It's been three months since we last checked in on the Midtown Toronto construction site of Shiplake and Collecdev's Lillian Park project. At the time of our last update, excavation had wrapped up and a tower crane had been put in place to begin forming of the two rental towers designed by Kohn Shnier Architects with SMV Architects and Rafael + Bigauskas Architects. In the months since, construction has progressed, and new planning documents include greater design detail for the project.

Facing southwest across the Lillian Park site, image by Forum contributor drum118

The latest photos show that a second crane has been installed, and below-grade forming activity is well underway. Much of the P2 level's supporting columns are now in place, and work has begun on the P1 level above.

Facing east across the Lillian Park site, image by Forum contributor drum118

Previously proposed as 24 and 26-storey towers, planning documents now show that the towers will rise 26 and 28 storeys, with heights of 241 ft/73.5 m and 277.5 ft/84.6 m. The new towers will bring 564 additional rental suites to a property that already includes 752 rental suites in an existing building to the north.

Facing west across the Lillian Park site, image by Forum contributor drum118

The updated documents from late last year illustrate the towers' exterior design more clearly, set to include brick-patterned precast panels, a window wall system with clear glazing, aluminum mullions, and spandrel glass panels, and glazed guardrails with aluminum frames. The towers' mechanical penthouse levels will be finished in a perforated aluminum screen cladding.

Lillian Park, image courtesy of Shiplake/Collecdev

Additional information and several more of the new images, both of the landscaping and interior design—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.

The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre transit hub is open for service!

On Sunday, December 17, 2017, the public opening of the TTC Line 1 Subway Extension changed the face of transit forever in York Region. The is the first subway ever in York Region bringing transit customers up to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC). 

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station, image courtesy of vivaNext

You’ll be moved! 

Also opened for service is the newest Viva bus rapid transit (BRT) Rapidway segment and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station on Highway 7. As VMC Station is fully connected to the new VMC subway station, bus rapid transit meets subway for the first time! 

The new Rapidway section runs west of Jane Street to Edgeley Boulevard, with dedicated centre lanes to take riders to the VMC. Including the previously completed section, the Rapidway will run the full 3.6 kilometres from Bowes Road to Edgeley, the bus-only lanes clearly marked with red asphalt. 

Coming in 2018, SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal will complete the transit powerhouse at VMC, as YRT buses begin providing services from this stunning new bus terminal. 

An extraordinary station

Along with the Rapidway comes an extraordinary Viva station for a new downtown destination – the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Rapidway station. The design of VMC Station was inspired by historic and modern European transportation architecture. The open, airy domed glass canopy shelters the road and station. 

A few fun facts about VMC Station for Viva BRT:

•Single canopy is 50m long x 22m wide – bigger than the other Viva stations to accommodate more bus and passenger traffic.

•Steel structure assembled as three roof sections [now installed]; eight ladder sections [the first just arrived]; and 70 smaller infill sections.

•Uses a combination of aluminum, painted steel, ceramic frit and tinted glass panels – overall, the station will appear light grey with blue and white accents.

•Heated waiting areas on each platform.

The future is now

It’s only 43 minutes via subway to downtown from the VMC, but there’s no need to go anywhere. If you’re at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, you’ve already arrived! Welcome to the brilliant future of transit-oriented development, right here, right now in York Region. The VMC shows what it’s all been about: rapid transit connections that fuel livable, walkable, desirable communities, spur jobs and economic growth, creating places where we all want to live, work and play.

We have been closely following the early stages of construction for the Wesley Tower at Daniels City Centre, a new Rafael + Bigauskas Architects-designed, 43-storey condominium soon to rise at the City Centre Drive and Confederation Parkway intersection near Square One in Mississauga. At the time of our last update at the start of December, the final stages of shoring activity were wrapping up, and excavation had begun for the project's underground levels.

Wesley Tower site on January 23rd, image by Forum contributor drum118

Returning to the scene two months later shows quite a bit of change. Shoring is complete and excavation is now well below grade across the site, with an earth ramp in place to provide street-level access to the pit for workers and machinery.

Excavation for Wesley Tower at Daniels City Centre, image by Forum contributor Jasonzed

Excavation will be followed by the installation of a crane and the forming of the first elements of the foundations and parking levels. It will take many months to get back up to grade, before we can look forward to the rise of the building's five-storey podium and 38-storey tower above.

Wesley Tower, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

Residents of Wesley Tower will have access to a selection of indoor and outdoor amenities to be known as "Club W", housed in and atop the podium. The basketball hoop is one of several amenities aimed at residents who want to work up a sweat.

Gym amenity at Daniels' Wesley Tower, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation

The podium is set to connect with a future 19-storey second phase tower, adding even more density to The Daniels Corporation's 23-acre Daniels City Centre community. Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the Wesley Tower, 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.

With two phases complete and the third phase topped out at 29 storeys, Urban Capital's River City development continues to transform the northeast edge of Toronto's burgeoning West Don Lands area. To add to those buildings, new images now show the start of construction for the community's fourth phase, a 13-storey condominium development named 'Harris Square' in reference to is address on Lawren Harris Square, a new street named for the Group of Seven painter.

River City 3 (background) and shoring at Harris Square, image by Forum contributor skycandy

Shoring is now underway at the site of the 13-storey condominium development designed by Montreal-based Saucier + Perrotte Architects and Toronto's ZAS Architects. Crews and machinery from Deep Foundations arrived onsite in late January, starting the process of installing the site's below-grade earth retention system.

Shoring at Harris Square, image by Forum contributor skycandy

Harris Square will build upon the avant-garde architectural dialogue created by the two existing and one under construction phase of development. Discussed in an earlier article covering the project's later stages of planning, the project's design makes use of materials including smoked glazing, cast in place concrete, and black metal panelling.

Facing north towards Harris Square, image courtesy of Urban Capital

Upon completion, Harris Square will add another 154 condominium units to the emerging neighbourhood, while improving Eastern Avenue and Lower River Street with the addition of 227 m² of new retail space.

Facing west towards Harris Square, image courtesy of Urban Capital

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.

This instalment of Growth to Watch For continues our journey through Toronto from where we left off in the last instalment, at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor. Covering a 30 km² area, we'll track the active and planned developments west along Dupont and then follow Dundas through The Junction, swing back east on St. Clair, then north on Spadina to Eglinton, before returning west and wrapping up at Keele Street and Eglinton.

Map outlining the area covered, image retrieved via Apple Maps

Moving north a few blocks from the last instalment's endpoint, we arrive at 1000 Bathurst Street. Here, construction is underway on a four-storey apartment building with 14 units by developer Paulo Oh. The latest construction photos show that some steel structural supports now rise at the slow-moving site.

1000 Bathurst Street, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Continuing north on Bathurst, we pass under the rail corridor and make a right at Bridgman, following it and Macpherson over to 200 Madison Avenue where we find the second project on our route. A 2015 announcement from Mayor John Tory kickstarted development of an affordable housing building to be known as Madison View. The project, designed by McKnight Charron Limited Architects for Madison View Homes Inc. will bring 82 affordable rental units to a site just north of the CPR tracks from Dupont. Construction commenced in late 2016, and the project's website indicates that applications for the affordable units will begin to be accepted this coming September.

Rendering of Madison View, image courtesy of Madison View Homes Inc.

Continuing east on Macpherson, we follow Davenport south back under the tracks to Dupont, where we turn west. Pas Spadina on the north side is the site of 328 Dupont. This two-tower proposal from Freed Developments was heard at the OMB in 2017. Previously proposed at 15 and 29 storeys (as seen below), then reduced to 9 and 19 storeys in 2016, its height and closeness to the active rail corridor were cited as two reasons for refusal. Issued in late 2017, the OMB decision will allow a building as high as 12 storeys here, taking this project off of the table for the time being.

328 Dupont development sign, image by Forum contributor ProjectEnd

Two blocks further west is Tridel's Bianca Condos at 420 Dupont, between Albany and Howland Avenues. The 9-storey, Teeple Architects-designed condominium development started marketing last spring, and following a successful run of sales, the site is now being cleared in advance of the start of shoring and excavation. Expect construction here to continue throughout 2018 and on into 2019.

Excavator at the site of Tridel's Bianca Condos, image by Forum contributor ADRM

Another two blocks to the west, just across Bathurst Street, plans are advancing for Lifetime Developments' 500 Dupont, a 9-storey residential building with 145 units. After a 2016 redesign and a Site Plan Approval application, the project was presented to the local community during a May 2017 open house. The Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Site Plan Approval required for the project's start are all currently under review.

500 Dupont Street, image retrieved from submission to City of Toronto

One door west of the 500 Dupont site, a plan for a 3-storey mixed-use development at 524 Dupont has sat dormant for almost two years, with no new information following a 2016 application for Site Plan Approval submitted with the City.

