A Bathurst Street Bridge view from earlier this month of GO commuter trains in the railway lands just west of Toronto’s Financial District.
Architectural rendering from the Charlie Condos website
From Chaz to Charlie: Yesterday I posted about Chaz on Charles Street. Today I’m taking a look at Charlie on Charlotte Street. (Far as I can tell, they’re not siblings — their names and street locations might be similar, but they’re separate projects by totally different developers.)
Now that she’s finally got an above-ground presence, passersby are starting to notice Charlie Condos in the Entertainment District. Up until late last year, you couldn’t see much of her. Hoarding hid Charlie from public view on King Street West, so construction of her parking garage and underground levels could be seen only through a tall chain-link fence along a back lane off Charlotte Street. Work on Charlie’s below-ground floors reached street grade in early December, and now the building is beginning to rise above the bold blue hoardings that shield the sidewalk on the north side of King.
Designed by Toronto’s Diamond + Schmitt Architects, and a project of Great Gulf Homes, Charlie will “define mile-high style” (according to her website) — even though she’ll stand only 32 stories tall. But with her clear glass windows, aluminum frame, and heritage brick foundation, Charlie will look “elegant and evocative … classic and contemporary.” We’ll have to wait until at least several floors of windows and exterior finishing treatments have been installed to judge if that’s in fact the case. But by taking the place of what used to be a parking lot, Charlie is classing up the corner and already helping to boost property values in her immediate vicinity.
A friend of mine made a very handsome profit selling his Charlotte Street condo late last year, thanks to the interest that Charlie and other nearby condo projects, including M5V across the street on King, have stirred up in the area.
Below are some of my pics of construction progress at the Charlie site.
Charlie billboard at King & Charlotte Streets on September 26 2008
Charlie location at King and Charlotte Streets on September 26 2008
Charlie construction approaching street grade on November 23 2010
Charlie construction approaching street level November 23 2010
Charlie construction approaching street level November 23 2010
Charlie construction approaching street grade November 29 2011
Charlie construction approaching street grade November 29 2011
Charlie underground levels approach street grade while the M5V condo tower nearby on King Street (left) is almost finished construction.
Charlie construction progress on January 14 2011
Charlie construction progress on January 14 2011
Charlie will block views from Charlotte Street of these nearby buildings
Architectural rendering of 2-storey sky lounge at Chaz on Charles condos
Watch me watch you: It’s been about five years since a developer announced plans to build a residential tower on the site of a Brutalist-style office building at 45 Charles Street East. Since then, I’ve been waiting patiently to see what the highrise that will replace it will look like. My wait is over.
Designed by Sol Wassermuhl of Toronto’s Page + Steele IBI Group Architects, Chaz on Charles will be 39-storey condo tower featuring a five-storey limestone-clad podium topped by a sleek glass tower with recessed balconies. To fit nicely on the current streetscape, the podium will be “synched” with that of the 46-storey Casa condo tower right next door (to its west).
Chaz will be so packed with appealing amenities, its residents probably won’t want to spend much time in their own units. Heck, they won’t need to. According to the Chaz on Charles website, the main floor will boast not one but two lobbies “literally brimming with activity.” One will be “a living room-style lobby lounge,” while the other will offer “a series of smaller spaces” that include a living room, wet bar, dining room with full catering kitchen, and a billiards room — all of which will open onto an outdoor landscaped terrace.
Chaz will have top of the line fitness and recreation facilities, of course, along with not one but two theatres (a movie screening room and sports viewing room), meeting room facilities, guest suites for overnight visitors, and a pet spa. Yes, no longer will you have to endure the embarrassment and humiliation of leading your muddy, smelly mutt through the lush lobby and elevators anymore, since there will be a special wash and blowdry room where you can give Fido a quick freshening-up after a walk in the grimy neighbourhood streets.
