The Cities of Vaughan and Oshawa have each announced a record breaking year for construction value in 2017. The two Greater Tornto Area urban centres released information on their highest years for residential construction and number of building permits issued. Oshawa broke 10 building records including seven all-time records (mostly set in 2015), while Vaughan is seeing momentum with extensive development of the city centre, construction of a new hospital and the extension of the University Subway line.

Vaughan reported a 2017 construction value of $1.969 billion between the 5,328 permits issued in 2017, well surpassing last year’s value of $1.149 billion. In a statement issued by Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, he notes that “the City's growth in the last eight years has been remarkable.” Construction values equal an amount of more than $5 million in construction activity per day in the city. Bevilacqua adds “these outstanding construction values represent a strong economy, a destination of choice and a prosperous place to live.” In a recent citizen survey conducted by the City of Vaughan, it was revealed that 97% of residents believe “life is good” in Vaughan, and enjoy their quality of life.

Vaughan Centre Station Entrance, image via TTC / Grimshaw Architects / Arup Canada

The announcement comes as no surprise considering the recent completion of the Toronto York Spadina Subway Extension, which includes new stations up to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Recent announcement of the proposed Expo City 5, a 61-storey tower as the 5th phase of Expo City will add to this development boom in coming years. 

Aerial view of Expo City 5, image via Quadrangle

Further from Toronto, Oshawa announced the city had surpassed a $600 million construction value for building permits in 2017—a first in its history. Having issued 2,286 building permits, Oshawa reached just over $614.3 million, breaking a 2015 record by $56 million. Of this, residential construction dominated with $483.5 million in construction permits, $29 million more than the 2015 record. Oshawa constructed 555 residential dwellings in July alone, with $144.9 million worth of construction taking place that month. Topping the list is University Studios at 1900 Simcoe Street north, a new apartment complex with a construction value of approximately $24 million.

University Studios, 1900 Simcoe Street north, image via Podium Developments

Government and institutional construction was held the next highest value, at $60.2 million. Mike Leonard, Oshawa’s Chief Building Official notes, “not only has our construction volume increased, but also the types of buildings we are reviewing are larger and more complex.” Durham District School Board saw construction of a new elementary school at 2200 Bridle Road, costing $11.9 million and extensive renovations to Oshawa Central Collegiate with a cost of $10 million.

What is your take on the 2017 construction boom in either of these cities? Let us know by leaving a comment in the space provided below.

Today's Photo of the Day features a skyline view of Toronto, captured from Polson Pier in the Port Lands. Submitted to our Aquavista Forum thread by contributor skycandy, this view shows the impact of new additions like Ten York on the South Core skyline, as well as Monde and Aquavista on the East Bayfront skyline.

Toronto skyline viewed from Polson Pier, image by Forum contributor skycandy

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.

Toronto drew record 43.7 million visitors in 2017; Campbell Soup factory in Toronto to close; Incoherent TTC service announcements soon a thing of the past; and more news:

Toronto drew record 43.7 million visitors in 2017 (Globe and Mail)

Incoherent TTC service announcements soon a thing of the past (Metro News)

TTC finally finds its way to Bluffer’s Park (Toronto Star)

Alleged North Korean hack on Metrolinx may open ‘frightening new chapter’ in cybersecurity (Globe and Mail)

King Street business owners speak out against transit pilot project (Inside Toronto)

Campbell Soup factory in Toronto to close (Toronto Star)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

First Tower in 27-Acre Miami Worldcenter Tops Off (Miami)

Crystalline Office Tower Proposed at Station Street and Terminal Avenue (Vancouver)

CMLC Announces Integrated Parkade and Innovation Space in East Village (Calgary)

Next Phase of Jasper Avenue New Vision Kicks Off (Edmonton)

This week's Throwback Thursday presents a Toronto heritage-designated building in a state of transition. Back on May 23, 2014, a development application had recently been proposed for 93-95 Berkeley Street and 112-124 Parliament Street, including the two-storey Christie, Brown & Co. Stables building at 95 Berkeley, completed in 1905, and designed by Sproatt & Rolph Architects.

95 Berkeley Street, May 23, 2014, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Three and a half years later, the heritage building has been gutted down to its facades and is now held in place by a framework of steel and concrete weights. The exterior of the former stables building will live on as the street frontage for East United Condos from SigNature Communities, Berkshire Axis Development, and Andiel Homes. In the background of the image below, a tower crane can be seen working away on the 24-storey, Giannone Petricone Associates and Giovanni A. Tassone Architects-designed condominium development. Further to the east, the building's Parliament Street frontage now rises two storeys above the street.

95 Berkeley Street, January 2018, image by Caleb Cho

We will return next week with another look at the changing face of Toronto!

In the just shy of four months since we last checked in on the construction of The Sumach by Chartwell, the new retirement residence has made swift progress in Toronto's Regent Park neighbourhood. Construction of the $100 million development by Chartwell Retirement Residences, The Daniels Corporation and Welltower Inc. Canada has been ongoing since a ground breaking ceremony marked the official start of construction back in June 2016.

The Sumach by Chartwell viewed from the south, image by Forum contributor Benito

Since then, the SvN-designed retirement residence has been steadily rising towards its final 12-storey height, now reaching a height of 10 storeys above the Sumach and Shuter intersection. As the building rises taller, work continues on the installation of interior finishes. The first panels of red brick embedded precast cladding were spotted on the exterior in November, and large sections of this finish have since been put in place.

Cladding on The Sumach by Chartwell, image by Forum contributor Benito

Upon completion in 2019, The Sumach will bring 332 retirement units to the community, available in a mix of studio, one bedroom, one bedroom plus den and two bedroom suites, as well as townhome units. Each of these layouts will include full kitchens, as well as in-suite laundry.

Residents will have access to a collection of amenities including formal and informal dining rooms, a 5,500 ft² publicly accessible bistro-style restaurant, a pub that can be booked for private events, a conference room, horticulture room, party room, a theatre, a gym, a library, a games lounge, and a pet grooming centre with dog wash station. During warmer months, residents will also have access to an outdoor rooftop patio with grilling, dining, and party space.