Future site of 524 Dupont Street, image retrieved via Google Maps

Moving another few blocks to the west on Dupont brings us past Christie Street, where demolition has recently cleared the site for RioCan's 740 Dupont Street. Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects, the new 9-storey building will contain 210 rental units and ground floor retail. In December 2017, application for Site Plan Approval was made. Construction is expected to proceed throughout 2018 and into 2019.

740 Dupont Street, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

Continuing west on Dupont past Shaw Street, Tridel is working through the planning approvals process to redevelop a Sobeys supermarket at 840 Dupont Street with a mixed-use building designed by Turner Fleischer Architects. The proposal is for a 9-storey building with 304 residential units, office space, and a replacement of the Sobeys. Like 500 Dupont, an updated version of the project was presented to the local community during a May 2017 open house and is still under review by City staff. 

840 Dupont Street, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

Four blocks to the west, just past Dovercourt, a plan for seven linked three-storey freehold townhomes at 1025 Dupont was resubmitted for Site Plan Approval at the end of 2017. Now known as Piano Towns, the George Popper Architect-designed project has begun accepting registrations and is expected to go into sales this year.

Piano Towns, image via pianotowns.com

Another few blocks west on Dupont brings us to the site of a new All Canadian Self-Storage facility, under construction at 1120 Dupont, just past Bartlett Avenue. Site clearing began in late 2016, with plans resubmitted to the City in May 2017. A photo update captured in the final days of 2017 shows excavation and a tower crane in place for the six-storey, JH Rust Architects-designed building.

All Canadian Self-Storage site at 1120 Dupont, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Reaching Dufferin Street, we come to the site of the Galleria Mall, where Freed Developments and ELAD Canada are working on a major mixed-use redevelopment known for the moment as Reimagine Galleria master-planned by Urban Strategies and Hariri Pontarini Architects. The proposal has been evolving since initially proposed back in 2016, with the latest version envisioning 8 towers ranging in height between 19 and 35 storeys. A December 2017 community consultation confirmed that all building designs are purely conceptual at this point, and multiple firms are expected to be included during the final design process.

Looking north to the Galleria Mall redevelopment, revised scheme, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Diverting south on Dufferin, a fire, a rebranding, and other obstacles have kept construction of Sanctuary Lofts at 1183 Dufferin lagging behind schedule. A late 2017 photo update shows that the conversion of the former Dufferin St. Presbyterian Church is once again active, with a scaffold erected around the building's main facade. Expect construction here to continue well into the year.

Sanctuary Lofts, November 2017, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Returning to Dupont and moving west again, we arrive at Lansdowne Avenue. At the intersection's northeast corner, a down-at-the-heels coffee shop was recently shuttered, and is expected to be redeveloped with a new residential building in the coming years. At the northwest corner, Neudorfer Corporation recently completed Fuse and Fuse2 condos, adding density and new retail to the neighbourhood. North of Fuse and the adjacent rail corridor, Neudorfer is developing a site on Foundry Avenue with the official address of 980 Lansdowne. Plans here call for a trio of  Gabriel Bodor Architect-designed towers with over 1,000 rental units. An SPA application was submitted early in 2017, followed by an updated application for OPA and rezoning in November.

980 Lansdowne, image via submission to City of Toronto

Returning to Dupont, we cross west under the GO Barrie rail corridor and arrive at Campbell Avenue where demolition cleared the southeast corner in 2017. A resubmitted application for Site Plan Approval in late 2017 updated previous plans for 299 Campbell Avenue, a mixed-use rental building with 289 units. The new plan from TAS and Teeple Architects seeks a 15-storey building rising 47 metres, with retail and a relocated local Toronto Public Library branch fronting onto Dupont.

299 Campbell Avenue, image retrieved via submission to City of Toronto

Diverting north onto Symington Avenue, just north of the rail corridor, brings us to another proposed redevelopment site. In 2016 YYZed Project Management proposed 386-394 Symington Avenue as two 17-storey residential buildings and two rows of 3-storey townhomes. The AJ Tregebov Architects-designed plan was resubmitted in early 2017 as a single 24-storey tower with a reduced unit count and an added park space. The project was appealed to the OMB last year due to Council's failure to respond to the application within 120 days. The City's planning department recommends that Council send staff to oppose the proposal, which is due up for a full OMB hearing in October. 

South elevation for 386-394 Symington Avenue, image retrieved via submission to City of Toronto

Reversing to head south on Symington we pass Dupont and come to Wallace Avenue and turn west, arriving at another church conversion project—Windmill Developments Group's Arch Lofts—just wrapping up. The Caricari Lee Architects-designed project incorporates a former Seventh Day Adventist Church with new construction. Residents have begun to populate the building's 42 condominium units. 

Arch Lofts as seen in late November 2017, image by Forum contributor drum118

We follow Perth Avenue south then turn west on Ernest Avenue, where we find Heritage Towns On The Trail under construction. An earlier version of the plan from Montevallo Development Corporation and Neudorfer had already received approval from Toronto City Council, but a revised plan was passed by Council just yesterday. Construction at this site will continue through the year.

Heritage Towns on the Trail under construction in November, image by Forum contributor drum118

Returning to Dupont via Perth, we move west again, crossing under the GO Kitchener rail corridor and emerging where Dupont meets Dundas Street. Here, a late 2017 application to the City is seeking rezoning for an 8-storey, architectsAlliance-designed condominium development at 2639 Dundas West. The project by Gairloch Developments—currently under review by City staff—would add 110 condominium and townhome units to the neighbourhood.

2639 Dundas West, image via submission to City of Toronto

A block to the northwest at 2720 Dundas West, another 2017 proposal from Slate Asset Management and Globizen Developments is seeking rezoning for a 12-storey, 173-unit residential development called Junction House. The superkül-designed building is under review by City staff.

Junction House at 2720 Dundas West, image via submission to City of Toronto

Passing the 2017-completed DUKE Condos and moving west of Keele Street we arrive at Pacific Avenue and the site of a proposal for 2978 Dundas West. Plans for the rental building from SharpWise Investments and RAW Design moved through the planning process during 2017. A January 2018 resubmission for rezoning increases the proposed height from 7 to 8 storeys, while the addition of three rental units brings the unit count up to 87.

2978 Dundas West, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Moving west, a smaller scaled development is being planned at 3260 Dundas West, one block shy of Runnymede. To be known as Deco Towns, the four-storey project by Terra Firma Homes and Bernard Watt Architect was originally submitted for Site Plan Approval in 2016. The 9-unit townhome development was resubmitted with revisions last May, a Notice of Approval Conditions was issued by the City in August, and purchaser registrations have begun.

2016 iteration of 3260 Dundas West, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

Moving west of Runnymede, Terra Firma Homes is working on another project in the area, this one a joint venture with Habitat For Humanity at 3385 Dundas Street West. Submitted for rezoning back in 2016 as an 8-storey TACT Architecture-designed building with 123 residential units, including eight affordable units for low-income families, it was resubmitted for SPA last September with some revisions. Now 7 storeys with 131 rental units, the latest documents show that AJ Tregebov Architects and YYZed Project Management have become involved in the project. A building permit application was filed last month, and is currently under review.

3385 Dundas West, image via submission to City of Toronto

Continuing west to just pas Scarlett Road, we reach 3775 Dundas West, the westernmost point in this instalment. The 12-storey, 293-unit condominium development by TAS and Teeple was resubmitted in June 2017 and received approval from City Council a few weeks later. There is no indication on TAS' website yet as to when they may proceed with this building.

Rendering of 3775 Dundas Street West, image courtesy of Teeple Architects

Doubling back one block we cross under the CP Milton corridor via Scarlett Road, then make an immediate turn onto St. Clair, beginning an eastbound leg on our journey. We soon arrive at the former Danier Leather building at 2650 St. Clair West. Purchased by Dunpar Developments for $12 million back in 2015, the building is being re-clad and converted into an office condominium project, to be known as The Shoppes on Scarlett. Construction here should complete in 2018.

The Shoppes on Scarlett, January 2018, image by Marcus Mitanis

Continuing east on St. Clair a short distance, a 2016 proposal for three low-rise commercial buildings at 2575 St Clair was resubmitted for SPA in November. Known as St. Clair Crossing, the Petroff Partnership Architects-designed plan—developed by Dream Unlimited’s ‘Dream Centres’ commercial development arm—calls for two single-storey commercial buildings and a two-storey office building.

2575 St Clair West, image via dream.ca

A short distance to the east, the Ken Shaw Lexus Toyota dealership at 2336 St. Clair West is being expanded. Last spring, a new building opened on site to serve as the rebuilt Lexus dealership, while another expansion to the west will open as the new Toyota wing later this year.

