting continue to tear away at the buildings on site, a task which began with interior gutting back in early 2017 following the closure of the store. By last May, removal of the iconic Honest Ed's signage began along the building's Markham Street frontage, and by November, structural demolition of the buildings on site was in full swing.

As of mid-January, only a small portion of the former Honest Ed's building remains at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor, while the west end of the Bloor Street frontage and the entirety of the Markham Street frontage have been removed entirely.

West end of the former Honest Ed's at Bloor and Markham, image by Forum contributor ADRM

An aggressive construction timeline aims to have Mirvish Village completed in a time ranging between 34 and 36 months, measured from the 2017 start of work. Crews are currently in the first phase of site activity, expected to last 7 or 8 months. This phase of work includes now complete abatement and site preparation work, and the very active demolition process. Later stages of phase 1 include shoring and excavation.

Demolition at the site of Mirvish Village, image by Forum contributor ADRM

The second phase of construction is expected to last 18 months. This stage will include the forming of footings and building foundations, the creation of a "Neighbourhood Energy System", and the start of cladding installation. Phase 3 of construction would last 9 to 10 months will includes most of the project's above-grade forming, as well as the installation of finishes including precast concrete and glass. The remaining phase 3 work would include interior finishing, and work on public realm elements like the new park, market area, and site landscaping.

Demolition at the site of Mirvish Village, image by Forum contributor ADRM

Designed by Henriquez Partners Architects working with architects of record Diamond Schmitt Architects, Mirvish Village will introduce more than 800 new rental units to the Bathurst and Bloor area, housed in towers with heights of 13, 19, 24, 25, and 26 storeys.

Mirvish Village viewed from the west, image via submission to City of Toronto

Additional information and renderings of the project can be found in our Mirvish Village database file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Today's Photo of the Day features an east-facing view of Toronto captured from an office high up in the Financial District. Submitted to our Monde Forum thread by contributor jdoe1369, this view shows three new towers that have topped out at their final heights over the past several months. On the far right, the view is dominated by the 58-storey 88 Scott Street. In the background, Monde can be seen at its final 44-storey height, while Sixty Colborne Condos is standing 25 storeys in the middle of the frame.

East-facing view of Toronto from the Financial District, image by Forum contributor jdoe1369

Want to see your work featured as Photo of the Day? Head over to the City Photos & Videos section of the Forum, or submit your images to our Instagram or UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page.

What would landing Amazon H2Q mean for Toronto's already red-hot housing market?; King St. business owner campaigns to shut down streetcar pilot project; Rental prices rise in the GTA amid low vacancy, fierce tenant competition; and more news:

What would landing Amazon H2Q mean for Toronto's already red-hot housing market? (Metro News)

Rental prices rise in the GTA amid low vacancy, fierce tenant competition (Globe and Mail)

King St. business owner campaigns to shut down streetcar pilot project (Metro News)

Bringing World Cup matches to Toronto could be the catalyst for something bigger (Toronto Star)

Councillors approved stacked townhouses in Long Branch (Inside Toronto)

Ryerson University to teach Toronto cops about diversity, avoiding bias (Metro News)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Chicago Plan Commission Approves 76-Storey Supertall (Chicago)

Public Consultation Begins on Bonnie Doon Mall Redevelopment (Edmonton)

Axiom Celebrates Structural Completion of Two-Tower Project in Beltline (Calgary)

Council Approves Rezoning for West Georgia "Jenga" Tower (Vancouver)

It has been a busy seven months at the site of the CIBC Square's first phase, located across Bay Street from the Air Canada Centre in Downtown Toronto. Since Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines' new office development broke ground last summer, much of the 49-storey first phase tower's site has been excavated to a depth of three storeys, and up to yesterday, two cranes had been installed at the west side of the pit. 

Northwest facing view of the CIBC Square site, image by Forum contributor Jasonzed

As of this morning, however, a portable crane has arrived onsite to help assemble the third and final crane which will help build the largest new office tower to be constructed in Toronto in many years.

The third and final crane being assembled this morning, image by Forum contributor sikandar

A January 19 update from the site covers the start forming at the west end of the pit, below, where initial forming activity has created the start of the site's P3 parking level. The area below the temporary construction platform along the east side of Bay Street continues to progress as well, with footings having been excavated and rebar installed in advance of a coming concrete pour.

