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Though major housing markets have cooled elsewhere in Canada, the area around Hamilton at the west end of Lake Ontario continues to draw in buyers with competitive pricing compared locations closer to Toronto's core. Just east of Hamilton on the QEW, the town of Grimsby is one of the many smaller communities in the GTHA seeing a surge in demand for housing, a demand which is being met not only by single-family homes, but with multi-unit communities like LJM Developments' Waterview Condominiums as well.
Located to the north of the QEW and within view of Lake Ontario's nearby southern shore, the development is rising to the immediate south of a townhome community that was completed in 2014. With only two-storey townhomes separating Waterview from Lake Ontario, most views—the building's suite are oriented predominantly to favour the lake to the north—will be completely unobstructed, with the distant Toronto skyline the reward, especially as it twinkles by night.
The Icon Architects-designed development will consist of two buildings to be built in phases, with the first phase now rising on the west side of the site, and the second phase on the east to follow. The 9-storey first phase recently reached a major milestone, with the pouring of its ground floor slab.
Residents at Waterview will enjoy amenities including a WiFi-enabled roof terrace featuring outdoor hot tubs and barbecue areas, as well as a party room, a fitness centre, and a lobby with 24-hour concierge service. The development will also include ground floor retail spaces.
The project's Grimsby location will give residents access to neighbourhood amenities like a local skate park, the West Niagara YMCA, Grimsby Hockey arena, Grimsby Public Library, Public Art Gallery, the Grimsby Museum, and the Danish Church. The QEW provides quick access by car to urban centres throughout Niagara and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, while a planned Grimsby GO Station will improve commuting accessibility in the future.
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 threads, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.
Since our previous update on the project, temporary work platforms have been installed over the podium elevations, prepping the cladding installation with insulation. Now, the first signs of limestone cladding have been spotted on the podium's north facade.
The podium levels of the building contain parking for Backstage residents, hidden behind residential units. Six parking levels situated underneath Backstage are in use by residents of the L Tower to the north, accessed via a tunnel linking the two developments under The Esplanade.
The limestone on the podium's north facade will soon be accented by the addition of a darker-hued stone cladding. As stone is being installed on the podium's north facade, preparatory work is under way for the northeast facade's insulation and final cladding.
The spine of exposed concrete visible on the tower's western elevation has recently been fitted with metal clips, part of a subframe that will support a cladding consisting of vented porcelain panels engineered by Bildtec Building Systems. The panels will be of a similar hue to the limestone tiles being installed on the podium.
Additional Backstage on the Esplanade information and images 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 in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
In Toronto, a city of constantly rising real estate prices and fast-paced development, it can be difficult to analyze market conditions with a long-term perspective. The whirlwind nature of the property market can seem overwhelming, to say the least. Helping us get a better grasp of Toronto's real estate trends—particularly in the luxury market—in steps Talon International Development CEO Neil Labatte, who spoke to us about the long-term value in Toronto's luxury real estate.
While touring the penthouse suites of Trump Residences Toronto, Labatte characterizes the luxury real estate market as having "a healthy balance of demand and supply." Unlike many of Toronto's mid-market condos, Labatte explains that very high-end real estate is much less frequently sold during pre-construction, with "discerning buyers preferring to see the property first-hand." This means that financing the construction of luxury properties is somewhat more difficult, leading to "a more limited supply."
Over the last few years, Toronto has seen a modest influx of high-end residential properties come online, with hotel-condominium projects such as Living Shangri-La and the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences joining the 58-storey Trump at the pinnacle of Toronto's high-rise real estate market. According to recent reports by Sotheby's and Urbanation, however, prices for these properties have continued to rise as vacancy rates dwindle, with 86% of luxury units— valued at $800 psf or over—sold as of Q3-2015, compared to 80% in Q4-2012.
Even with a somewhat increased supply the market continues to show strength. In terms of Trump Residences, however, Labatte highlights the tower's prime Financial District location as having particularly "good long-term potential, given the increasing scarcity of this type of location." In addition, "the combination of a high-end hotel [occupying the lower floors] and condominium helps to ensure that standards will always be maintained, and public areas will regularly be refurbished to have the polished quality of a luxury hotel."