Ken Shaw Lexus Toyota expansion as seen in September, image via Google Street View

Immediately east of the dealership, a proposal from Marlin Spring Developments for 2306 St. Clair evolved through 2017. A resubmission late in the year brought renderings of the 11-storey Graziani + Corazza Architects-designed condominium development, set to contain 257 units. The proposed rezoning is currently under review by City staff.

2306 St Clair, image via submission to City of Toronto

To the south of this proposal, a short detour brings us to 87 Ethel Avenue where a plan from Red Eagle Enterprises for the disused railside site was submitted in early 2017. Seeking rezoning and a City redesignation of the site as a regeneration area, Red Eagle wants to construct five buildings with 1,255 residential units, retail and office uses, and medical suites. In October, a resubmission updated the Sol-Arch-designed plan made up of connecting volumes, ranging in height from 7 to 19 storeys. With the resubmission now under review, the site was recently put up for sale.

87 Ethel, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Following West Toronto Street to Keele northbound, we turn east on Lloyd Avenue, where an OPA application for the mixed-use JunXion Condos project has idled following developer Stanton Renaissance's having been put into receivership. The site and its planning proposal were reportedly sold in 2017 to Berkeley and Carlyle for $14.85 million. No mention of the project appears on the website of either developer, while no progress is apparent in the planning process, so it is not known if the will resurface in 2018.

The JunXion Condos, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Returning to St Clair, we cross eastbound under the GO Kitchener corridor and after a couple of blocks come to Scoop 2, a follow-up to the next project. The proposal from Graywood Developments was submitted in March 2017, seeking SPA for a 12-storey, SMV Architects-designed building with ground floor retail and 274 condominiums above. Marketing of this project has not yet begun.

Scoop 2, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Across Osler Street to the immediate east, ground was broken for Graywood Developments' SCOOP back in October, and shoring and excavation kicked into high gear before the dust could settle. The mixed-use 6-storey, 72-unit condominium building by SMV Architects will be under construction throughout 2018.

October 2017 ground breaking for Scoop, image by Arthur Mola

Across the street to the north, the St. Clair/Silverthorn Toronto Public Library branch closed last year to begin a rebuild with a new design by G. Bruce Stratton Architects. Construction here will continue throughout 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2020.

Rendering of the Silverthorne Library, image courtesy of Bruce Stratton Architects

Several blocks further east, a 2016 SPA for a three-storey MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects-designed Shoppers Drug Mart at 1233 St Clair West received approval last year, though an OMB appeals process added unexpected costs to the project, leading to Shoppers Drug Mart’s sale of the rezoned property to Stafford Developments. There is no word yet as to whether the project will proceed as a commercial building, or if it will be resubmitted with a modified proposal which could include residential.

Rendering of 1233 St Clair West, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

About a kilometre east, developer Main and Main filed a proposal last year, seeking SPA for a 12-storey rental development at 908 St. Clair West, designed by TACT Architecture and containing 151 rental units. A report in late 2017 revealed that a bidding war broke out to purchase Main and Main’s real estate portfolio, which was won by the team of Trinity Development Group Inc. and Timbercreek Asset Management Inc. It is not yet known how this purchase will affect Main and Main's various projects being planned in the region, though we expect to learn more this year.

908 St. Clair West, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Immediately across Alberta Avenue to the east, we find another Main and Main project in planning at 898-900 St. Clair Avenue West. The site of the 12-storey, Quadrangle-designed development was cleared at the time of our 2017 Growth To Watch For covering this area. Since then, a refined submission for SPA has been filed, increasing the rental unit count up to 123, though details about who will lead the redevelopment are unclear following the aforementioned sale of Main and Main's portfolio.

898-900 Saint Clair Avenue West, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Another few blocks to the east, the project formerly known as Homes of St. Clair West was sold off to Worsley Urban Partners following the bankruptcy of previous developer Urbancorp. The old plan for a 9-storey mixed-use project by TACT Architecture has been updated with a resubmitted SPA in May 2017, now set to rise 8 storeys with a plan by RAW Design, and renamed Eight Forty on St. Clair. The project has since begun to accept registrations, and the sales centre has been updated to reflect the new ownership and branding.

Eight Forty on St. Clair, image courtesy of Worsley Urban Partners

Just shy of one kilometre east, a brief diversion north on Vaughan Road brings us to the site of Oben Flats St Clair West, a 10-storey rental apartment, designed by superkül. Forming for the project was just finishing up at the end of 2017, and has since completed. With work now underway on enclosing the structure, we expect to see this project completed later this year.

Oben Flats St. Clair West as seen in late December, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Returning to St. Clair and moving two streets east to Bathurst, we arrive at the site of Goldman Group and Lash Group of Companies' The Barrington Condos, the third property north of the corner. The 18-storey Richmond Architects-designed condominium tower made quite a bit of progress in 2017, including the completion of excavation, the start of forming, and the tower's rise above street level. Construction here will continue through 2018.

The Barrington rises above grade in September 2017, image by Craig White

Across Bathurst to the east, a new development was recently proposed for the site of a 2013-demolished gas station at the northeast corner of Bathurst and St. Clair. KingSett Capital's proposal for 1467 Bathurst surfaced in the final days of 2017, seeking rezoning to allow three Quadrangle-designed residential towers rising to 30-storey heights.

1467 Bathurst Street, image via submission to City of Toronto

At the intersection's southeast corner, Reserve Properties' Rise Condos is topped out at a height of 23 storeys, and practically fully clad. This Graziani + Corazza Architects-designed condominium development's 300 new residential units will be taking in residents and retail tenants part-way through year.

Rise Condos as seen in late December, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Just south of Rise Condos, the Toronto Public Library's Wychwood branch is set to undergo an expansion and renovation project led by Shoalts and Zaback Architects. The two-storey addition will also house expanded space for the adjacent Wells Hill Lawn Bowling Club. Plans for the project evolved in 2017, and in January, 2018, a resubmission for SPA was filed with the City. According to the library's website, construction will commence this year.

Toronto Wychwood Library Expansion, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Back up to St. Clair, we move east and pass by Madison Homes and Fieldgate' Kirkor Architects-designed ZIGG Condos. The 11-storey building is structurally complete, and crews are in the process of finishing up exterior envelope installation and working on interior spaces. Construction here will wrap up during 2018. 

Zigg Condos, image courtesy of Madison Homes

Across the street to the north and a few steps east, a plan to redevelop 200 St Clair West by Stafford Developments was appealed to the OMB in 2015, with mediation and hearings wrapping up in 2017. It was revealed partway through the year that Stafford had pre-sold the developed site to North Drive Investments on the condition of the plans receiving an OMB approval. The go-ahead received, North Drive brought a new Ar Deco-inspired design by architect Richard Wengle to market as One Forest Hill. Hoarding was recently installed around the site, indicating we will not have to long wait much before this project begins construction. 

One Forest Hill, image courtesy of North Drive

Another two blocks east, just past Avenue Road, work began in late 2016 on Blue Diamond Condos, a development by Camrost-Felcorp, Diamond Corp, and Whitecastle Investments. The 2016 demolition of the heritage Deer Park United Church's south end cleared the way for excavation, which is now wrapping up. Preserved by ERA Architects, remnants of the church's north half will be incorporated into the building's St. Clair frontage, framing a courtyard with the 26-storey Diamond Schmitt-designed tower to the south. Construction will continue throughout 2018 and into 2019.

Excavation at Blue Diamond Condos, image by Forum contributor drum118

Retracing our steps one block back to Avenue Road, we divert south a few blocks, reaching the site of Brandy Lane Homes' The Davies. The 36-unit, 9-storey boutique condo by SMV Architects was in sales through the first half of 2017. The first signs of activity came in mid-2017 when the project’s sales centre was cleared from the future development site and relocated nearby. Most recently, a shoring permit was issued in December, giving the go-ahead for the start of construction.

Rendering of The Davies, image courtesy of Brandy Lane Homes

Turning around and heading north on Avenue Road, construction is underway a short distance north of St. Clair at the site of 609 Avenue Road by Madison Homes and the State Building Group. The 19-storey condo tower designed by Richmond Architects had its tower crane installed back in September, and forming will continue through 2018.

609 Avenue Road as seen in September, image by Craig White

Turning west onto Heath Street, then north on Spadina Road, we arrive at a proposed 9-storey, Giannone Petricone Associates-designed development at 390 Spadina Road. Proposed to contain ground floor retail and 46 condominium units, the project was rejected by City Council in July 2016, and appealed to the OMB later that year. With two pre-hearings held last year, the next steps will be determined at two upcoming mediation sessions in February, with a full hearing scheduled for mid-April.

Rendering of 390 Spadina Road, image retrieved via submission to the City of Toronto

Continuing north through Forest Hill Village, we arrive at 467-469 Spadina Road, located at the northeast corner of Spadina and Coulson. Here, a four-storey walk-up apartment building formerly known as The Monticito has sat vacant for years. Last year some movement finally came about when a website was unveiled for a new plan by AB8 Group and Richard Wengle Architect Inc. called 469 Spadina. What was once 17 apartments is proposed to be converted into just two homes, each in excess of 8,000 ft².