The Sumach by Chartwell, image courtesy of Chartwell/Daniels/Welltower

Additional information and 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 thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Marketing has begun for Uovo Boutique Residences, a mid-rise, mixed-use building located at 2112 Yonge Street. Designed by RAW for The Sher Corporation, Uovo will be located on the southwest corner of Yonge and Hillsdale, south of Yonge and Eglinton in Midtown Toronto. Initially proposed as a 10-storey structure, the building has increased to 11 storeys while at the same time going from 73 down to 67 larger residential units.

Looking south to Uovo, image via RAW Design

Uovo, meaning “egg” in Italian, features a glass and marble combination at street level with a distinctive logo branding the structure. Above, the two tone grey masonry-clad massing rises up the stacked design, stepping back at the 7th floor. Private balconies are recessed into the structure, while some units of the 7th floor will enjoy larger terraces. Six 2-storey penthouse units will also boast terraces overlooking the city skyline. Interiors in the building are to be appointed by Toronto-based ESQAPE Design.

Aerial looking south-west to Uovo, image via RAW Designs

UrbanToronto Forum members have been following the progress of the development since 2011, when an initial application was received by the City. Although marketing has just begun on the 11-storey version of the structure, and registration for potential purchasers has opened, the June 2016 approval of the building permitted only 10 storeys, and an amendment will be required to build the building as proposed.

Aerial looking south-east to Uovo, image via RAW Designs

We will return with updates as further details on Uovo emerge. In the meantime, you can learn more about the project and see additional renderings by visiting the dataBase file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

Following a late 2017 re-submission to the City of Toronto, the Graywood Developments and Alterra Group of Companies' redevelopment of the Weston Bakery at 462 Eastern Avenue is one step closer to being realized. Although appealed to the OMB by a previous owner of the site, the new developers and the City have been working towards a resolution of issues. A number of revisions have been made by Diamond Schmitt Architects working with heritage specialists GBCA Architects in response to comments from City staff.

462 Eastern Avenue, image via submission to City of Toronto

The most notable change affects a two-storey wing on site’s southeast corner at the intersection of Eastern and Logan, forefront in the image above. Replacement of the 2nd floor's warehouse-style windows with punched windows retains more brick, while the retention of the ornamentation atop a row of vertical piers preserves the existing aesthetic.

Evolution of 462 Eastern Avenue, images via submission to City of Toronto

In addition, a series of minor revisions respond to concerns from the City of Toronto’s Engineering & Construction Services, one result being the retail component has been enlarged slightly, from 1,151 m² up to 1,155 m². The updated proposal's unit count drops by just one to 307 suites, proposed in a mix of 8 bachelor units, 190 one-bedroom units, 78 two-bedroom units, and 31 three-bedroom units. Residents would have access to 616 m² of both indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, for a total of 989 m².

The OMB hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2018. In advance of that, the City and developer are moving toward designated heritage portions of the project and agreeing on the conservation strategy. City Planning is recommending the redevelopment in principle.

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.

Today's Photo of the Day features an aerial view over Toronto's Berczy Park. Submitted to our Forum by contributor Ryan_T, this shot highlights the details of the park's Claude Cormier + Associés-led revitalization as seen from the recently completed 88 Scott Street condominium tower.

Berczy Park viewed from 88 Scott Street, image by Forum contributor Ryan_T

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.

Toronto’s been road-raging about cars, bikes and streetcars for over 100 years. We’re not about to stop; Ice Breakers installations transform Toronto's waterfront; Margaret Atwood, Adrienne Clarkson back plans for new Toronto homeless shelter in Annex area; and more news:

Toronto’s been road-raging about cars, bikes and streetcars for over 100 years. We’re not about to stop (Toronto Star)

Tale of two markets: 2017 Toronto condo demand soared while sales of new single-family homes slumped (Globe and Mail)

Photos: Ice Breakers installations transform Toronto's waterfront (Metro News)

New emergency shelter set to open in Annex (Toronto Star)

Making room for Amazon is Canada's and Toronto's housing challenge: Don Pittis (CBC News)

Development project for Bloor-Dufferin lands topic of upcoming meeting (Inside Toronto)

TTC approves ridership growth strategy (Toronto Star)

Margaret Atwood, Adrienne Clarkson back plans for new Toronto homeless shelter in Annex area (Globe and Mail)

Cycling and walking trail expanding through Scarborough this summer (Inside Toronto)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

New Taipei Skyscraper to House Two Hyatt-Branded Hotels (Taipei)

Viaduct Demolition and Northeast False Creek Plan Heading to City Council (Vancouver)

New Horizon Mall Nears Summer 2018 Opening (Calgary)

Photos: Gutting of Downtown's BMO Building Continues (Edmonton)

It is just shy of three months since Solmar Development Corporation launched their marquee development in Mississauga with the November, 2017 opening of the Edge Towers presentation centre. Sales have been steady for the first phase of the three-tower community designed by Roy Varacalli and Cusimano Architect, and Solmar will be releasing the next collection of suites this weekend.

Edge Towers presentation centre as seen in November, image by Marcus Mitanis

Open to agents as well as the public, the event will run this Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Edge Towers presentation centre, located at 24 Elm Drive West, just south of Hurontario and Burnhamthorpe in the heart of Mississauga. Solmar will be releasing 30 new suite designs, with approximately 80 units from the first phase tower's podium, as well as high-level suites spanning the 27th to 37th floors.

First phase of Edge Towers, image courtesy of Solmar Development Corporation

Attendees will have the chance to explore the Dochia Interior Design-appointed model suite which shows off some of the finishes available in phase one's 293 condominium suites. The newly released suites range in size from 484 ft² to 1,310 ft². Upgraded finishes are offered throughout, high-quality baseboards among them. Suites also offer nine-foot smooth ceilings, fully integrated or stainless steel kitchen appliances, full-size stackable washer and dryers, and frameless glass shower doors. 

Model suite in the Edge Towers presentation centre, image by Marcus Mitanis

On the upper end of the new suite releases, the 1,310 ft² layout is 37th-floor penthouse unit offering two bedrooms including a master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, two powder rooms, a large outdoor terrace, and a second balcony with an east view. 