Labatte also characterizes the Trump Residences as filling the significant "gap in Toronto's luxury rental market." With a lack of new, custom-built luxury rental properties available, the rental of a luxury condominium property "to executives who are new to the city, or people who are in the process of relocating," provides an important supply of the otherwise scarce—and highly valuable—market niche.
Touring the richly-appointed 5501 penthouse suite, Labatte also notes that Toronto is becoming an increasingly attractive place for international business and residents. "The international flavour is certainly a big draw," he tells us, while "the fact that Toronto did not experience flight to the suburbs to the same degree as many American cities" has helped to maintain an increasingly desirable urban ambiance.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The den/office area of suite 5501 can be reconfigured into an additional bedroom, image courtesy of Talon International
Our tour concludes in the 14,000 ft², three-storey 'super penthouse,' which has remained unfinished so as to be customizable by any prospective buyers. On the top, 58th floor of the tower, we look out over the city from behind the Art Deco dome that tops the building.
Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase file for the Trump Toronto, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.
With only a handful of units remaining, Madison Homes' Briar Hill City Towns is gearing up for a planned Spring start to construction. The stacked townhome development nestled between Toronto's Fairbank and Belgravia neighbourhoods, will add 124 new units spread across six blocks, with sizes ranging from 709 square feet up to 1,494 square feet.
For a taste of the features and finishes awaiting residents of the development, the Briar Hill City Towns presentation centre at 2 Wingold Avenue offers a suite vignette featuring a clean and curvy, mid-century approach to interiors, one of the many possible design aesthetics for these living spaces.
Kitchens will feature ceramic tiled backsplashes, flat-slab kitchen cabinets, electric ranges with glass-top stoves, frost-free refrigerators, built-in dishwashers, and over-the-range microwaves with integrated exhaust fans.
Appointed by Paula Gauci of Turner Fleischer Architects, the suite vignette is a mockup of the project's A1 floorplan, featuring a main living area with an attached open concept kitchen and dining area. Just beyond the main living area, a den provides a space perfect for a reading nook or a home office.
All bathrooms at Briar Hill City Towns will include mirrors with wall-mounted light fixtures, water efficient faucets, shower heads and toilets, as well as pressure and temperature controlled showers and tubs.
Many of the development's suites offer rooftop terraces, which are also represented in the suite vignette. The mockup of these outdoor spaces features a barbecue area and seating, as well as a representation of the skyline views awaiting residents.
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 threads, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.
This edition of UrbanToronto's Growth to Watch For series shifts into midtown Toronto with an overview of development along the St. Clair Avenue corridor. Identified as an avenue in the City of Toronto's Official Plan, the area is targeted for mid-rise residential and mixed-use development aimed at creating density and urban streetscapes, while avoiding the forest of high-rise tower typologies seen elsewhere in the city.
Passing through more sensitive and smaller scale neighbourhoods, there are many developments along St. Clair that are poised to make an impact on their immediate area. We will take you through a list of projects expected to be completed this year, as well as a list of projects continuing excavation and construction through 2016. Finally, we have compiled a list of all development proposals along the St. Clair, whether approved or still in their design phase, that are planned for the area in the near future.
Completing and Topping Off
Beginning in Forest Hill, BLVD Developments and Lifetime Developments'The Code Condos has topped off on St. Clair Avenue West just east of Spadina Road. The 9-storey, Hariri Pontarini Architects-designed building will bring 10 two-storey townhouses with private street entrances and 108 new condo units to the neighbourhood. Offering expansive views in all directions from its upper floors, expect The Code Condos to reach completion later in 2016.
Right next door, National Homes'Churchill Collection is just being completed at 288-290 St. Clair Avenue West. The development adds a series of three-storey three-bedroom townhouses across from Sir Winston Churchill Park designed in a style that helps to blend within the mostly traditionally styled homes of the Forest Hill neighbourhood.