469 Spadina, image via 469spadina.com

Three blocks to the north, we turn west on Burton Road before reaching Bathurst Street and continuing north another two blocks, arriving at 1677 Bathurst Street. Here, Distrikt Developments is planning a four-storey residential building by RAW Design. This development was appealed to the OMB due to Council's failure to respond within 120 days. A first OMB pre-hearing was held in December, and will be followed up in February by a second pre-hearing.

1677 Bathurst Street, image via submission to City of Toronto

A few hundred metres north of 1677 Bathurst, construction is in full swing at the site of the Holy Blossom Temple at 1950 Bathurst, where a Diamond Schmitt Architects-designed expansion is being built. The first phase of construction is currently on track to be completed this summer, with the second phase slated to begin after a brief pause in construction to raise further funds.

Construction at the Holy Blossom Temple, image via ucitonline.com/holyblossomtemple

Directly across Dewbourne Avenue to the north, plans continue to evolve for Eldebron Holdings' planned residential development at 1996 Bathurst. The six-storey, Quadrangle-designed plan was resubmitted for ZBA last October with a series of revisions, including a reduction in the number of proposed suites and refinements to the building’s design.

1996 Bathurst, image via submission to City of Toronto

Moving north to Eglinton, a Quadrangle-designed proposal at 859 Eglinton West—now in the hands of CentreCourt Developments—was appealed to the OMB in 2017 following Council's failure to respond in time. The 16-storey, 253-unit condo development is due for an OMB prehearing this March, with a full hearing scheduled to follow in July.

Rendering of 859 Eglinton West, image courtesy of Quadrangle

The 859 Eglinton West site mentioned above is flanked by future entrances to the Crosstown LRT's Forest Hill Station, and is currently being used as a staging area for the new transit station. With the line planned to open in 2021, much of the current activity for Forest Hill Station is happening below grade and out of view to passersby. The first concrete roof slab was poured above the station's excavated pit late last year.

Moving west several hundred metres brings us to the next Crosstown station being built at Allen Road. Cedarvale Station—currently know as Eglinton West station—will be one of the line's two connecting points with the Line 1 subway. Above ground utility and piling work and below-grade forming are in full swing. Upcoming work in 2018 will include roof slab concrete pours, the realignment of Allen Road's north and south approaches, and additional shoring.

Cedarvale Station, November 2017, image via Metrolinx

Another half-kilometre to the west, Oakwood Station will bring rapid transit to the Five Points and Belgravia neighbourhoods upon opening in 2021. Excavation of the station here is wrapping up, and will be followed by a mining phase, with the help of a specialized overhead crane. The under-construction Crosstown LRT station is already fostering intensification in the surrounding blocks. More on that below.

Oakwood Station, November 2017, image via Metrolinx

Diverting steps south of Eglinton, a proposal at 601 Oakwood surfaced in the final days of 2017 for a mixed-use building containing three commercial units and 6 residential units. Developed by Katalyst Real Estate Corp and designed by Sol-Arch, the project's recent SPA submission is now under review.

601 Oakwood, image via submission to City of Toronto

Back on Eglinton, and just west of Oakwood, construction of Empire Midtown, a 16-storey condominium project is underway at 1603 Eglinton West. The site of the Richmond Architects-designed development for Empire Communities is now being excavated, with construction set to continue throughout 2018 and beyond.

Excavation at Empire Midtown as seen in December, image by Forum contributor PMT

Continuing west brings us to Dufferin Street, where the Fairbank Crosstown LRT Station is under construction. Named for the neighbourhood it will serve upon opening in 2021, the station site saw extensive shoring work through 2017, setting the stage for excavation to begin this year. 

Diverting north on Dufferin Street for a few blocks takes us to the site of Royalpark Homes' The Bean Condominiums. An apparent construction start for the 5-storey, Romanov Romanov-designed building in late 2016 was short-lived, with the developer resubmitting a revised proposal seeking rezoning for a 9-storey version of the project last summer. Meanwhile, Royalpark is marketing the new floors on the project's website and advertising the coming start of construction in anticipation of approval.

The revised plan for The Bean, image via submission to City of Toronto

Across the street to the west, a 2016 plan for an Audi auto service centre 2462 Dufferin evolved in 2017. The two-storey, 9.4-metre-tall, 1,982.4 m² proposal was resubmitted for SPA in October 2017, and is currently under review by City staff.

2462 Dufferin, image via submission to City of Toronto

Returning south to Eglinton and moving west again, we arrive at the future site of the Oben Flats Castlefield Design District residential rental project at 2280 Eglinton West, just west of Caledonia Avenue. The seven-storey, 29-unit plan that appeared in last year's instalment for this area has been replaced by an eight-storey, 122-unit version—once again by architects superkül— now that Oben Flats has purchased more property for the project. In December, 2017, a resubmission was received by the City for the larger rezoning and SPA. 

Oben Flats Castlefield Design District, image via submission to City of Toronto

Just steps to the west on Eglinton, Caledonia Crosstown LRT Station is under construction. Excavation for the station was begun last year, and a crane is now in place. A breakthrough into the bored tunnels further below is one of the next major milestones planned for early this year. The station will also provide an interchange with the Barrie GO line, providing the area will a quick link to Union Station as well.

Caledonia Station, November 2017, image via Metrolinx

Moving further west again, our final stop in this instalment is Keelesdale Station on the Crosstown LRT at Keele Street. While there is still plenty left to do before the 2021 opening, work that had been obstructing that stretch of Eglinton wrapped up in 2017, being the first station on the line to complete roadway operations. Below grade construction will be a large component of the work being carried out here in 2018.

We will be continuing further west on Eglinton Avenue in the next instalment of our Growth To Watch For series, appearing next week. Have any questions about the developments in this article? You can click on the projects' database files, linked below, for more information. Want to share your thoughts about the developments? Feel free to leave a comment in the space provided below, or join in the ongoing conversation in the associated Forum threads.

Toronto's newest piece of road infrastructure entered service just over a week ago, when Mayor John Tory and Councillor Jaye Robinson opened the Gardiner Expressway's new Lower Simcoe off-ramp. In today's Photo of the Day, submitted by Forum contributor pav, we are shown an evening view of traffic exiting the new ramp.

Gardiner Expressway's new Lower Simcoe off-ramp, image by Forum contributor pav

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. 

Subway closings aggravate Yonge and Eglinton driving difficulties; Parkdale residents protest ‘loophole’ allowing landlords to drive up rent; Can Toronto turn a patch of urban wasteland into Amazon’s jewel?; and more news:

Subway closings aggravate Yonge and Eglinton driving difficulties (Globe and Mail)

Parkdale residents protest ‘loophole’ allowing landlords to drive up rent (Toronto Star)

Toronto’s relief line still nowhere in sight as crowding sparks safety concerns on TTC (Metro News)

Doug Ford kicks off campaign for Ontario PC party leadership with rally (Globe and Mail)

Crowding on the TTC (Steve Munro)

Fixer-upper: Can Toronto turn a patch of urban wasteland into Amazon’s jewel? (Globe and Mail)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

JW Marriott Brand to Make Tampa Debut in $3 Billion Masterplanned Development (Tampa)

New Rental and Retail Approved for Vancouver's Punjabi Market (Vancouver)

Beljan Development Introducing Mixed Use to Former Downtown YMCA (Edmonton)

Rocky Ridge Now Home to World's Biggest YMCA (Calgary)

Following the successful introduction of the first phase, 45-storey tower in Tridel and Rowntree Enterprises' Auberge On The Park community, Tridel is moving forward with marketing of the 29-storey Auberge II. Matching the design of its Graziani + Corazza-designed sibling, Auberge II will offer 215 suites ranging in size from 542 to 2,207 ft², priced starting from the mid-$400,000s.

Auberge II, image courtesy of Tridel

Residents of the 29-storey Auberge II will share with the first phase the II BY IV Design-appointed amenities found in the connecting podium. We took a closer look at the amenities back in November. They will be complemented by a 2,580 m² park framed by the towers.

Park planned for Auberge On The Park site, image courtesy of Tridel

The Auberge on the Park site plan shows Auberge II poised so that north and south views from suites will be long, looking between the neighbouring Carrington on the Park towers to the north toward the Oak Ridges Morraine, while south views will extend over the lush Don Valley toward Toronto's Downtown Skyline, framed by phase 1 and future phase 3. 

Auberge On The Park site plan, image courtesy of Tridel

With zoning plans of the development recently settled, the City reviewing the site plan application, and registration in full swing for the second phase, 2018 is set to be a big year for the former Inn on the Park site.