Penthouse layout in phase 1 of Edge Towers, image courtesy of Solmar Development Corporation

The first phase of the community will be followed by two more towers with heights of 40 and 55 storeys. Once complete, Edge Towers will bring over 1,200 condominium units, new retail space, a daycare, and a new community green space by landscape architects Terraplan/Studio TLA, all just a short distance from Mississauga's Square One and City Centre area. 

Site plan for phase 1 of Edge Towers, image courtesy of Solmar Development Corporation

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 in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

A plan by Terranata Developments, submitted to the City of Toronto in August 2015, to redevelop property on Eglinton beside Avenue Road Crosstown LRT station has evolved in advance of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing. The proposed condominium tower at 346-356 Eglinton Avenue West made news when Metrolinx rejected of a multi-million dollar offer from Terranata to purchase the air rights to the now under-construction station building, and incorporate it into a larger development.

The 15-storey tower met with resistance from City staff, and was appealed to the OMB in 2016 after the City's failure to render a decision on the proposal within 120 days. Now, the proposal designed by Rafael + Bigauskas Architects has been significantly reduced in height and density in advance of a March 19th OMB hearing. City Council will debate at the end of this month whether to support the smaller proposal at the OMB hearing.

Comparing 2015 and 2018 iterations of 346 Eglinton West, images via submission to City of Toronto

A revised proposal was submitted on January 14, 2018, reducing the proposal to 10 storeys and a height of 38.45 m. The building's total gross floor area has been reduced to 5,775 m², while the the units were slashed from 112 to 72. The ground floor retail component remains unchanged from the 2015 proposal, with 189 m² or 2,034 ft² of space proposed.

2018 resubmission for 346 Eglinton West, image via submission to City of Toronto

The previous version proposed a total of 467 m² of indoor and outdoor amenity space, but with that has been revised only slightly, down to 449 m², with 184 m² of indoor amenity space, and 265 m² of outdoor amenity space. The previously proposed three-level underground garage with 57 parking spaces has been reduced to two levels and 34 parking spaces.

Additional information and images of the previous 15-storey version 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 field provided at the bottom of this page.

Today we present a guest post from Dean Macaskill, Senior Vice President at Lennard Commercial Realty. Dean has worked as a commercial realtor since 1980 and has years of industry insight into the Toronto real estate market. Having been through three cycles in the business, he has seen the highs and lows. He'll be sharing some of his insider information and insights with UrbanToronto on a regular basis.

***

“Up, Up and Away” was a great song by the 5th Dimension, if you’re old enough to remember, along with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” songs that may have foreshadowed where the price of high rise residential land was heading.

Having just completed the 4th Quarter Q Investment Report, this writer felt like Rip Van Winkle because the last time he looked, land values were in the $100 per square foot buildable range in the Yorkville and Entertainment District. By the way, this slumber started near the beginning of 2017, not five years ago.  

View of Toronto, image by Richard Pilon via Flickr

So, when writing the report something very noticeable occurred. The prices per square foot shot up over $200 per square foot buildable, in a number of instances. For example, KingSett sold the former Toronto Parking Authority garage property that fronts on both Yorkville Avenue and Cumberland Street to Cresford Developments for $247.82 per square foot buildable. Concord Pacific picked up 40-58 Widmer Street near Richmond Street West for $257.60 per square foot. To top that off, Lanterra purchased the corner of Bay and Scollard from BRL Realty for a value equivalent to $379 per square foot!

The first $200 per square foot property sold that this writer remembers was in the second quarter of 2016 when it was reported that the assembly completed by Mizrahi Developments on the southwest corner of Yonge and Bloor had equalled a value of $259 per square foot. Surely this property would go into default and it would become the poster child of the excesses of the market. Today, the site has been populated with shoring rigs, and construction is underway! The only property that came close at that time was Cresford’s acquisition of the corner of Yonge and Dundonald Street, near Wellesley at $199 per square foot buildable in the same 2nd Quarter of 2016.  Then it got quiet. Then Freed Developments sold the Howard Johnson Hotel property on Avenue Road north of Yorkville in the third quarter of 2017 for $20,125,000 or just over $200 per square foot buildable based upon an approved development of 100,000 square feet. 

Other than these transactions, there was very little discussion about where prices were heading as these were anomalies, not the norm when virtually everything else in a prime market was hovering around $100 per square foot.  Now we report in one quarter three deals in excess of $200 per square foot. Also, we could add the acquisition of 60 Yonge Street by Lanterra into this mix. The site is improved with an office building tenanted by the Bank of Montreal, who was also the vendor. The selling price of $55 million equates to a value of $268 million an acre, assuring that this property, once zoned for condominium use, will easily exceed $200 per square foot buildable.

Your children’s condo just got a lot more expensive. The majority of these high dollar trades were for approved product although the Mizrahi deal at Yonge and Bloor was pioneering without an approved development, nor is the 60 Yonge Street deal approved. So prepare yourself for 2018 and don’t forget the deal done in Vancouver on West Georgia announced in December. That property traded for $615 per square foot buildable making Toronto still a bargain in the process.

Continuing west from instalment 2 of Growth To Watch For, we venture through South Etobicoke, cataloguing the developments set to make an impact on the area in 2018. While the lion's share of the dialogue around development in the city focuses on Downtown Toronto, South Etobicoke has also experienced explosive growth over the past few years, resulting in a flurry of high-rise towers built and planned in the area, especially at burgeoning Humber Bay Shores. Beginning just west of High Park in Swansea and heading westward, our list includes all developments set to be completed in the new year, all projects under construction, and a host of new proposals working their way through the planning process.

Area covered in this Growth To Watch For instalment, base from Google Earth

Beginning near the intersection of The Queensway and South Kingsway, a development application for 34-40 Southport Street—a former shopping plaza that has since been demolished—has been lying dormant for a few years despite having been approved at the OMB in late 2013. The proposal by State Building Group could be coming to market soon though as Southport Square. Plans include a grocery store, two towers approved at 25 and 30 storeys, and 14 townhomes.