West side of the CIBC Square site, image by Forum contributor Michael62

At the east end of the site, the third crane base was also there on Friday, waiting for the work that is happening today. Near the northeast corner, excavation work is progressing close to 18 Yonge Street (the condominium complex you can see on the right side of the photo below), and should soon reach the same depth as the rest of the pit. A ramp between 18 Yonge and the Union Station rail corridor will take vehicles up to Yonge Street from the garage.

East side of the CIBC Square site, image by Forum contributor Michael62

North of the pit, preparatory work is underway in the rail corridor that divides the active 49-storey phase 1 site from the upcoming 54-storey phase 2 site to the north. An elevated park will eventually bridge over this section of the rail corridor, linking the two towers with a new public green space, and some supports for the bridge will be created between tracks. 

Future park site at CIBC Square, image by Forum contributor Michael62

Phase 1 will include a new GO Bus Terminal for Toronto, and its completion will free up space to the north of the tracks where the current terminal is. Once the current terminal is no longer needed, construction of the phase 2 tower will be able to proceed.

Designed by UK-based WilkinsonEyre Architects with Toronto's Adamson Associates serving as Architects of Record, the first phase of CIBC Square is expected to open in 2020, with phase 2 to follow in 2023. Once complete, the two towers will introduce a combined 2.9 million ft² of commercial space to Downtown Toronto. The park, the new GO terminal, new retail, and an extended pedestrian PATH network will also come about from CIBC Square.

CIBC Square, image courtesy of Ivanhoé Cambridge/Hines

We will keep you updated as construction continues. In the meantime, you can learn more about the project via our updated database file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment in the space provided on this page, or join the ongoing conversation in our associated Forum thread.

It will come as no surprise to anyone who attempted to rent a condominium unit in Toronto during 2017 that there is an incredibly low vacancy rate in the city for these types of units, now hovering below 1% in the latest market report from the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB). Conditions like year-over-year declines of 3.4% in new condominium listings and 0.7% in units leased contributed to a surge in rental rates in the fourth quarter of 2017. Average one-bedroom condominium apartment rents rose 10.9% on an annual basis to $1,970, while average rents for two-bedroom units jumped 8.8% to $2,627 in the same period.

Residential towers in Toronto, image by Jonathan Castellino via Flickr

“As the population in the GTA continues to grow, so too does the demand for rental accommodation," reads a prepared statement issued by TREB President Tim Syrianos. "The problem is that rental supply has not kept up with the increase in demand in recent years. The result has been low vacancy rates and intense competition between renters for available units. This competition has underpinned very strong growth in average rents,” said Mr. Syrianos.

Meanwhile, the condominium market fuelling this segment of the rental market took a hit in the fourth quarter of 2017, with the 5,773 recorded condominium sales marking a 15.4% decline when measured against Q4 of 2016. This slump in sales was accompanied by an increase in new listings over the same period, rising 9.8% to 8,186, though the market remained tight, recording a 70% sales-to-new listings ratio.

Price growth was one of the recurring narratives in real estate talk throughout 2017, and the trend continued into the fourth quarter. The average selling price for condominium apartments increased by 17.9% measured year-over-year, reaching $515,816. 

“Demand for condominium apartments remained strong relative to listings in the fourth quarter.  Even with the uptick in listings, which was certainly welcome, there was enough competition between buyers to prompt double-digit annual rates of price growth. This points to the fact that we still do have a supply problem in the GTA that needs to be addressed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the marketplace,” said Mr. Syrianos.

Let us know what you think in the comments section provided below.

The tallest proposal submitted to the City of Toronto so far in 2018 comes from Fieldgate Urban, seeking to replace a five-storey office building and a single-family home with a 32-storey tower at 5400 Yonge Street. Designed by Kirkor Architects, the proposal includes a four-storey base rising 16.4 metres along Yonge Street and Horsham Avenue, primarily containing retail at grade and 1,713 m² of replacement office space above. Over 300 residential units would be housed in the tower, which reaches a height of 106 metres including the mechanical penthouse.

Facing northwest at 5400 Yonge Street, image via submission to City of Toronto

The 28,368 m² building's 324 units are proposed in a mix of 110 one-bedroom units (34% of total), 54 one-bedroom+den units (17% of total), 74 two-bedroom units (23% of total), 57 two-bedroom+den units (18% of total), and 29 three-bedroom units (9% of total). 

Mid-section, 5400 Yonge Street, image via submission to City of Toronto

The bulk of the residential is found in the tower, though four of the three-bedroom plans are designed as “garden” style townhome units in the podium, fronting onto Horsham Avenue with direct sidewalk access. The residential lobby entrance and an office lobby would also be accessed from Horsham, while retail would line the Yonge Street frontage.