You can find more project facts and renderings by visiting our database file for Auberge, 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.

Lifetime Developments' latest project to hit the Toronto condominium market, Panda Condominiums will soon rise on Edward Street just west of Yonge and north of Dundas. The 30-storey Turner Fleischer Architects-designed condominium tower will introduce 560 units to the area, the suite layouts newly released.

Panda Condominiums, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

Panda is offering a wide selection of floor plans, ranging from junior one-bedroom+study units all the way up to three-bedroom layouts. Towards the smaller end of this scale, layout P458-B is a 485 ft² studio + study layout. This layout includes a 34 ft² balcony offering east exposure, and can be found on levels 6 through 9 of the tower.

Layout P458-B at Panda Condos, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

Stepping up in size, layout P712 offers a two-bedroom plan with main and ensuite bathrooms, sized at 712 ft². Located on levels 5 through 27, this layout includes a 111 ft² balcony spanning the full width of the layout, with a south-facing exposure. 

For those looking for a little more than two bedrooms, layout P727 is a two bedroom + den layout plan with 727 ft² of space, as well as an 88 ft² balcony with a south exposure. Found on floors 5 through 27, the layout is centred around a kitchen/dining area, offering two bathrooms including an ensuite serving the master bedroom.

Layout P727 at Panda Condos, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

Among the largest units available at Panda Condos, three bedroom layout P1035-A is sized at 1,035 ft². Housed on levels 10 through 27, this layout is notable for its 163 ft² balcony with south-facing views, accessed via a bedroom and a combined open-concept kitchen/dining/living room.

Layout P1035-A at Panda Condos, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

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.

Since mid-2017, a $100 million renewal project has been active at Toronto's 1975-built Manulife Centre at Bay and Bloor, set to expand the lower levels of the complex's office tower with new retail and restaurant space. Interior gutting of many of the previous ground floor retailers and demolition of the exterior walls and surrounding landscaping commenced in June, and is now largely complete. Most recently, the first steel structural elements of the Moed de Armas & Shannon and B+H Architects-designed addition have materialized at the corner of Bloor and Balmuto.

Steel structural elements at Bloor and Balmuto, image by Jack Landau

The two-storey steel frame wrapping around the western corner of Bloor and Balmuto marks the first visible sign of the new addition. Images captured over the weekend indicate that the addition's steel skeleton is being assembled at its full two-storey height, and will be extended from this corner to the south and to the west. As the new structure takes shape, removal of the old base's concrete slabs continues, while support work for the addition continues behind the scenes on the P1 and concourse levels.

Steel structure for the Manulife Centre addition, image by Jack Landau

Upon completion in 2019, the Manulife Centre addition will introduce 35,000 ft² of new retail space, 50,000 ft² of which will become a Giannone Petricone-designed Eataly, the first Canadian location of the international Italian food hall chain. 

Manulife Centre addition, image courtesy of Manulife

New retail and the long-anticipated Eataly location will be joined by new lobby spaces for the office tower above, to feature interiors by GH+A Design. Surrounding the new addition, the sidewalks—despite being narrower—will still be wider than the average Toronto sidewalk, and the public realm design by B+H Architects may end up offering a better pedestrian experience, placing retailers closer to the street with the potential to foster a closer interaction between the complex and passersby.

Steel structure for the Manulife Centre addition, image by Jack Landau

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the Manulife Centre, 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.

In June 2015, Humbold Properties submitted plans for a 56-storey, 179.6 metre-high Kirkor Architects-designed condominium tower at 217 Adelaide West in Toronto's Entertainment District. A refusal report was adopted by the City that October, leading to a revised proposal appearing at the OMB the following summer. The second version of the project sought rezoning for a 47-storey purpose-built office tower and boutique hotel with a height of 166 metres and a 179 m² Privately Owned Publicly accessible Space (POPS) along Adelaide.

Following further discussions with City staff, the proposal has since been thoroughly reworked in a January 2018 resubmission. Residential is no longer being proposed, with just the office and hotel components from the 2016 plan retained. Reduced by 58.6 metres in height from the second version, the new version would rise 107.4 metres and 25 storeys.

Evolution of 217 Adelaide West, images via submissions to City of Toronto

With Kirkor still leading the project's design, the former neo-Brutalist and later flowing organic aesthetic have have been replaced with more ordered curves, ample glazed surfaces, and a four-tiered tower massing that tapers as it rises. Countering its lessened skyline impact from the height reduction, the revised proposal features vibrant colour accents, a rarity in the largely dichromatic Entertainment District.

217 Adelaide West, image via submission to City of Toronto

The 22,224 m² (239,221 ft²) building would consist of 13,923 m² (149,872 ft²) of office space, and 7,603 m² (81,839 ft²) spread across 192 hotel suites. 123 m² (1,328 ft²) of retail/commercial uses would be found at the ground level, fronting onto a POPS. The POPS proposed in the 2016 iteration has been upgraded from 179 m² up to 263 m², and is planned to include a public component.

Facing south at 217 Adelaide West, image via submission to City of Toronto

Five underground levels would house a mix of electrical, mechanical, lobby space, and parking for vehicles and bicycles. A total of 61 parking spaces would be provided, reduced from the 156 proposed in 2015, and the 87 sought in 2016. The parking component in the 2018 version includes 6 spaces on the P1 level, and the remaining 55 spaces within a 4-level fully automated garage on levels P2 to P5. 64 bicycle spaces would also be provided, reduced from the 423 provided in the initial proposal and the 84 proposed in 2016.

Facing southeast at 217 Adelaide West, image via submission to City of Toronto

An OMB pre-hearing conference is scheduled for March 9, 2018, to determine the next steps for this proposal.

Additional information and images, including renderings of the previous iterations, can be found in our database file, 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.

Toronto's tallest neighbourhood is about to get a whole lot taller. QuadReal made a splash back in December when they revealed their proposal for Commerce Court 3, a redevelopment of the Financial District site with a new 64-storey office tower and glass pavilion. The most exciting thing to hit the Financial District since Trump's name was dumped from the Adelaide Hotel, the eye-catching Commerce Court 3 (CC3) appeared before the distinguished Toronto Design Review Panel last week for its first run before the experts.

Rendering of Commerce Court 3 along Wellington Street, image courtesy of QuadReal.

The redevelopment would replace the two smaller buildings of 5 and 13-storeys in the four-building complex, while redesigning the connections between the existing buildings and renovating the underground PATH level. Designed by DIALOG and Hariri Pontarini Architects, the proposal includes public realm improvements from Claude Cormier + Associés, and would tie for the title of tallest office building in Canada, matching First Canadian Place at a height of 298.1 metres (978 feet). More details about the proposal can be found in our feature story, here, but for now, we will focus on the comments of the Panel.

Rendering of Commerce Court 3, image courtesy of QuadReal.

The issue of heritage conservation was central to much of the discussion around CC3, as the site's existing building stock plays an important role in Toronto's architectural history. The first building of the complex, Commerce Court North, was completed in 1931 by architects Darling & Pearson in the Art Deco style, and remained the tallest building in Canada for 31 years. Next, Modernist architect I.M. Pei developed a master plan for the site and constructed the remaining three buildings of Commerce Court West, South, and East in 1972, arranging them in a pinwheel configuration encircling a central public courtyard along with the North building. Finally, Zeidler Partnership Architects carried out renovations at the ground level from 1993-95 that enclosed the courtyard with vestibules connecting the buildings and reconfigured the retail below grade. All four structures are designated heritage buildings.

I.M. Pei's pinwheel master plan, image courtesy of QuadReal.

The proposed redevelopment would replace the South and East buildings, but aims to maintain the pinwheel configuration of Pei's master plan around a central courtyard. ERA Architects are leading the heritage interpretation of the new proposal, and justified the removal of the two buildings as a necessary evolution of the Financial District, citing the spirit of Pei's pinwheel configuration and the juxtaposition of old and new as ways in which the new building respects the heritage character of the site.

Aerial rendering of proposed Commerce Court, image courtesy of QuadReal.

Panelists were unconvinced by the presented heritage arguments and felt that more needed to be done to properly acknowledge the heritage qualities of the site. They lamented the loss of the two buildings, praising them as Modernist gems that captured the zeitgeist of the era, but they understood the economic environment that necessitates their replacement and were in general agreement that the new building proposed is of an acceptable quality that justifies demolition. However, they voiced serious concerns about the preservation of the pinwheel layout, claiming that the new proposal diminished these qualities that were present in Pei's master plan.

Proposed site plan of Commerce Court, image courtesy of QuadReal.

The spacing between the new tower and glass pavilion, and the reduced spacing between the new and old buildings, were criticized by the Panel, who claimed that the smaller gaps did not adequately replicate Pei's pinwheel scheme. The importance of the materiality of the existing buildings also came up in discussion, as the new buildings are much more transparent than Pei's more opaque stone-clad structures. ERA claimed that the materiality of the two buildings slated for demolition was not significant enough to merit heritage consideration.