Teaser image for Southport Square, image from statebuildinggroup.com

A short ways south at the waterfront, the site of the former Four Points Sheraton at 1926 Lake Shore West, dormant since the hotel was demolished in early 2014, has been revived with a site plan approval application submitted in 2016, revised through a resubmission in 2017. Proposing twin 38-storey condo towers sharing a common podium, it is to be marketed as Mirabella Condominiums. The Diamante Corporation-led project is designed by Scott Shields Architects and would add 748 new residential units across from Sir Casimir Gzowski Pak. While an earlier plan by Graziani + Corazza Architects for Carttera was approved at the OMB for similarly tall 35-storey towers, the new proposal shortens the height of each floor to fit three more in. The podium of the new plan, up against the Gardiner Expressway, is larger than currently approved.

Looking north to Mirabella Condominiums, image courtesy of Diamante Corporation

Just to the west of Mirabella across Windermere Drive, Build Toronto is selling land that has sat fallow since the Humber Bridges rebuild project twenty years ago. Now, Marlin Spring Developments is proposing a pair of towers, 21 and 26 storeys high, at 2002 Lake Shore Boulevard West. Wedge-shaped at the west end to suit the irregularly-shaped site, the Graziani + Corazza-designed buildings sport undulating waves to emphasize their location alongside the lake.

Looking north to 2002 Lake Shore West, concept plan, image courtesy of Greybrook Realty Partners

Crossing the river into Etobicoke, we arrive in the Humber Bay Shores area, where a flurry of activity along Lake Shore Boulevard continues unabated, in what has become Etobicoke's highest and densest residential cluster. At 2143 and 2147 Lake Shore Boulevard West, The Conservatory Group's Cove at Waterways and Water's Edge at the Cove towers made progress in 2017. The Cove topped off last year, and the 16-storey building is on its way to being sealed-in over the next months, and opened for occupancy later in the year. When the excavation was carried out for The Cove, some of the pit for Water's Edge was also carried out. The much taller of the two Richmond Architects-designed buildings, the 56-storey Water's Edge is in sales, and could see a construction launch later this year.

The Cove rising behind the future site of Water's Edge, January 16, 2017, image by Craig White

Moving west along Lake Shore Boulevard, Mattamy and Biddington's Lago At the Waterfront and shorter sister project Riva del Lago were completed last year. Just like Beaverhall and Graywood's completed Ocean Club condos next door, five-storey commercial and retail buildings are still to be built here fronting Lake Shore Boulevard, but there is no word yet as to if they will be started this year. Given the continuing influx of residents to Humber Bay Shores, it may soon be time to build more office and retail space here.

Space for the commercial buildings beside Lago and Ocean Club, Nov 2016 image by UT Forum contributor Keyz

West of Ocean Club, the density continues with Vita on the Lake, a Graziani + Corazza Architects-designed 53-storey condominium by Mattamy Homes and Biddington Homes. Vita is the latest building in Humber Bay Shores to go under construction, with excavation underway. It will add 439 new units to the area.

Rendering of Vita on the Lake, image courtesy of Mattamy and Biddington.

Closer to the water, Vita Two On The Lake, a 14-storey condo, is in sales. Also shown in the rendering below is the four-storey Phase 3 building, another of the planned low-rise commercial buildings along Lake Shore.

Rendering showing Phases 2 and 3 of Vita on the Lake, image courtesy of Mattamy and Biddington.

Next door to Vita on the Lake, a last strip of land between Lake Shore and the lake itself is owned by The Conservatory Group. There's a plan for 2169-2173 Lake Shore West, but it has lain dormant since being approved back in 2014. A design by Richmond Architects would see a 41-storey condo tower close to the lake, a 6-storey residential building at the centre, and a 2-storey commercial building along Lake Shore. Pictured to its right in white is the recently completed Jade Waterfront Condos, a 41-storey tower from Phantom Development and designed by Quadrangle. Its site also has a planned two-storey commercial building, and a parkette on the lakeside waiting for construction.

Rendering of 2169-2173 Lake Shore West, image retrieved from submission to the City of Toronto

Immediately to the southwest is Empire Communities' flagship development. Eau du Soleil condos will hold the title of the tallest project in Canada outside of a downtown when it is completed, two Richmond Architects and Zeidler Partnership Architects-designed towers of 66 and 49 storeys. The towers are both in the high 20s, floor-wise now, and both should top out this year, with construction continuing into 2019.

Eau du Soleil in mid-January2018, image by Craig White

Following Park Lawn Road north of Lake Shore Boulevard, The Onni Group's 46-storey Westlake Encore is the last phase of their Westlake development, adding a final 523 residential units to the densifying neighbourhood. The IBI Group-designed development recently topped off, and the crane has come down in the days since the photo was taken. Work is underway on its two-storey commercial building facing Park Lawn, and it should complete this year as well.

Westlake Encore on January 13, 2018, image by U Forum contributor Keyz

To the north of Westlake Encore is Key West, see above right of centre, and then a last undeveloped property on the west side of Park Lawn. Empty for the last several years now, the development site at 42 Park Lawn Road was approved in 2014 for a 41-storey condo tower, and a two-storey commercial building fronting Park Lawn. Amexon, who built the two South Beach condo towers immediately to the north, now owns the site, with no word on a development date.

Last year we returned to Lake Shore to head into Mimico to consider a couple of projects—a 25-storey condo tower at 2313 Lake Shore Boulevard West, and a more modest plan is proposed at 2409 and 2411 Lake Shore, but both proposals have gone stale, with no movement as of late. Instead this year, we will continue north on Park Lawn, then follow the reverse ramp across the Mimico Creek into the Mystic Pointe area.

On the south side of Manitoba Street just west of Legion Road, a site previously owned by Etabbey Holdings at 251 Manitoba has been purchased by Empire Communities, and the developer is now preparing to bring a 29-storey condo complex to market under the name 'Phoenix'. We have no renderings yet, nor do we know which architect is designing Phoenix.

Directly to the west and south of Phoenix, the City has been working on a greatly expanded and improved public park on the east side of Grand Avenue, dubbed Grand Manitoba Park. Now in a final design phase, PMA Landscape Architects are proposing plenty of open green space complete with new sports and recreation facilities for the 5-hectare site at the corner of Grand Avenue and Manitoba Street. A connection is proposed to the Mimico Creek Parks to the east via the eventual Legion Road extension, while a 'greenway' extending southwest alongside the tracks and stretching to Mimico GO Station and Royal York Road is also planned. The park is expected to begin construction in the fall of 2018 and be completed a year later.