Massing diagram facing south, 5400 Yonge Street, image via submission to City of Toronto

Residents would have access to 677 m² indoor and 648 m² outdoor amenity spaces, the latter landscaped by Terraplan/Studio TLA, who will also be handling a 338 m² Privately-Owned Public Space, or POPS. Located at the west end of the site along Canterbury Place, this outdoor area will include a mix of softscape and hardscape landscaping including grass, a play area, outdoor furniture, and tree plantings.

Landscape plan, 5400 Yonge Street, image via submission to City of Toronto

269 parking spaces are proposed in a three-level underground garage, with 237 resident spaces, 32 visitor spaces, and 32 spaces serving the commercial components. 270 bicycle spaces would also be provided, with 221 long-term stacked residential spaces on the mezzanine level of the building, and 24 short-term residential spaces at grade near the building's rear entrance. The commercial component would be served by 5 long-term bicycle parking spaces on the mezzanine level and 21 short-term spaces at grade along Yonge.

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Between exciting announcements like the Sidewalk Labs plan to build a smart neighbourhood in Toronto's East Bayfront area, 2017 was a big year for waterfront, and 2018 is promising to be special too as the completion of multiple developments will add a lot of life to the burgeoning community. Years since the completion of Corus Quay and the George Brown Waterfront Campus, the next infusion of employment space will come later this year when the first phase of Daniels Waterfront - City of the Arts opens its doors at Queens Quay and Lower Jarvis.

130 QQE at Daniels Waterfront, image by Forum contributor skycandy

Known as 130 QQE, the RAW and Rafael + Bigauskas Architects-designed office condominium building wrapped up forming last year following the topping out of the 11 and 14-storey tower volumes, and plenty of progress continues to be made.

130 QQE at Daniels Waterfront, image by Forum contributor skycandy

Cladding installation consisting of brick panels and curtainwall glazing—also underway since last year—has almost fully enclosed the building, offering a good idea of how the project will look upon completion this summer.

West side of 130 QQE at Daniels Waterfront, image by Forum contributor skycandy

The office component is only a half of the equation here: two residential towers under construction to the north will soon bring a combined 554 condominium units here too. The Giannone Petricone-designed Lighthouse Towers both recently passed significant milestones, with construction of the north half of the site reaching grade over the past few weeks.

Facing west across the Lighthouse Towers site at Daniels Waterfront, image by Forum contributor skycandy

The south wall of the towers' shared podium and the north wall of the office component will enclose The Yard, a mid-block pedestrian mews lined with retail. To the east of the Daniels Waterfront project, pedestrians will continue on a path carved through the Greenland Lakeside Residences site, connecting with Sherbourne Common, and onwards via a mid-block passageway currently taking shape at Great Gulf's Monde.

The Yard at Daniels Waterfront, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

Additional information along with renderings can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

Today's Photo of the Day comes to us from Forum contributor Jasonzed, who captured this shot of Toronto's Humber Bay Shores skyline. Captured from the Brown's Line overpass, this telephoto shot shows a GO train and Toronto Water's Whitlam Tank set against the distant skyline of the growing waterfront neighbourhood.

Humber Bay Shores skyline, image by Forum contributor Jasonzed

Want to see your work featured as Photo of the Day? Head over to the City Photos & Videos section of the Forum, or submit your images to our Instagram or UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page.

Transit priority plan could replicate King St. pilot on other TTC routes; Toronto proposes end to tax-breaks for downtown office towers; Can the TTC Gain More Riders?; and more news:

Transit priority plan could replicate King St. pilot on other TTC routes (Metro News)

Toronto proposes end to tax-breaks for downtown office towers (Globe and Mail)

Metrolinx targeted by North Korean cyberattack (Toronto Star)

Good news / bad news: TTC closing transit lines during 43 weekends in 2018 (Transit Toronto)

Can the TTC Gain More Riders? (Steve Munro)

Province announces new shelter health services pilot project (Toronto Star)

Christie Blatchford: Fountain at the heart of darkness in dispute between affluent Toronto neighbours (National Post)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

CTBUH Announces Finalists for First Annual Tall + Urban Innovation Conference (Global)

The Marine Building's Art Deco "Aquatecture"(Vancouver)

The Barron Building: An Art Moderne Symbol of Calgary's Oil Supremacy (Calgary)

Public Art Revealed for Valley Line LRT (Edmonton)