Moving south of Casa Loma, Burnac Corporation's South Hill on Madison is nearing completion. Designed by Northgrave Architects, the 7-storey building will feature 10 townhouses and 159 condominium units, offering private rooftop terraces and sweeping views of downtown and Casa Loma.
Joining the construction boom a couple blocks to the east, Brandylane Homes' The Davies should begin to rise on Avenue Road over the next year. With the presentation centre now open, this nine-storey condo building designed by SMV Architects will soon make its presence felt along the avenue.
Several buildings along St. Clair are continuing construction this year, with expected completion in 2017 or later.
Hopping up Avenue Road, one block just to the east is where one of the more exciting projects along St. Clair is starting to rise out of the ground. The second of three phases at Camrost-Felcorp's Imperial Plaza is a 27-storey rental tower added at the rear of the building, which a peaking above grade. The project's first phase was the restoration and repurposing of the Imperial Oil Building—including the stunning two-storey polished marble lobby containing York Wilson's two-mural masterpiece 'The Story of Oil'—into which residents and retail have recently moved into at the end of last year. The next phase of the project will see will continue construction through 2016.
To the west a couple blocks, ZIGG Condos by Madison Homes and Fieldgate Homes is currently digging down into the ground in order to rise up. Shoring and excavation are now taking place for the 11-storey Kirkor Architects-designed mid-rise. Bringing 166 new condo units to the exclusive area, excavation will finish mid-2016, with an expected completion date in 2018.
Continuing west to Bathurst, excavation is wrapping up on Reserve Properties'Rise Condos. The 25-storey tower designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects will bring 324 condo units to the bustling intersection. Stay tuned for updates as the tower will begin rising above the ground sometime in 2016.
Further west, Rockport Group's Nest Condos is rising out of the ground at 829 St. Clair Avenue West near Winona Drive. The nine-storey 123-unit condo building by RAW Design is bringing its boxy aesthetic to the historic area. After holding their groundbreaking event back in October 2014, the building has completed excavation and is now rising past ground level. Look for completion of this building sometime late in 2016 or early 2017.
Beginning at the busy intersection of Yonge and St. Clair, Aspen Ridge's The Jack Condos is set to appear on the site of the former CHUM Building at 1331 Yonge. Designed by Quadrangle Architects, the 11-storey mid-rise building will see 149 units erected on a piece of prime real estate located between two subway stations, with demolition expected on site this year. South of St. Clair, meanwhile, Old Stonehenge and the Clifton Blake Group are collaborating on Hill and Dale Residences, an adaptive reuse project—designed by Studio JCI—at 1027 Yonge (below). Sales will start soon.
Moving west along the St. Clair corridor, Camrost-Felcorp is selling units at the last phase at Imperial Plaza, called Blue Diamond Condos, a 28-storey 292-unit Diamond Schmitt Architects-designed tower that incorporates part of the existing Norman-style Deer Park United Church constructed in 1911. The church, whose restoration will be undertaken by ERA Architects, will be partially preserved and serve as part of the tower's gardens. Paired with Camrost-Felcorp's other Imperial Plaza phases at the site, the intersection of St. Clair West and Avenue Road is about to get a lot more interesting. Hoarding has now been erected around the site, so look for construction to begin on Blue Diamond in 2016.
Continuing west along St. Clair, construction is expected to begin on The Goldman Group and The Lash Group's The Barrington Condos sometime this year. Currently in sales, the 18-storey boutique condo building designed by Richmond Architects will bring 93 new units in a range of sizes and layouts to the rapidly growing intersection of Bathurst Street and St. Clair West. The new tower will add ground level retail and increased density to the area.
Further west near Winona Drive, Homes of St. Clair West, a 9-storey mid-rise building at 836 St. Clair should go under construction soon.