Rendering of the Wellington Street frontage, image courtesy of QuadReal.

Panelists also pointed out that the central courtyard would be reduced in size to accommodate the new tower, and that the popular fountain at its centre would need to be shifted to a new location. They urged designers to come up with a solution that would maintain or maximize the size of the courtyard and preserve the fountain in situ.

Rendering of the new courtyard, image courtesy of QuadReal.

Several Panel members also encouraged designers to make the courtyard public, as the current proposal does not allow public access to the central space. While Zeidler's previous renovations enclosed the courtyard, the new proposal will be replacing all of the Zeidler additions, presenting the opportunity to reopen the courtyard as a publicly-accessible space.

View of the courtyard from the glass pavilion, image courtesy of QuadReal.

Aside from the critiques of the heritage considerations and the courtyard, Panelists were generally pleased with the proposal. They praised the landscape and streetscape improvements as a positive move, which would reconfigure the stairs along Bay Street and add planters and seating to the largely empty plazas around the buildings. They were also enthusiastic about the proposal to introduce skylights into the PATH system below, which they claimed would greatly improve the quality of the experience in the sprawling underground network.

Rendering of improved streetscape at the corner of King and Bay Streets, image courtesy of QuadReal.

In the end, Panel members were pleased overall with the proposal and voted unanimously for refinement of the current design. Given their critiques and comments, and the early stage of the planning process that CC3 is currently in, we can expect some design tweaks as the proposal moves forward.

Skyline rendering, image courtesy of QuadReal.

We will keep you posted with updates as this exciting proposal evolves, but in the meantime, you can get in on the discussion and tell us what you think by checking out the associated Forum thread, or by leaving a comment in the space provided on this page.

With just a few panels of glazing left to install, the curving exterior of Great Gulf's 76-storey One Bloor East is practically fully realized at Toronto's Yonge and Bloor intersection. In today's Photo of the Day, we are shown an acute angle view of the Hariri Pontarini-designed condominium tower's north facade over Bloor Street.

One Bloor East, 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. 

New ‘King for All’ group wants you to show some love to the King St. pilot project; Ryerson University to close O’Keefe house; Issues with subway raise questions about Toronto’s position as major hub; and more news:

New ‘King for All’ group wants you to show some love to the King St. pilot project (Toronto Star)

First, we take King Street, then we take midtown (Torontoist)

In photos: Five new art installations adorn Toronto’s waterfront (Globe and Mail)

January home sales in Greater Toronto Area down 22% from year ago (Global News)

Ryerson University to close O’Keefe house (Toronto Star)

Issues with subway raise questions about Toronto’s position as major hub (Globe and Mail)

Toronto council vote on Hydro secrecy befuddling, councillor says (Toronto Star)

Global news from our sister site, SkyriseCities.com:

Luxury Residential Redevelopment Gearing Up for Sales Launch in Upper West Side (New York)

Rafii Architects Designs 21-Storey Tower for 1810 Alberni Street (Vancouver)

Certus Project on South Calgary Spider Site Revised and Approved (Calgary)

Beljan Developments to Add Three Levels of Residential to Commercial Structure (Edmonton)

Last month we introduced Great Gulf's 357 King West, a 42-storey, Quadrangle-designed condominium tower planned for the southwest corner of King and Blue Jays Way in Toronto’s Entertainment District. As the rollout of marketing material continues, this month we are learning more about the building's amenity spaces, to feature interiors appointed by figure3 Interior Design and outdoor landscaping by Ferris + Associates Inc.

357 King West, image courtesy of Great Gulf

357 King West's amenities will be concentrated on the 3rd floor of the podium and the 42nd floor at the top of the tower. On level three, residents will have access to a fitness centre, a yoga studio, change rooms, a communal workspace area, and a sheltered, podium-top outdoor terrace with views overlooking the intersection of King and Blue Jays Way.

3rd floor amenity plan at 357 King West, image courtesy of Great Gulf

Renderings have been released for a few of the amenity offerings, including the fitness centre space shown below. The space offers ample natural light courtesy of floor-to-ceiling glazing, enhanced by mirrors and bright white finishes. A range of workout gear is shown, including treadmills and weight training equipment.

Gym at 357 King West, image courtesy of Great Gulf

Up top, the 42nd floor amenity will offers residents a gathering room, a social lounge, and a dining room with catering kitchen, all connected to a large outdoor roof terrace.

42nd floor amenity plan at 357 King West, image courtesy of Great Gulf

A rendering of the rooftop terrace hints at some of the impressive views to be had of the Entertainment District and surrounding cityscape, giving residents of all floors access to the same panoramas generally reserved for those living in penthouse units. 

Rooftop terrace at 357 King West, image courtesy of Great Gulf

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 using the field provided at the bottom of this page.

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) is one of the fastest-growing urban centres in York Region. With the VMC subway station and vivaNext Rapidway having opened in December 2017 and the bus terminal opening later this year, the area now includes a multi-service transit hub that’s designed to help people get to where they need to go fast and efficiently on transit.

These new transit improvements mark a significant step forward in connecting York Region’s urban growth centres. It’s the realization of the visions of York Region and the City of Vaughan—managing growth to create vibrant, pedestrian-friendly communities within walking distance of transit. 

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station, image courtesy of vivaNext

Placemaking

The development of VMC has also transformed a formerly quiet part of Vaughan into a new, urban, liveable community.

The new developments currently transforming this area located at Highway 7 and Millway Avenue are mixed-use, and include a community centre and public library, new condo developments, offices, as well as retail, dining and entertainment.

The new VMC development is true city-building on an epic scale, built on the foundation of strong transit connections. Not only does rapid transit transform how people move in Region, it changes how we live – for the better. Stronger economies, more jobs, and walkable, livable, desirable communities: it’s the driving force behind York Region’s Transportation Master Plan and the reason we build rapid transit. 

Socio-economic development

The 330,000 residents of the City of Vaughan and its 11,000 businesses will benefit for years to come from the VMC transit hub. By 2014, Vaughan expects to attract over 11,500 more jobs and grow by at least 25,000 people. 

In Vaughan, the Viva Rapidways are already paying dividends to the community with smart growth and economic stimulus, and by providing a foundation for walkable, livable and desirable communities. The attention to design elevates the aesthetic of the area, enhancing the City’s allure for developers, businesses and prospective residents. Healthy, multi-use residential development is beginning to flourish along the corridor. 

For example, Vaughan surpassed the $1 billion mark in building construction permits in eight out of the last 10 years. And in Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, over 7,000 new residential units are proposed or underway now for a total of 12,000 residential units expected by 2031. 

Great Cities and safe, welcoming communities all include great transit networks. Here in York Region we continue to build places people want to live, work, learn and play. For more information, check out vivanext.com.

The glittering yellow and orange signage of Toronto's iconic Honest Ed's is no more, as demolition clears the last remnants of the building to make way for Westbank's Mirvish Village community. A series of photos shared this morning in our Forum thread for the project, document the final teardown of the last sections of signage above the Bathurst and Bloor intersection.

Honest Ed's signage removal at Bathurst and Bloor, image by Forum contributor ckupr

The removal of the main Bathurst and Bloor signage follows the earlier careful removal of the former retailer's 30-by-60 foot sign from the corner of Markham and Bloor. It is now being restored to its original look by Orillia-based Pattison Sign Group, the same company that originally installed the signage back in 1984, and will eventually live on along the Victoria Street frontage of the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Though demolition has now removed the more prominent signage at Bathurst and Bloor, sections of it are being given away to private collectors by SpacingToronto.

Honest Ed's signage removal at Bathurst and Bloor, image by Forum contributor ckupr

As of last night, the former retailer's northeast edge at Bathurst and Bloor was all that remained of Honest Ed's. Throughout the morning, crews from Rafat General Contracting carried out some of the final elements of demolition when they removed the landmark sign.

Honest Ed's signage removal at Bathurst and Bloor, image by Forum contributor ckupr

Shortly before 10 AM, the last section of the sign's Bloor Street frontage came toppling down, leaving just a small section remaining to the south along Bathurst Street. Now, all that remains of Honest Ed's is a single-storey remnant at the corner of Bathurst and Bloor, and the site should be fully cleared within the coming days.

Honest Ed's signage removal at Bathurst and Bloor, image by Forum contributor ckupr

The Honest Ed's site is to be replaced by a new mixed-use community containing five rental towers, as well as low and mid-rise buildings and public spaces by Henriquez Partners Architects with architects of record Diamond Schmitt. Upon completion, the community's five towers—at heights of 13, 19, 24, 25, and 26 storeys—will bring over 800 new rental units to the area.

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.