But wait, there’s more! What’s really going to put Chaz on the map — and instantly make it a midtown “landmark” (according to the website’s copywriters) — is the signature architectural detail that will appear three-quarters of the way up the south side of the tower. I’ll let the people at Chaz describe it in their own words: “Jutting out from the 31st and 32nd levels on the south side of the building is a two-storey cantilevered box, framed in white concrete and illuminated at night. This is the Chaz Club, a lounge and dining space for the building’s residents, and it is a dazzling architectural gesture. From miles around, Torontonians will look up to see residents of Chaz, and their guests, enjoying cocktails on the club’s spacious terrace or relaxing inside this glass box in the sky.”
Yes, without a doubt, jealous people throughout downtown Toronto and from points miles afar will spend their evenings staring at the lucky, privileged few who will get to call Chaz home. If they can even see them, that is. With all the other highrises and towers planned for the immediate vicinity, views of the Chaz Club will likely be blocked from most sightlines. But not from mine! So in just a few years’ time, I’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy a nice glass of wine on my balcony while watching Chaz residents looking back at me while they sip cocktails in their chic, comfy glass box in the sky. Some things are worth waiting for, n’est-ce pas?
Below are some photos I’ve taken of the Chaz location during the past four years.
Chaz on Charles development zoning sign outside 45 Charles St. E. in late 2007; the city subsequently approved a tower with six more floors.
This office building at 45 Charles East will be demolished to make way for the Chaz condo tower
Chaz condo sales office on August 29 2010
Chaz condo sales office on August 29 2010
Chaz condo sales office on August 29 2010
45 Charles St. E. and the Casa condominium tower next door
45 Charles St. E. and the Casa condominium tower next door
Chaz on Charles will tower above The Bromley apartment building to its south on Isabella Street, seen here on January 29 2011
Isabella Street view of Chaz on Charles condo site on January 29 2011
Another Isabella Street view of the site where Chaz on Charles will rise
The view straight up the Frank Gehry-designed staircase in the AGO
Twists & turns: Most visitors watch their feet while they huff and puff their way up — or down — the many wooden steps of the Baroque Stair at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Some look out the windows, and some glance at the people they pass, but most don’t bother looking up. Straight up, that is, at the staircase spiralling upwards above them. It’s too bad, because they’re missing a real treat.
Designed by Frank Gehry, the Baroque Stair is one of my favourite architectural elements in the recently renovated gallery. Whenever I walk the Stair, I like to stop and look up at the sensuous curves of the wooden form that twists and turns overhead, linking ground-level Walker Court with the AGO’s new fifth floor contemporary art galleries. I notice new things about the Stair every time — surprising shapes, textures and colours that vary in different levels of light. For me, the Baroque Stair is a delightful piece of eye candy that takes my mind off the long, thigh-burning climb (it’s a very long walk indeed — the Stair is approximately 11 residential stories tall).
As AGO director/CEO Matthew Teitelbaum notes in an audio commentary on the gallery website, Gehry designed the Baroque Stair to be a “place of experience, not just a way of getting somewhere.” For me, that experience is one of the highlights of any visit to the AGO. Below are several more pics of the Stair.
More photos and further information about Gehry’s gallery transformation are provided at this link on the AGO website.
Architectural rendering of Motion in Bay apartment highrise
Now digging: The parking lot is long gone and the earth is starting to move at the southwest corner of Bay and Dundas, where Concert Properties Ltd. has begun building its latest rental apartment building, Motion on Bay Street.
The 29-storey tower will house 463 rental apartments (mainly studios and 1-bedrooms units) along with ground-level retail shops. The project’s website claims occupancy is anticipated for winter 2012, but that move-in date seems overly optimistic since site excavation is still just in the early stages.
I had been wondering how long it was going to take before a developer began building here, since Motion’s 570 Bay Street address is such a prime downtown location (the Eaton Centre and Ryerson University’s business school are right across the street; City Hall and the Financial District are a short walk to the south, and the hospital district is only two blocks north). It just didn’t make sense to maintain a parking lot on a piece of land worth millions of dollars.