In addition to the projects preparing for construction this year, a slew of proposals are making their way through the design and planning process along the St. Clair West corridor. Starting on Yonge, it is apparent that the flurry of development along Toronto's main drag is not restricted to the stretch south of Bloor. Two proposals see high-rise towers added at the transit hub of Yonge and St. Clair: a 42-storey mixed-use residential tower at 1421 Yonge, and a complex of three towers at 14- 16- and 37-storeys encompassing 1481, 1491, and 1501 Yonge. The 42-storey tower was turned down by Council, but has been appealed to the OMB, while the larger complex north of St. Clair is sitting dormant at the moment.
Travelling west from Yonge Street, a new 15-storey residential development is proposed on the site of a vacant parking lot at 200 St. Clair West near Avenue Road. Not approved by the City, this development will go to the OMB on March 14. Just northwest of Bathurst and St. Clair, Oben Flats is proposing another 10-storey superkül-designed rental building at 109 Vaughan Road, and has approval for it.
Several blocks to the west at Alberta, Main and Main are planning a retail-condo mixed use mid-rise at 894-900 St. Clair.
Finally, closer to the trendy Junction area, an zoning application was just submitted back in October for a mixed-use residential development of two 17-storey towers and two blocks of three-storey townhouses at 386-394 Symington Avenue, just south of Davenport.
What do you think of the projects that are transforming this area? Leave a comment at the bottom of this page, or join in on the conversation on one of our associated Forum threads. For additional information, check out our dataBase files (linked below) and Forum threads.
The mysterious installation of a scaled-down hockey rink atop 120 Adelaide West in Toronto's Financial District captured the attention of the public last month. In today's Photo of the Day, submitted to the UrbanToronto Flickr Pool by Empty Quarter, we are shown the half-size NHL ice sheet built as part of Molson Canadian's #anythingforhockey campaign.
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 the new and improved UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page!
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The installation of exterior cladding elements continues to add warmth and visual appeal to Streetcar Developments' The Taylor, a 96-unit condominium and townhome development under construction on Dundas Street East, just east of Carlaw. Designed by TACT Architecture, the development is composed of a main 8-storey volume with a smaller 4-storey volume to the east.
The development's exterior is being fitted withöko skin slat wall panels, a fibre-reinforced, weather-resistant, naturally pigmented concrete cladding manufactured by the Austria-based Rieder GmbH. The product is capable of replicating the warmth of wood cladding while offering the same durability and sustainability as concrete, all without the need for regular painting or abrasion.
While öko skin will be The Taylor's signature exterior component, ironspot slate-gray bricks, stone, and two-tone glazing add to the material palette here. öko skin panels have already been applied to the small four-storey volume at the east end of the development, as well as over the townhome frontages along Filmic Lane on the north side of the development.
While the material is available in a wide range of colours and tones, a modulated red/brown combination is employed here, serving as a contextual bridge between the modern aesthetic of the new mid-rise and the more Victorian holdover design of the abutting townhomes and nearby historic brick warehouses.
Exterior work continues elsewhere at The Taylor, including the ongoing installation of balcony glazing. Along with the newly installed balconies visible in the image below, we can also see the first signs of weatherproofing material in advance of the first öko skin on the Dundas Street facade.
Additional information, including renderings and floor plans of what the finished buildings and suites will look like, can be found in our dataBase files, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.
As real estate prices across the GTA continue to reach record highs, life in Toronto is becoming less affordable. At the same time, younger generations are increasingly drawn to urban lifestyles, with the rate of car ownership flatlining as the population continues to rise. Striving to provide a balance between affordability and urban, transit and pedestrian-friendly lifestyles, Adi's Stationwest is introducing a new housing paradigm to western Burlington.
Located in the immediate walking vicinity of the Aldershot GO Station, the 160-unit townhouse development, designed by ICON Architects, strategically caters to commuters seeking an alternative to automobile dependance. While Stationwest's two and three-bedroom homes feature driveways—as the community is still largely car-oriented—the proximity to the GO Station means that commuters can arrive at Union Station less than an hour after leaving their homes.