Graywood Developments' Peter and Adelaide is one step closer to starting construction in Toronto's Entertainment District. Approved at Council in November, 2017, we last checked in on the status of the BBB Architects-designed condominium tower in early December, when it was reported that the project's almost 700 units had practically sold out. Later in December came a resubmission for Site Plan Approval (SPA) with updated documents.

Peter and Adelaide, image courtesy of Graywood Developments

The SPA submission includes various minor revisions, the plan remaining largely unchanged from earlier 2017 versions. 696 units are proposed within 19 and 47-storey tower volumes, the taller of which would reach a height of 152.3 metres above the intersection for which it is named. The units are coming in a mix of 55 studio units, 315 one-bedroom units, 256 two-bedroom units, and 69 three-bedroom units.

Podium of Peter and Adelaide, image courtesy of Graywood Developments

The infusion of residential density will be complemented at street level by 4,564 m² of retail space, as well as a Privately-Owned Public Space (POPS). Designed by landscape architects The MBTW Group, a pedestrian mews will hug the west side of the property and connect Adelaide Street West to an outdoor courtyard to the north. We took a closer look at the project's public realm in a previous article.

Pedestrian mews at Peter and Adelaide, image courtesy of Graywood Developments

Amenities i the building will be appointed by designers U31, including a communal co-working space, a gym with an outdoor yoga space, and a demonstration kitchen with an attached dining room. The building's signature amenity, however, is an outdoor rooftop pool atop the 19-storey south volume which is sure to be a major hit during warmer months.

Rooftop pool amenity at Peter and Adelaide, image courtesy of Graywood Developments

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.

Our Growth to Watch For series continues west from our trip along Dupont, St Clair, and Eglinton West as we venture into the northwest corner of the city, taking a look at development occurring throughout north Etobicoke, the western edge of North York, and Weston. It's a quieter area of the city development-wise, with projects often a couple of kilometres apart. Nevertheless, a variety of new projects of different uses and scales is on the way, and the area is in a good position for future development given transit projects in the area, with the Finch West LRT to break ground, the Crosstown LRT under construction, and plans forming for its extension westward along Eglinton to Pearson Airport.

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

Our journey begins at Eglinton and Black Creek Drive, arching west and north through Etobicoke before heading back east, and then south along Weston Road, where we will give an overview of all projects about to be completed, progressing through construction, or working their way through the various stages of the planning process.

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We start at the terminus of the Crosstown LRT, with the site for the new Mount Dennis Station at the corner of Eglinton Avenue and Black Creek Drive, along with the 'EMSF', now well into construction. In addition to connections with GO and bus routes, Mount Dennis Station will also be home to a maintenance and storage facility for the Crosstown vehicles. 2017 was a big year for the massive transit project, with the completion of tunnelling and the installation of the first rails taking place. A January 2018 flyover video from Metrolinx shows what's been accomplished here so far:

Heading west a couple of kilometres, past the Humber River and Scarlett Road, a proposal a couple block north of Eglinton at 45 La Rose Avenue could add a 7-storey residential infill building on a high-rise apartment site. Headed by Richview Developments and designed by Turner Fleischer Architects, the building would contain 187 new units while maintaining the existing 16-storey rental apartment tower on site. The developers have appealed the lack of a decision by the City to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), and the first pre-hearing comes up in April.

Rendering of 45 La Rose, image courtesy of Richview Developments.

Along Eglinton Avenue West, a series of developments are planned or are being built on easement lands that had been held by the City since the post-war era for the potential construction of an extension of Highway 403—known as the Richview Expressway—that would have transformed Eglinton into a highway between the 401 in the west to the planned Highway 400 extension through the Black Creek Valley in the east. During Rob Ford's time as Mayor, the lands were transferred to Build Toronto and sold off, the results of which are beginning to materialize in the open space along the avenue.

One such development to take advantage of the freed up space is a rather massive proposal by Lanterra Developments for the Plant World site at 4000 Eglinton, just east of Royal York Road, which would see a complex of five residential towers constructed measuring in at 33, 30, 27, 24 and 18 storeys. Designed by the IBI Group, the entire development would add roughly 1,900 new residential units with ground-level retail to the high-rise apartment neighbourhood. An October 27, 2017 OMB pre-hearing for the appealed plan was cancelled last year, and a mediation session was held on December 18, 2017 instead. While there has been no word yet on what was hammered out there, a settlement hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2018.

North elevation of 4000 Eglinton, image courtesy of Lanterra Developments.

Another kilometre and a half further west, Build Toronto and the Trinity Group are preparing plans to transform a suburban plaza with a plan called Richview Square. Named for this stretch of Eglinton's original moniker, the development combines land from the existing plaza (the back of which is seen in the image below) with the open land along Eglinton, and replaces most of the surface parking and open land with new mixed-use commercial/residential buildings. While a couple of community consultations took place in 2017, a submission has not yet been made to the City.

Looking southwest to Richview Square, image courtesy of Build Toronto

Immediately to the west of this coming proposal, is an active project by Shannex. Construction for a retirement residence at 4650 Eglinton, began in 2017. Named Parkland Eglinton, it is designed by the IBI Group and Robertson Simmons Architects, the two 9-storey buildings connected by a 5-storey central wing will contain 272 rental units geared toward seniors, with neighbourhood daycare located on the ground floor.

Rendering of Parkland Eglinton, image courtesy of Shannex.

Passing National Homes' recently completed The Townes of Richview at the intersection of Kipling and Eglinton avenues, we take a quick detour into the suburban neighbourhood south of Eglinton to find an infill proposal by Minto on the former Kipling Grove Public School site at 19 Glen Agar Drive. Located in the heart of a low-rise residential neighbourhood, the development by RN Design will replace the school and yard with 12 single detached houses, 72 rear-loaded 3-storey townhouses, 28 two-storey standard townhouses, and a 937 sq m (0.2 acre) public park, bringing a total of 112 new residential units to the area.

Site plan of 19 Glen Agar, image courtesy of Minto.

Jumping back up to Eglinton, another townhouse project located in the former expressway right-of-way is finishing up just west of Kipling Avenue. The first phase of Cityzen and Fernbrook Homes' Widdicombe & Eglinton Condos finished in 2016. Phase 2, also designed by TACT Architecture and RN Design, will be complete in 2018.

View of the completed Phase 1 of Widdicombe & Eglinton Condos from June 2016, image by Forum contributor salsa.

To the north and west across the 401 we get into the industrial areas of Rexdale where entirely different surroundings mean that different types of development are being proposed. West of Martin Grove on the north side of the 401, a 3-storey self-storage facility at 55 Kelfield is seeking site plan approval, and could rise beside the expressway in 2018. To the north of the huge 401/427 interchange, a couple of developments could add density to this low-rise office park this year. The first is a two-storey office building at 2 International Boulevard, splittable among multiple tenants, approved in November 2017 to replace the existing low-slung modernist two-storey office building on the site. The new building is larger, built closer to Carlingview Drive along the west side of the site, its surface parking lot to grow too, to accommodate more cars for the larger workspaces. 

View of the existing building at 2 International Boulevard, image via Google Maps.

On the south side of International Boulevard, one building east of Carlingview, a Zoning Bylaw Amendment and Site Plan Approval has been applied for from the City for a new Holiday Inn Express, mostly aimed at people needing accommodation close to Pearson International Airport. The 7-storey building designed by API Development Consultants / Saplys Architects was submitted to the City in August, 2017.

Holiday Inn Express at 25 International Boulevard, image courtesy of API Development Consultants / Saplys Architects

Heading north about 3 kilometres, the 684-acre site of the Woodbine Race Track fills the area between Highways 27 and 427 south of Rexdale Boulevard. The huge site is mostly empty or simple surface parking lots, and is an obvious candidate for redevelopment, with hundreds of acres available to intensify while preserving the horse racing facilities on half the property. Accordingly, the property has been the subject of development speculation over the past decade, as Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) seeks to increase revenues. Initially, a massive tourist destination dubbed Woodbine Live! was proposed, which would have created a retail, entertainment, restaurant, and nightclub district, with office and retail components built during a second phase. This proposal died in 2013 when WEG split with developers Cordish, but in 2015 Toronto City Council allowed an expansion of slot machines in the casino area to bolster the racetrack's income. In May 2017, a reworked scheme was submitted to the City, with revisions made in Dec 2017 at about the same time the new proposal appeared before the Design Review Panel. Still early in the design of the new version, the DRP wanted to see changes to the plan which proposes designated districts, each with a different theme that together create a mixed-use neighbourhood. Phase 1A of the master plan is a Gaming District—the only portion for which there is an active development application—which would see the construction of a casino and resort complex, complete with hotel and performance venue, connected directly to the existing Grandstand on its east side and stretching northward from the racetrack. Phases 1B through E include the Urban Village, a retail and restaurant district with a fine-grained road network that aims to create an urban shopping experience with ample storefronts and walkable streets. Office, entertainment, and commercial uses would also be included, ensuring a mixed-use district with visitors at all times of the day. This phase also includes plans for 'Woodbine Square', an outdoor plaza and gathering space that can be programmed to host events. The Urban Village encompasses the area west of Queen's Plate Drive to the edge of the racetrack, and north to Rexdale Boulevard. 