Master plan for Grand Manitoba Park, image courtesy of the City of Toronto

South and west of the park, a massive proposal by Freed Developments named Grand Park Village would add significant density to the area. Comprised of 5 residential buildings ranging from 6 to 32 storeys, the entire project totals 1,824 new residential units and is arranged in narrow strips oriented north-south. Designed by architectsAlliance, the proposal sought rezoning approval in 2016, but no recent movement is evident.

View of Grand Park Village looking southwest, image courtesy of Freed Developments.

The next block to the west in this area has another piece of Freed's Grand Park Village on it, while the northeast quadrant and most of the west half of the block fall under another two development applications. All of the applications in this area follow the City creating the Mimico Judson Secondary Plan here, which deemed the mostly aging industrial area as a Regeneration Area, aiming to trigger redevelopment close to the underused Mimico GO station. Several developers are now in OMB-led mediation regarding the Secondary Plan and with their own Official Plan Amendment or Zoning Bylaw Amendment applications.

The northeast quadrant of the block is 25 Audley Street, owned by a numbered Ontario company. Its plan puts a tower rising to 26 storeys from a 9-storey podium. The tower, at the south end of the property, falls within a 45° angular plane from the north side of Portland Street where there are two-storey homes, but this proposal like others for the area is larger than what the City foresees for the area.

The east elevation of 25 Audley, designed by Michael Spaziani Architect

Of note: Audley, very oddly, has odd-numbered properties on its west side, and even-numbered properties on its east side, possibly the only street in Toronto which is reversed from the convention here.

Next door to 25 Audley, a proposal addressed to 23 Buckingham on the west side of the block has progressed in 2017. Bought by the Vandyk Group, the developer has assumed the OMB appeal already on the site and has resubmitted, the new application for 724 residential units in towers of 12, 24, and 39-storeys, rising from a 4-storey mixed-use podium. SvN Architects were retained by VANDYK to prepare the Urban Design report for development with Kohn Partnership Architects and rising star Omar Gandhi Architect designing the buildings. Street retail and employment space are proposed within the podium.

23 Buckingham, designed by Kohn Partnership and Omar Gandhi for the Vandyk Group

To the southwest of 23 Buckingham, a proposal by Dunpar Developments at 39 Newcastle has also morphed. Originally planned as 606 units in two residential towers of 28 and 30 storeys, the Turner Fleischer Architects design is now for 833 units spread across three towers of 22, 30, and 36 storeys. Submitted to the City in July 2017, it is heading to the OMB, with no hearing dates established yet.

Looking southeast to 39 Newcastle, image by Turner Fleischer, courtesy of Dunpar Developments

Adjacent to 39 Newcastle and the Mimico GO station, On The GO Mimico, a 27-storey condo development designed by McCallum Sather Architects, was caught up in the 2017 bankruptcy of developer Stanton Renaissance. Word is that the Vandyk Group has bought the site, but we have no word on how or when the development will be completed yet.

On the GO Mimico, photographed in August 2017 by Craig White

West of Royal York Road opposite Mimico GO station, a proposal at 49-55 Judson Street has moved forward. Dunpar Developments' plan to build homes on part of the site is heading for an OMB hearing in April, 2018, thanks to an appeal by Metrolinx who are concerned that residential use at this site would impinge upon future operations at its adjacent Willowbrook yard. In the meantime, the developer has applied for building permits for commercial buildings on another part of the site.

Returning to Royal York Road and crossing under the rail bridge, a proposal to remake the Blue Goose Tavern advanced in 2017. Allegra Homes with 1 Blue Goose Developments Inc. are planning to transform the historic 1909-built tavern into The Mimico, a 30-unit 4-storey residential project that would restore the original building, putting 18 studio suites on the upper floors, while adding 12 townhomes along the south and east sides of the site. Designed by Thomas Payne Architect, grade-level retail would replace the tavern.

Rendering of The Mimico, image courtesy of Allegra Homes.

More low-rise development is what the New Toronto and Long Branch areas of South Etobicoke is seeing at the moment, with another Dunpar townhome development called Lakeside Village underway at Daisy Avenue and 29th Street, while the second and third phases of Minto, Kilmer, and Diamond Corp's Minto Long Branch townhome development are under construction on Lake Shore Boulevard across from 33rd Street. Designed by Giannone Petricone and Guthrie Muscovitch Architects, Phase 2 includes 379 new stacked townhouse units, replacing the car dealership adjacent to the already existing 501 townhomes, and adding a further 880 square metres of retail.

Site plan of Minto Long Branch Phase 2, image courtesy of Minto, Kilmer, and Diamond Corp.

Moving north on Browns Line, a proposal for a new boutique building in Alderwood called B-Line Condos is progressing. Designed by Romanov Romanov Architects for Royalpark Homes, zoning bylaw amendments and a site plan application for the 81-unit, 6-storey building were re-submitted to the City in September, 2017. Located on the southwest corner at Horner Avenue, retail would face Browns Line at ground level. Suites are currently for sale.

Looking southwest to B-Line Condos, image courtesy of Royalpark Homes

Further north, just east of Brown's Line on Evans Avenue, a sprawling mixed-use development at 564-580 Evans Avenue is slowly making its way through the planning process. A Site Plan Approval application was originally submitted in 2014, with further documents added in June 2016. Located just to the southeast of the junction of the Gardiner, QEW, and Highway 427, the proposal by Antorisa Investments includes two residential towers of 24 and 30 storeys, 24 stacked townhouses, an 8-storey seniors' residence, a 5-storey office building, a one-storey commercial building, and a new public park. Designed by Giannone Petricone Architects, the mixed-use development would replace a series of one-storey commercial buildings and a hotel, and would add a total of 712 new residential units and 7,550 square metres of commercial and office space to the site.

Preliminary massing for 564-580 Evans Avenue, image courtesy of Antorisa.

To the west along Evans Avenue, the Nordstrom wing expansion of Cadillac Fairview's Sherway Gardens opened in the Fall of 2017. In 2018, a new Cactus Club Café will open, and a rebuild of the area where Holt Renfrew used to be will create space for a handful of new retailers.