A 50-storey condo tower originally had been proposed for this location as a sister to One City Hall, a 16-storey condo building at 111 Elizabeth Street that will be Motion’s next-door neighbour. However, the city would not approve the project since it would ruins views of Toronto’s beloved City Hall towers immediately to the south. The land was sold (at a huge loss, I heard) to Concert, which scooped it up with plans to build a shorter highrise that wouldn’t mar City Hall sightlines.
I knew construction was imminent when the property was fenced off in late summer; pile driving equipment arrived on scene in late fall and hoarding went up over the Bay and Dundas Street sidewalks in late October and early November.
Below are pics of the Motion on Bay Street site, including some shots from 2008.
Motion on Bay Street apartment site next to the One City Hall luxury apartment building (viewed here from the east side of Bay Street on September 26 2008)
Another view of Motion on Bay Street apartment site on September 26 2008
Motion on Bay Street apartment site fenced off in September 29 2010
Motion on Bay Street apartment site fenced off in September 29 2010
Pile drilling equipment operating on site November 23 2010
Hoarding along Bay Street on November 23 2010
Site viewed from the northeast corner of Bay & Dundas on November 23 2010
Motion on Bay signs on hoarding along Dundas Street on November 23 2010
Motion on Bay Street signs on Dundas Street hoardings November 23 2010
Motion on Bay Street signs along Dundas Street on November 23 2010
Dundas Street view towards Motion on Bay site November 23 2010
Dundas Street view towards Motion on Bay site November 23 2010
Bay Street view of the Motion on Bay site (left) on January 8 2011
Bay Street view of the Motion on Bay site on January 8 2011
Yellow excavator digging away on January 8 2011
Excavation activity continuing on January 14 2011
Architectural rendering of The Mercer tower, from the condo website
Ad vantage?: For months, I have seen ads for The Mercer practically every other time I’ve passed a TV tuned to the CP24 news and informational channel. I’ve heard spots for The Mercer almost every time I’ve turned on the radio, too. The ads always catch my attention, and it’s not just because they feature three long-legged female models imitating the Beatles crossing Abbey Road while a singer croons “Mercer Mercer Me” in a retooled version of the Marvin Gaye hit record. They stand out because I never see or hear TV and radio ads for any other condo projects. I find plenty of condo ads in local newspapers and magazines, of course, and receive condo brochures and postcards in the mail regularly, but I can’t think of a single other downtown building project that has advertised so heavily on radio and TV. (If there have been others, I’ve missed them.)
With The Mercer holding its grand opening tomorrow morning, I’ll be keen to see if the ads draw lineups of eager buyers outside their sales office at the corner of John & Mercer Streets. One of many condo projects either recently launched or being proposed for the rapidly-growing Entertainment District, The Mercer will be a 33-storey condo tower (down from the 38 floors originally planned) with 299 units, street-level retail, and four underground parking levels.
The building will rise on a site currently occupied by two parking lots and a small four-storey brown brick office building on Mercer Street, and will become a new neighbour to the trendy Le Germain boutique hotel.
The Mercer is designed by architect Brian Brisbin of Toronto’s BBB Architects. Full project details are available on The Mercer’s website.
Below are some recent photos of the condo project’s location, along with a website rendering of the building’s frontage on Mercer Street.
The Mercer Condos location at Mercer and John Streets January 14 2011
The Mercer Condo tower will rise on this site along Mercer Street
Original development application sign for The Mercer Condos
The Mercer Condos will rise above this parking lot on Mercer Street
Rendering of The Mercer Condos frontage on Mercer Street
Excavation progress for Women’s College Hospital redevelopment
Digging down: Here’s a few snaps from January 18 of excavation progress at the Women’s College Hospital redevelopment site between Grenville and Grosvenor Streets. My January 6 post has architectural renderings of and full details about “The Hospital of the Future” being built on the site.