According to Adi Development Group CEO Tariq Adi,“With Stationwest, we’re not just building for today. We’re targeting connectivity and walkability to build for the future, we’re creating a mobility hub that acknowledges the present and future of this booming region.”
In anticipation of a more transit-oriented future, Stationwest's proximity to rail infrastructure ensures that the community will remain a relatively sustainable and attractive place to live in years to come, particularly as increased investment in Ontario's rail infrastructure begins to reap benefits. In particular, the introduction of more regular all-day service along the Lakeshore West line—as part of the GO RER project—will create an improved connection to Toronto.
“This will be one of the last opportunities to own in a transit-connected low rise community of this size in Burlington," Adi tell us. "The demand has been incredible and we continue to hear from members of the community who are excited to own homes here. It’s truly a spectacular master-planned community,” says Adi, characterizing Burlington as a city in the midst of transformative "paradigm shift" towards urban living.
The master-planned community's three-level suites will range in size from 1,200 to 2,200 ft², offering relatively spacious configurations—particularly in comparison to the Toronto market. Stationwest's interiors will be appointed by U31, and with high-end features such as quartz or granite countertops. In addition, each residence will have a private outdoor space, with either a landscaped backyard garden or a rooftop terrace.
We will keep you updated as the project develops, and new details continue to emerge. In the meantime, 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 space provided at the bottom of this page.
ELAD Canada's Fifth on the Park, the next phase of the developer's master-planned community at Don Mills and Sheppard, will be hosting a Chinese New Year celebration this Saturday, February 6th, noon, at the project's presentation centre, located directly across from Fairview Mall on Sheppard Avenue. As part of the celebratory event, Fifth on the Park is featuring a promotion offering buyers the chance to purchase with only 10% deposit, with bonus features including two years free maintenance, zero assignment fee, and permission to have non-purchaser occupants during the interim occupancy period.
Among the suites available is the recently released Millennium Park 2, a one-bedroom + den, 493 square foot floorplan, currently being offered from $253,900, with only $26,000 down. The layout of the unit, pictured below, features a den, bathroom, and laundry area adjacent to the entry, as well as an open concept main living area that integrates the kitchen, dining area, and living area. A master bedroom overlooks the unit's 108 square foot balcony.
Other units at Fifth on the Park are as large as 818 square feet, and along with the smaller units, feature standard finishes likewide long-plank laminate flooring, approximate 9-foot ceiling heights, stainless steel kitchen appliances and integrated dishwashers, while bathrooms will come with either soaker tubs or shower stalls with glass doors and porcelain tile flooring.
Residents of the WZMH Architects-designed development will have access to a selection of amenities appointed by II BY IV DESIGN, including a lounge and dining room, a karaoke/theatre room, an indoor pool with hot tub, His and Hers change rooms with saunas, a yoga room, and a fitness room. There will also be an outdoor patio and dining area that provides residents with a comfortable space to relax in the fresh air.
You can learn more about Fifth on the Park by visiting our dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.
UrbanToronto takes another look at Burlington today as it is just a few days remaining until the official Grand Opening of Adi Development Group's Nautique Lakefront Residences in the city's walkable downtown area. In anticipation of the event, we tour the building's Cecconi Simone-appointed model suite, a 1-bedroom+den unit known as "The Norte".
The 26-storey tower—with architecture by rising Toronto practice RAW Design—will feature 192 units ranging in size from 452 to 1,859 square feet. The model suite at the development's 375 Brant Street presentation centre highlights a layout near the lower end of this range, coming in at 574 square feet, and choosing one of the smaller units goes great lengths in showing prospective buyers the efficiency of the suite layouts. In the image below, a 'waterfall' kitchen island doubles as a table for four, extending the space of the open-concept kitchen which features an integrated refrigerator hidden behind a wood-grain finished cabinetry.
The model suite's bathroom serves as both an ensuite and a hallway bathroom, and features wood-grained cabinetry with strikingly complementary limestone wall and floor tiles by Ciot, which carry on the zen-like design aesthetic found elsewhere in the unit.
Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase file for Nautique, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.