The area around the mall has also been the subject of a planning study by the City that has been ongoing over the past few years: the Sherway Area Study covers the area bounded by Highway 427 to the east, the QEW to the south, Etobicoke Creek to the west, and the rail corridor to the north, encompassing the mall, Queensway Hospital, big box retail, and office and industrial uses. The plan recommends a residential densification of the area, with more of a community feel oriented around complete streets and grade-level retail. In December 2016, the Study was endorsed by Council, and a Secondary Plan for the area should be debated in 2018.

In line with the coming Sherway Secondary Plan, Fima Developments has proposed a large master-planned community at 1750 The Queensway, opposite the mall. The sprawling plan would replace much of the single-storey retail box stores and low-rise offices occupying the area with a denser mixed-use plan encompassing residential, retail, office, and hotel uses. Phase 1 includes a trio of 27-storey Quadrangle-designed towers in the southeastern corner of the site at the intersection of The Queensway and North Queen Street. The proposal has been appealed to the OMB. No hearings have been scheduled yet.

Master plan for the Fima lands at 1750 The Queensway, image courtesy of Fima Developments.

Conceptual rendering for 1750 The Queensway, image courtesy of Fima Developments.

To the east of the Sherway area is a healthy industrial zone, with a variety of sectors represented. One of the most successful in the area is show business, with Cinespace's 40-acre Kipling Studios the busiest North American television and film production facility outside of Hollywood. It will be growing in 2018 with two new studios being added on Titan Road.

Around the corner at 66 Jutland, Dunpar is working on a new office campus on a 5-acre brownfield site which has been vacant since 2009. Submitted for Site Plan Approval in December 2017, 58 office units will be available.

Office campus at 66 Jutland, image courtesy of Dunpar

Some blocks to the south again, the commercial/industrial stretch of The Queensway east of Kipling Avenue is seeing the beginnings of an explosion in residential density. With a few projects completed in the last few years, a few in sales, and several in the planning stages, there is talk of even more. Among potential future redevelopment sites is the Kipling Queensway Mall, slated for demolition sometime in the coming years to accommodate a redesigned Gardiner Expressway interchange at Kipling. Lots of land will remain, freeing up the site for a major redevelopment. Coming sooner though, are the following developments.

A property at 1197 The Queensway is the first, moving eastward, of several new mid-rise residential proposals on this strip over the last few months. Marlin Spring Developments applied for a zoning bylaw amendment in November 2017 for a 12-storey condominium designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects. It would have 159 suites, with retail at ground level.

To the south at 30 Zorra Street is a much taller proposal—36 storeys—as the higher towers further from The Queensway won't shadow the low-rise neighbourhoods to the north of The Queensway. With a massing model designed by Michael Spaziani Architect, a Zoning Bylaw Amendment application was updated in January 2017.

Massing model of 30 Zorra, image courtesy of Quadrangle Architects.

On the east side of Zorra Street, the second phase of The Remington Group's IQ Condos, a pair of 24-storey Richmond Architects-designed towers, is occupying now, joining its complete 12-storey Phase One neighbours. Phase 3 of IQ Condos has zoning approval but has not yet gone into sales, with three Giannone Petricone-designed towers of 19, 27, and 42 storeys proposed for the plot of land south of Phase 2. Between the phases, land has been set aside for a new public park to accommodate the influx of new residents. It is set to go under construction in 2018 and open in 2019.

Rendering of IQ Condos Phase 3, image courtesy of The Remington Group.

East of IQ Condos, a proposal at 1061 The Queensway would see a single-storey building house the relocated Kipling Queensway Sobeys, with spots for three other retailers. Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects, it would be the first of two phases on the site, resubmitted to the City in June of 2017 for Site Plan Approval.

Looking southwest to the new Sobeys proposed at 1061 The Queensway, image by Turner Fleischer Architects

At the south end of the property, residential towers of 22 and 27 storeys are proposed. Phase two was not part of the recent SPA resubmission.

Phase Two residential component of 1061 The Queensway, image courtesy of Turner Fleischer Architects.

Directly to the south of 1061 The Queensway, a 2016 rezoning application by Kooby Investments for 2 St. Lawrence is looking to replace light industrial on the site with residential density. Three massing options by Kohn Partnership Architects have been presented to the City, all with the tallest tower at 29 storeys, each with two towers rising from a podium on the south half of the property and up against the Gardiner Expressway. The options for the north half of the property switch out stacked towns, townhouses (as per below), or a third tower. A park in the northwest corner varies in size depending upon the option chosen.

One of the proposed options for 2 St. Lawrence, image courtesy of Kooby Investments.

Across St. Lawrence Avenue and running the length of the short block to Dorchester Avenue, a proposal at 1045 The Queensway would replace two single-storey commercial buildings with a mid-rise condominium with retail at ground level. The Marlin Spring Developments project would add 310 residential suites in a 12-storey building designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects.

Looking southeast to 1045 The Queensway, image courtesy of Marlin Spring Developments

Across Dorchester Avenue and running the long block to Islington Avenue is the flagship Queensway Cineplex. Here, a rezoning application has been submitted to replace the stand-alone restaurant buildings which line the Queensway frontage of the site with residential towers that have commercial at ground level. The 1001 The Queensway plan comes from property owner RioCan with a design by Core Architects. Three towers rise 12 storeys each, with a 20-storey tower proposed at the corner at Islington Avenue. Two 4-storey podiums connect the pairs of towers. Roughly 1,300 square metres to the south has been set aside for a "programmable green space" between the residential towers and the Cineplex.

Rendering of 1001 The Queensway, image courtesy of RioCan.

Three and a half short blocks to the east of Islington Avenue, 880 The Queensway is proposed to rise 8 storeys on the north side of the road, terracing down toward the low-rise neighbourhood to the north. Designed by RAW for Queenswell Limited, the building would replace the again 2-and-a-half storey Queensway Medical Centre currently on the site. A Zoning Bylaw Amendment application was submitted to the City in October 2017.