Concept plan for the centre of the new Woodbine complex, image via submission to the City of Toronto

To the east of Highway 27 and on the same side of Rexdale Boulevard is another August 2017 submission to the City for a 7-storey Holiday Inn, this one designed by n Architecture Inc. The building has 111 hotel suites plus amenities, and a free-standing restaurant pad close to Rexdale Boulevard, seen at lower right below.

Looking south to the Holiday Inn at 407 Rexdale Boulevard, image by n Architecture Inc.

On the north side of Rexdale Boulevard across from the race track is the Woodbine Centre. Last year we noted ambitious but not particularly polished plans to redevelop much of the surface parking lots at the mall by the owners. Since that time, no submission has been made to the City, and all traces of the plans have vanished. 

A condo development on the west side of Queen's Plate Drive across from the Woodbine Centre is moving toward its second phase. Royale Grand Woodbine Developments completed Phase 1 of The Lexington last year, and has submitted plans to the City for a 13-storey, 125-unit Phase 2 designed by Turner Fleischer Architects. Both buildings back on the greenery of the Humber Arboretum, one of Toronto's most expansive parks.

Elevations of Phase 2 of The Lexington, image courtesy of Royale Grand Woodbine Developments.

On the west side of the Humber Arboretum, Tribute Communities is now registering people for condo and freehold townhomes in a development called Humberwood Heights Townhome Residences. The three and four-storey blocks of homes are designed by Icon Architects.

Humberwood Heights Townhome Residences, designed by Icon Architects for Tribute Communities

Returning to Highway 27, on the east side north of the West Branch of the Humber, Etobicoke General Hospital is undergoing a major renovation and expansion. The project is headed by Infrastructure Ontario and designed by HDR Architects, and features a 250,000-square-foot (23,200-square-metre) 4-storey patient wing, along with a 17,000-square-foot (1,580-square-metre) renovation to the existing building. Mostly completed on the exterior now (as opposed to the naked steel frame seen in the image below under the crane), it is expected to open early in 2019. Coming up sooner is the new Etobicoke Wellness Centre, seen at the right of the image below. Opening in the Fall of this year, the 7-storey building will house mostly outpatient services.

Etobicoke General Hospital with additions rising in September 2017, image by UT Forum contributor Michael Ianni

Further north in Etobicoke, it's mostly quiet on the development scene, other than the expansion of a food processing plant in the Claireville area. If we follow Finch Avenue eastbound over to Albion Road, however, we run into more projects again. 

At 1155 Albion Road just west of Islington Avenue, a 5-storey seniors' residence is proposed for the south side, overlooking the West Humber parks and ravine. Designed by Romanov Romanov Architects, the building would offer 67 suites for the growing seniors pop

Looking west towards the 1155 Albion Road seniors residence, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Heading north on Islington Avenue, we cross over the Humber River into North York. A long block north of Finch is the site The Step Condos. In sales, Step is a 5-and-a-half-storey mid-rise condo by Terranata Developments. Designed by Jonathan Weizel Architect, the terraced building features a series of stepbacks bringing the scale of the building down towards the east where it backs onto a mature low-rise neighbourhood. Resubmitted to the City in 2017 for an Official Plan Amendment, a Zoning Bylaw Amendment, and Site Plan Approval, we should see movement here in 2018.

Rendering of the west facade, image courtesy of Terranata Developments.

Returning to Finch Avenue, we make our way eastward to the Emery Village area of North York, where a multi-phase rental development on the southeast corner at Weston Road is adding substantial new density. Phase 1 of Medallion Properties' Casa development, designed by the IBI Group, three towers rising 10, 10, and 28 storeys comprising 634 units, was completed last year. Phase 2 of Casa, which would add two more towers of 26 and 30 storeys, totalling 514 additional units, was appealed to the OMB, but will be supported by the City at a settlement hearing there later this month. 

Phase 2 of Casa Emery Village, designed by he IBI Group for Medallion Properties

Future phases are planned for the north end of the lot near Finch, with Phase 3 adding two buildings of 8 and 12 storeys totalling 270 units, and Phase 4 adding three more buildings of 8, 8, and 12 storeys totalling additional 310 units. 

Site plan showing all phases of Casa, image courtesy of Medallion Properties.

Making our way south along Weston Road, The Brownstones at Westown, a the sprawling townhouse development at Weston and Sheppard Avenue headed by Lindvest and designed by RN Design, is now finished (the photo below is a year old) other than for a retail plaza which is still on its way to round out the new neighbourhood.

View of The Brownstones at Westown under construction in September 2016, image by Forum contributor PMT.

Jumping south of the 401, a residential proposal by Dov Capital Developments is looking to redevelop an industrial site at 8 Oak Street just east of Weston Road. Across Knob Hill Drive from a grocery and big-box shopping complex, the development is designed by Michael Spaziani Architect and is comprised of fourteen 3-storey townhouse units, two 8-storey mid-rises with 182 and 185 units, a 6-storey retirement home with 128 units, and a 3,363-square-metre (36,200-square-foot) public park. The project was appealed to the OMB, and is working through complicated planning issues mostly tied to removing the land from Employment Area designation. A motion s coming before the OMB this month to further the process, but there is no indication yet of how long it may take to resolve the situation here.

Site plan of 8 Oak Street, north is on the left, image courtesy of Dov Capital Developments.

Moving south into Weston Village, a new development by the Rockport Group in partnership with the City of Toronto is adding a 30-storey rental tower and Artscape hub on the site of a vacant parking lot at 22 John Street and 33 King Street (not to be confused with the downtown roads of the same name). Designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects, the proposal will see 370 rental units constructed alongside 7 new townhouses and a 1,200-square-metre (12,900-square-foot) public space, which would provide for an enhanced summertime Weston Village Farmer's Market. In addition, the rear portion of the podium of 33 King Street will be repurposed into a 760-square-metre (8,200-square-foot) Artscape Weston Hub, as well as a self-storage facility. The building is now just over halfway to its final height, and it will top out in the Spring.

22 John on January 30, 2018, image by UT Forum contributor yoshirocks702

South of Weston and Lawrence, a proposal by the private non-profit developer Options for Homes would see a 21-storey affordable condo tower constructed at 10 Wilby Crescent, alongside the Humber River on a former industrial site. Dubbed The Humber, the Architecture Unfolded-designed building proposes to add 235 new units to the area, and is currently working its way through the planning process. Options intends to have the units for sale later this year.

21-storey proposal for The Humber, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Back on Weston Road again, Old Stonehenge Development Corporation submitted a Zoning Bylaw Amendment application to the City in December, 2017, proposing a 25-storey residential tower immediately beside Weston GO and UPX station. The Core Architects-designed building at 1695 Weston Road would add 240 high-rise homes to a site that is well-served by transit.

Looking southeast to 1695 Weston Road, designed by Core Architects for Old Stonehenge

Further south and just off of Weston Road, we end off this instalment coming nearly full circle at a site that overlooks the Eglinton Flats parks from a perch atop the valley sides. Here, redevelopment plans for the West Park Healthcare Centre located on Emmett Avenue near Jane Street and Weston Road are evolving.

Initially, a rezoning was approved back in 2010 for an addition to the hospital, along with a reserved block of land for future expansion, and a third block allocated for 'complementary non-hospital uses', potentially residential. However, a recent change to the plan was resubmitted in 2016 to build an entirely new 6-storey 460-bed hospital building comprising roughly 70,000 square metres of floor area to be built out in two phases, along with the retention of the existing Long Term Care Building. The two additional blocks of land earmarked for future expansion and non-hospital use remain relatively the same, with minor tweaks to density allowances. Preliminary massing models have been illustrated by HOK Architects, and the re-submittal was approved in March, 2017. Since that time, a Request for Proposals was tendered to a shortlist of bidders on July, 28. A winning bidder has not yet been announced, but one can assume that will come soon.

Massing model of the proposed redevelopment, image courtesy of the West Park Healthcare Centre.

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Next up, our Growth to Watch For series will cross the Black Creek and head up Keele Street, tour through the Yorkdale area, and head towards North Toronto and the Hoggs Hollow area. 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 Toronto's growing skyline, captured from a residential unit in the Regent Park neighbourhood. Submitted to our Massey Tower Forum thread by contributor skycandy, this west-facing view shows under construction towers like Ten York, Massey Tower, and Grid Condos adding new points to the skyline.

Toronto skyline viewed from Regent Park, image by Forum contributor skycandy

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