Today's Photo of the Day brings us to the Keating Channel, connecting the Don River with Toronto Harbour. As quoted by photographer Randy Hoffmann, "this 25 sec. long exposure looking east from the Cherry St. drawbridge shows the channel covered by sheets of ice on a January night. One could hear the sound of the ice cracking as the temperature dipped rapidly".
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 the new and improved UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page!
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Toronto's Financial District has seen some substantial vertical growth over the past few years, most notably the stretch of Adelaide Street West between Yonge and University. Back in Spring, 2010, construction of the Bay Adelaide Centre's long-awaited 50-storey, WZMH-designed west tower was wrapping up at the northeast corner of the Bay and Adelaide intersection. At the same time, tower floors were rising at the 58-storey Trump Tower across Adelaide to the south.
Fast forward to February, 2016, and the Zeidler Partnership Architects-designed Trump Tower has long since been completed. The view is now joined by the 44-storey Bay Adelaide East tower, a KPMB Architects and Adamson Associates Architects-designed office tower that recently saw the first of its tenants move in.
Since we last checked in on construction at the end of 2015, Toronto's Union Station has continued its transformation into a rail hub for the 21st century. Canada's busiest rail terminal is currently in the midst of a long-term revitalization process, which is gradually seeing a modernized and more user-friendly station take shape. The re-opened GO Concourse has allowed for the closing of the Bay Concourse—now in the early stages of reconstruction—while work continues on the station's exterior and the train shed.
Beginning on Front Street, Union Station's newly revitalized exterior and public plaza is set to be complemented with glass canopies covering the moats that front much of the historic building's north elevation. Just outside the Bay Concourse, half of the temporary staircase providing a connection to the TTC Station has been demolished, with the area being lowered in anticipation of the new lower level to be added inside the building. Wider stairs to the west will be built to handle detoured crowds while the old Bay Concourse is gutted and rebuilt. Glass roof installation will start part-way through the process.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The Bay Concourse is under construction south of the moat, while TTC access is seen at right, image by Craig White
Stepping into Union Station through the reconfigured, but still temporary, TTC access, the revitalized Front Street Promenade—located beneath the Great Hall—is now open all the way west to York Street. Retail is still forthcoming, however, and more details of Osmington Inc's plans are available in our previous editorial.
Indoor bicycle parking has also recently been installed near the newly opened York Street entrance, the expanded facility to open to cyclists in the coming weeks.
Back outside on Front Street—this time at the west end of Union Station—the Front Street moat is now closed to pedestrians and set to be rebuilt, with a new retail and event area planned for it. This moat is set to be the first to see its new glass roof installed, with the Bay Concourse's eastern moat set to follow.
Returning inside—now a level above the Front Street Promenade—we travel east along Union Station's upper level, beginning just east of the Skywalk and UPX. Additional retail is set to join the Ontario Travel kiosk opened last year near the Skywalk, while, slightly further east, the south side of the restored west wing retail area could be set to house a new restaurant.
Continuing east towards the Great Hall, a number of Union Station's historic stairways (leading to the Front Street Promenade below) have also been revitalized, proudly displaying the glimmering brass that, until recently, was coated with decades of grime.
In the Great Hall, east and west ends of the voluminous space are now covered by scaffolds. Workers are gradually refurbishing the interior, while the 1970s wickets at the north end of the hall (seen behind the bright orange tarp cover) are set to be replaced by a split-level restaurant (scheduled to open in 2018), which will architecturally emulate the historic wickets on the south side.
Downstairs, work is continuing in the Bay Concourse, with site clearing and excavation setting the stage for a large-scale revitalization. Much like the new GO York Concourse, the completed Bay Concourse will bear little stylistic resemblance to its previous mid 20th century iteration, with a clean, minimalistic space, better connections to the platforms above, and new retail set to greet passengers.
Meanwhile, progress on the long-awaited Bush train shed roof reconstruction has stalled. Since GO's upcoming electrified trains will require more clearance for the overhead power supply, engineers are currently looking for a way to accommodate the infrastructure without compromising the heritage roof structure. While it is not yet known whether the roof might be raised or the tracks lowered, updated plans are expected soon.