Looking northwest to 880 The Queensway, image by RAW Design

Across the street to the south, and just slightly to the east, a proposal from First Avenue Properties and Latch Developments would add a 14-storey, 288-suite condominium at 859 The Queensway. Designed by Teeple Architects, the building would include retail at the ground level of an 8-storey podium facing The Queensway. The rezoning application was submitted in September 2017.

Looking southwest to 859 The Queensway, image by Teeple Architects

A little further east at 784 The Queensway, Site Plan Approval and Zoning Bylaw Applications were resubmitted to the City in Fall 2017 by Urban Capital and Rosewater Capital. Redeveloping a Beer Store site with an 8-storey mid-rise condo, the building is being marketed as Queensway Park, named for the green space to the north. Designed by RAW, the project will add 172 residential suites and retail at ground level to the increasingly busy neighbourhood.

Rendering of 784 The Queensway, image courtesy of Urban Capital and Rosewater Capital.

Filling the frontage of the third block east of Royal York Road, the south side of The Queensway is getting a major upgrade here. The single-storey House of Lancaster strip club onsite closed in 2017 and will be replaced with Royal Q Towns. The 4-storey, 55-unit development designed by IBI Group for Parallax Investment Corporation will have retail at the base facing The Queensway.

Looking southeast across Royal Q Towns toward the Humber Bay Shores skyline and beyond, image by the IBI Group

We head east about 1 and a ¼ km on The Queensway to the last stoplight before the Humber River, and turn north on Stephen Drive. Another kilometre north in the Stonegate neighbourhood is a former suburban plaza site—an L-shaped structure of shops with a vast parking lot out front of it—which is now being redeveloped. A model likely to be copied in multiple places across Toronto in the coming years, Stonegate Plaza made sense when everyone drove everywhere in the late 50s and early 60s when this area developed, but in recent years the parking lot was usually only a third full. Now, the Vandyk Group of Companies is building the first two of four phases at the site. The Shoppes at Stonegate will finish first in the southwest quadrant, while The Humberview—the first of three phases called Backyard Neighbourhood Condos—is up next. While the Shoppes building is being readied for occupancy this spring, the southeast quadrant pit for the seven-storey Humberview is now being excavated. The next condo phase, a 10-storey building in the northwest quadrant called The Queensview, is now registering, with sales starting in the spring. It's all designed by Kohn Partnership Architects, and it will feature a landscaped Privately Owned Publicly accessible Space (or POPS) in its centre. 

Looking past the Shoppes at Stonegate toward the excavation for phase two, image by Craig White

* * *

Our Growth to Watch For series will continue with more overviews of Toronto's development hotspots coming over the next couple months as we circle our way around the city. In the meantime, make sure to check out the database files and Forum threads for each of the projects mentioned for more information. You can tell us what you think of all the developments happening in the city by joining the discussions in the associated Forum threads, or by leaving a comment in the space provided on this page!

Today's Photo of the Day features a view of The Selby, a new rental tower in Toronto's St James Town neighbourhood. Captured by Forum contributor Rascacielo, this view shows the bKL Architecture-designed tower topped out at 50 storeys as the installation of precast concrete panels inlaid with red brick continues to rise higher.

The Selby topped out at 50 storeys, image by Forum contributor Rascacielo

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.

Commuters rejoice, the new Gardiner exit ramp is open; Here’s how to make sure Toronto’s King Street is king again; TTC struggling with Presto fare gate capacity; and more news:

Commuters rejoice, the new Gardiner exit ramp is open (Toronto Star)

Here’s how to make sure Toronto’s King Street is king again (Globe and Mail)

Union Speaks talks highlight Union Station as place for cultural events (Inside Toronto)

TTC struggling with Presto fare gate capacity (Toronto Star)

Fort York Food Bank finds new home at the 11th hour (Inside Toronto)

Happy 40th Birthday, Spadina Subway (Transit Toronto)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Miami: Five Striking Condominiums Delivering in 2018 (Miami)

Washington Properties Nears Completion of 35 Park West on Cambie (Vancouver)

Dalhousie and Oakridge Co-op Redevelopments Meet Different Fates at Council (Calgary)

Glazing Makes Debut at West Block in Glenora (Edmonton)

Construction is moving along on the latest addition to Tridel and Hines' 5.3-hectare (13-acre) Bayside community on Toronto's waterfront. Aquavista started construction two years ago, and the new residential development by Miami-based Arquitectonica with local architects Kirkor is now topped out at its final 13-storey height.

Aquavista at Bayside viewed from the Port Lands, image by Forum contributor skycandy

With forming now nearing completion, the building's wave-inspired architecture has become apparent in views captured from Toronto Harbour and the Port Lands, evident in the image above. Views from closer in show the ongoing process of cladding installation. A window wall system consisting of dark-tinted glass and black spandrel now stretches up to the 6th floor, while yellow weatherproofing membranes mark the areas where dark gray brick will soon be put in place.

Aquavista at Bayside viewed from the Waterfront Promenade, image by Forum contributor Razz

The window wall and brick sections will be complemented by glazed balcony railings, with the lower level balconies to include bird-friendly ceramic frit. At ground level, the building will meet an extended Waterfront Promenade with a combination of brick and curtainwall cladding.

Southwest corner of Aquavista at Bayside, image by Forum contributor skycandy

The completed development will introduce another 228 condominium units to the burgeoning area, as well as 80 affordable housing units reserved for artists and their families. Over 2,639 m2 of street-fronting retail will help to add more street life to the fresh new neighbourhood, further animating a stretch of waterfront that was largely occupied by brownfields and industrial sites just a decade prior.

Aquavista at Bayside, image courtesy of Tridel/Hines

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

The City of Toronto opened the replacement eastbound exit ramp from the Gardiner Expressway to York, Bay, and Yonge streets on Sunday. Councillor Jaye Robinson, Councillor for Ward 25 Don Valley West and Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee was joined by Mayor John Tory to open the ramp connecting the expressway to ground level at Lower Simcoe and Harbour streets. The project was completed on time despite encountering several problems including an early winter and storm sewer system issues on Harbour Street.