Toronto-based Williamson Williamson Inc Architects have a history of promoting wood construction in the region. The firm's latest project has them working alongside Ontario Hardwood Products Ltd (OHP) for a redevelopment of two buildings south of OHP's current headquarters at 188 Perth Avenues, near Bloor and Lansdowne in the city's West End. Located at 170 Perth Avenue, and immediately north of the Perth Avenue Parkette on the northwest corner with Randolph Avenue, the site is an area which mixes residential homes and apartments, light industrial, and commercial properties.

i2 Stack at 170 Perth, image via submission to City of Toronto

The proposed 3-storey, 70-foot-high building conforms to the zoning already in place at 170 Perth Avenue, allowing the plans to advance directly to a Site Plan Approval (SPA) application. Plans submitted to the city earlier this month show the building containing workshop and studio spaces. On Williamson Williamson's website, the development is referred to as i2 Stack.

i2 Stack at 170 Perth, image via williamsonwilliamson.com

At ground level, the building meets Perth Avenue with a workshop/take-out restaurant space and a lobby. To the west, the remainder of the ground floor houses three workshop/studio spaces. Three more workshop/studio units are included on both levels 2 and 3 for a total of 9 units. These units are accessed via hallways to the north, also providing access to universal washrooms and storage areas, as well as the building’s single elevator and twin stairwells.

i2 Stack at 170 Perth, image via williamsonwilliamson.com

Though plans don't specify whether this building will be constructed with a wood, concrete, or steel structural system, wood is being featured extensively in the renderings. Wooden mullions will frame the curtainwall building envelope and make up much of the exterior expression, while touches like wood body LED bollards continue this natural theme across the site's landscaping.

i2 Stack at 170 Perth, image via williamsonwilliamson.com

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Construction is in full swing at the Vaughan site of Plaza and Berkeley's The Met, a 35-storey condominium tower and townhome development on Jane Street north of Highway 7, designed by Quadrangle. With the tower preparing to break into the nascent Vaughan Metropolitan Centre skyline, we are taking a closer look at some of the public spaces that will help knit the project into the nascent local urban fabric.

Scale model of The Met showing public realm along Jane, image by Jack Landau

In an earlier article, we took a look at the massive Edgeley Pond and Park being planned for the lands to the south of The Met. The Met will connect to it with a landscaped area by Janet Rosenberg + Studio at the south end of the site. On the north side of the site, a landscape plan for The Met shows how the project will meet Jane Street, including details about a public art installation planned at the corner.

Location of art installation at The Met, image via submission to City of Vaughan

The art installation—a series of multi-coloured poles—has been hinted at since the earliest renderings of the building emerged in 2015. We were given a better look at the art the following year when the project's scale model was installed in The Met's presentation centre. Now, landscape plans show additional details.

Diagram of art installation, image via submission to City of Vaughan

The plans outline a series of 115-millimetre diameter, 5.5-metre tall vertical aluminum poles mounted to concrete footings, with powder coat finishes of yellow, green, blue, red, and pink. Not an official part of the City of Vaughan’s Public Art program, these colourful poles are in the process of being worked out with York Region due to their location within a regional right-of-way.

Diagram of art installation, image via submission to City of Vaughan

Additional information and renderings can found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

Demolition has cleared the site of a new mid-rise residential development on Toronto's Dupont Street, on a site situated mid-block between Shaw and Christie Streets. Formerly home to a one-storey structure occupied by luxury automobile distributor Grand Touring Automobiles, RioCan's 740 Dupont Street project will soon bring an injection of residential density to the area, along with new retail.

Demolition at the 740 Dupont site, image by Forum contributor ADRM

Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects, the new 9-storey building will contain 210 rental units, increased from the previously-proposed 122 in a December 2017 application for Site Plan Approval (SPA). In the days prior to the SPA submission, demolition of the former auto dealership commenced with the removal of exterior signage and the start of interior gutting.

Demolition at the 740 Dupont site, image by Forum contributor ADRM

With the above-grade elements now demolished, crews and equipment from GFL continue to work away on the site, clearing away foundations and remaining demolition debris to make way for the upcoming shoring phase. Signage around the site's perimeter indicates that Skygrid construction will be the general contractor for the project.

Demolition at the 740 Dupont site, image by Forum contributor ADRM

The project will rise 121 feet above Dupont. Above, residents will have access to a 452 m² (4,873 ft²) indoor amenity space and a 457 m² outdoor amenity space, both located on the 2nd floor.

740 Dupont, image via submission to City of Toronto

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.