Substantial completion of the Union Station Revitalization project is currently scheduled by early 2018. In the meantime, many more recent photos will give you a fuller idea of the extent of the work now underway. You can find them on this page of our Union Station thread, or for discussion on the Bush shed there is this thread. Otherwise, for more information on and renderings of the revitalization project, visit our dataBase file, linked below. To find out more about the planned retail strategy, our recent article features an in-depth interview with Osmington Inc. CEO Lawrence Zucker.
Want to share your thoughts about the project? Leave a comment at the bottom of this page, or join in the conversation on our Forum thread (where, remember, there are plenty more photos!).
New images and information have been released that fill out details for Mattamy and Biddington's J. Davis House, a 9-storey, Graziani + Corazza Architects-designed condominium development planned for the east side of Yonge Street, just north of Davisville. Last month we were treated to a sneak peek at the scale model of the building created by Peter McCann Architectural Models Inc. that gave us our first taste of the development's spacious east-facing terraces. A recently-released rendering now gives us a better look at those terraces which take advantage of the leafy-green surroundings.
The project's terrace units are located in arms along Belsize Drive and Millwood Road at the north and south ends respectively. The arms serve as bookends to the building's central motor court, while step backs transition the development's massing down to the low-rise neighbourhood to the east. A detail shot of the rendering above helps to put the impressive size of these terraces into perspective.
Another new rendering, this one highlighting J. Davis House's Yonge Street frontage, elaborates on the detail seen on the scale model. At ground level, glass-fronted double-height storefronts will be framed by sculpted precast concrete. Above, the window wall glazing and balconies of the mid-rise suites will be framed by brick piers, while the stepped-back uppermost levels will forego ornamentation in a move to dissolve the structure into the sky.
The development is offering 191 residential suites, with sizes ranging from 295 square feet up to 1,650 square feet. Residents will enjoy a selection of amenities including a lobby with lounge space, a fitness centre, a party room, and a sauna, all appointed by the interior design division of Graziani + Corazza Architects.
Additional information and renderings of the condominium development 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 space provided at the bottom of this page.
As seen in our ongoing Growth to Watch Forseries, the Etobicoke lakeshore area is in the midst of a transformative high-rise boom, with some of Toronto's tallest residential properties now underway in the exploding Humber Bay Shores neighbourhood. While the growing cluster of towers is bringing an eye-catching urban character to the area, a quieter neighbourhood on the banks of the Humber River—about a kilometre to the north—is also poised to see a more modest wave of urban intensification.
For residents preferring a more low-rise urban lifestyle, the VANDYK Group'sBackyard Neighbourhood Condos—located just west of the Humber River—are set to bring a contextually scaled, intimate ambiance to south Etobicoke.
Designed by Toronto's Kohn Partnership Architects, the mixed-use development features four residential buildings surrounding a central community park. A commercial building, called "The Shoppes at Stonegate," will inject a dose of retail activity into the area, while the central park—including a children's play area— is designed to serve as a communal hub for residents of all four buildings.
An aerial view of the community shows green roofs topping three of the buildings, which are designed with an elegant simplicity. Located at 150 Berry Road, the development fits into to the architectural context of the area's built form while updating its mid-century modern aesthetic. In particular, the warmth of brick with an accent on welcoming horizontal elements help make the buildings cohesive with their neighbours.
Currently in the registration phase, Backyard Neighbourhood Condos is set to feature interiors by U31, with the project's amenities including a gym, rooftop terrace, and party room, in addition to visitor parking, and a range of additional features.
We will keep you updated as the project continues to take shape, and more information becomes available. In the meantime, make sure to check out our associated dataBase file for more information and additional renderings. Want to share your thoughts about the development? Feel free to leave a comment in the space below this page, or join in the ongoing conversation on our Forum.
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 the new and improved UrbanToronto Flickr Pool for your chance to be featured on our Front Page!
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