Looking west to new Gardiner exit ramp, image by UT Forum contributor Razz

The project began in 2016 seeing construction on the new ramp’s foundation and substructure. Development continued into April 2017, when the existing ramp was closed and demolished. The new ramp is much shorter than the forked ramps it replaces, with Harbour Street widened from three to four lanes to handle the new traffic it now takes to York, Bay, and Yonge. As it is steeper than the previous ramp, the new exit utilizes an automated anti-icing spray technology to prevent collisions and ice formation. "Investing in Toronto's infrastructure is the only way to ease congestion and to keep traffic moving”, said Mayor Tory. “The demolition of the old ramp has transformed the area and has improved access to the waterfront.”. A video animation has been released to help commuters understand how traffic will flow in the area.

This $30-million project was part of a larger $700-million investment made in 2017 by the City to renew aging infrastructure with an estimated $310 million allotted for roads and bridges, $310 million for sewers and water-mains, and $70 million for basement flooding protection work.

The new ramp and Harbour Street with lanes open and traffic yesterday evening, image by UT Forum contributor Razz

Construction of a multi-use pedestrian and cycling trail will continue into the summer to provide better access to the South Core, a new local park, the waterfront, and a future extension of Harbour Street to the east. New permanent traffic signals, new curbing on the north side of Harbour Street between York and Bay Streets, and installation of planters and streetscape elements along Harbour Street will all come later this year. "You won't recognize the place, to be honest with you," said Michael D'Andrea, the city's chief engineer.

Aerial view of new park site, image by Forum member jdoe1269

Public consultation is underway for a new park area where the former spiral ramp was located on the east side of York Street. A joint initiative between Waterfront Toronto and the City's Parks, Forestry and Recreation division, the park has a budget of $11-million. Design will take place this year, construction will mostly take place in 2019, completion is expected in 2020.

Images of how the street will look once the trails and landscaping are complete can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Did you use the new exit ramp on your commute today? Let us know by leaving a comment in the space provided at the bottom of the page, or you can join the discussion, check out additional photos in the associated Forum thread.

It has been a busy four months of construction since we last checked in on the site of Cityzen Development Group and Fernbrook Homes' Tower at Pier 27 at the foot of Toronto's Yonge Street. The 35-storey, architectsAlliance-designed condominium tower surpassed an important milestone during the past few weeks, with the first forming to happen above grade recorded in early January.

Ground floor columns rising for Tower at Pier 27, image by Forum contributor Jeff Morgan

When we last checked in on construction back in September, crews from TMG Builders and Verdi Alliance were working on the building's P4 and P3 underground levels. In the months since, the rest of the four-storey underground parking garage has been formed, and construction of the ground floor has begun. Over the next several months, the building's nine-storey podium will be formed above.

Facing north across the Tower at Pier 27 site, image by Forum contributor drum118

Work is furthest along at the site's western edge, where a network of supporting columns now rise above the adjacent parking lot. To the east, formwork is in place for the remaining sections of ground floor, while bundles of rebar mark the positions of upcoming walls and columns.

Facing northwest across the Tower at Pier 27 site, image by Forum contributor drum118

2018 is set to be a big year for this project, as the building rises into prominent skyline views from Toronto Harbour and the Port Lands. Upon completion, Tower at Pier 27 will introduce another 366 condominium units to the Pier 27 community, already home to 690 condominium and townhome units.

Tower at Pier 27, image courtesy of Cityzen/Fernbrook

We will keep you updated as construction on the project progresses. In the meantime, further information about the Tower at Pier 27 is available in our database file, linked below. Want to learn more? Leave a comment in the space on this page, or join the conversation in our associated Forum threads. 

First Capital Realty will be hosting an Idea Fair next week to get public input regarding development at 2150 Lake Shore Boulevard West—the site of the former Mr. Christies factory beside the Gardiner in Etobicoke. The plant was closed in 2013 and acquired by First Capital from Kraft in 2016 with demolition of the old cookie factory taking place in late 2017. Initial site planning by Urban Strategies is now underway for the expansive 27-acre property, which with the exception of the red and white painted water tower, now sits vacant following demolition of its disused buildings.

Looking west at vacant Mr Christie's site, photo by Craig White

Wishes for the site's redevelopment have been circling, with anything from residential towers and retail opportunities to offices, a school, and a GO/TTC transit hub. UrbanToronto front page readers and Forum contributors seem generally to be in favour of investing in transit infrastructure. Reader Justin Lau expressed his concern in the comments section on our previous article saying “this area is slammed with traffic. Build a GO station, electrify the lines and tack this Humber Bay station on to smart track and the issues are solved.” Other readers seem to agree, with expression that a transit stop will “solve many congestion and traffic problems” and “give people time back in their days.”

Vacant Mr Christie's site, photo by Craig White

The City's Planning Department has resisted the re-designation of the site from its current employment zoning to regeneration area, and Metrolinx did not support a GO station when potential new stations were distilled down into a short list last year. Last week, Mayor John Tory and Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes both expressed support of a Park Lawn GO stop, however. “Our Etobicoke waterfront has exploded with development. People want to live here, but our transit has not kept up,” said Mayor Tory. “We have a plan for transit solutions across the entire length of the waterfront to get Toronto moving. We are getting on with it and I'm confident we will get it built.” Councillor Mark Grimes agreed, stating “The people in Etobicoke deserve more transit options. Moving forward with this plan will bring reliable, high-level transit to connect people to the rest of the city.”

Demolition of Mr Christie's factory late 2017, photo by Craig White

The “Mr. Christie’s Idea Fair” will take place on February 6th from 4:30 PM till 8:30 PM at The Polish Hall, located at 2282 Lake Shore Road West. First Capital is encouraging the public to attend and share ideas for the redevelopment. If you have ideas or are otherwise concerned about the site’s future, the event will give you an opportunity to share your opinions and gain information about the project.

Want to join the discussion? Visit our associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the section provided at the bottom of the page.

Today's Photo of the Day takes us to Gristmill Lane in Toronto's Distillery District. As part of the 45-day Toronto Light Festival, artist Michael Christian’s "I.T." sculpture is being illuminated with a laser light show by PDIFX. The dynamic light installation and several others can be viewed for free until the Light Festival wraps up on March 4th.

Toronto Light Festival in the Distillery District, image by Jack Landau

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.