A new three-storey glass entrance cube will welcome library visitors
One for the books: I love books, but I have never liked the 34-year-old Toronto Reference Library on Yonge north of Bloor. In fact, I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve been inside the place, but for me that has been enough. The library’s soaring central atrium always impresses me at first, but within minutes something about the look and feel of the interior makes me uncomfortable and downright depressed. I can’t put a finger on what bothers me, but once I’m inside I can’t wait to get out.
I’m not a big fan of the library’s vast brick fortress-like exterior, either. Although the building looks interesting and cool from some angles, it looms over a full block of Yonge Street with a hulking, brooding presence. I’ve never enjoyed walking past what feels to me like a prison for books; at street level, the facade is unwelcoming — dark and dreary, with nothing inviting to encourage passersby to enter and explore the literary treasures inside. But I’m hoping that will soon change with ambitious renovations currently underway to the entrance and facade — part of a five-year, $34-million “revitalization” program that’s supposed to finish in 2012.
Revitalization will connect the library to the street
According to a library website announcement detailing all the renovations and changes, the revitalization aims to create “a dynamic interface between the library and its community, connecting the library’s interior more directly to the street, and the public to the services inside.” The three biggest changes to the building exterior will include construction of a three-storey glass entrance “cube,” a glass wall running the full length of the library’s facade along Yonge, and a street-level library retail store and cafe.
Opening up that dark facade to let light into the library while adding some life and energy to the sidewalk sounds terrific to me; those renovations should address my biggest beefs about the building. Many significant changes are happening inside, too; they’re all outlined at the website link above. Will they improve the atmosphere I find so oppressing? Guess I’ll have to wait and see.
As for the exterior, I was happy to see hoarding erected around the library’s ground level in late 2010, a sign that the facade improvements were finally beginning. However, I have walked past at least three times since it went up, and haven’t yet heard any construction noise. The first time, a friend and I were halfway down the block before we realized we were walking under scaffolding; sadly, it didn’t feel much different than before the facade was boarded up. I have noticed that brickwork on some parts of the facade has been removed, though, so I’m hoping the project is proceeding on schedule. And you can bet I’ll be looking forward to the day the hoarding comes down and the new facade is revealed.
The architect behind the project is Ajon Moriyama of Toronto’s Moriyama and Teshima architects. Since Ajon is the son of Raymond Moriyama, the library’s original architect, it will be interesting to see how he improves on his dad’s design. Below is an architects’ rendering of the entrance cube and street-level glass facade, along with some photos I took recently of the building exterior.
Architectural rendering of Toronto Reference Library facade renovations
Toronto Reference Library Yonge Street facade November 11 2010
Toronto Reference Library Yonge Street facade November 11 2010
Toronto Reference Library Yonge Street facade January 9 2011
Toronto Reference Library Yonge Street facade January 9 2011
Toronto Reference Library main entrance under renovation January 9 2011
Toronto Reference Library Collier Street facade January 24 2011
Toronto Reference Library entrance cube construction January 24 2011
A condo/hotel project is planned for the Ridpaths location on Yonge St.
Two towers: Toronto’s in the midst of a hotel building boom. As I mentioned in a recent post, the brand-spanking-new five-star Ritz-Carlton is scheduled to open next month, while three more high-end hotel/condo skyscrapers — the Four Seasons in Yorkville, the Living Shangri-La on University Avenue at Adelaide Street, and the Trump International Hotel and Tower at Bay and Adelaide Streets — are under construction and changing the city skyline already. The newest Le Germain boutique hotel opened at Maple Leaf Square a few months back, while a handful of other hotel properties (smaller and less expensive than the five-stars) are in the works for several downtown locations.
Now, another hotel/condo complex is being proposed for Yorkville near the new Four Seasons, on the site of the venerable Ridpaths furniture store on Yonge Street across from Canadian Tire. A developer wants City approval to build a 35-storey hotel/condo tower that would “partially” retain the existing Ridpath’s building on Yonge Street. A second tower — a condo building with 28 storeys — would be constructed on what is now a customer parking lot behind Ridpaths, accessed from McMurrich Street.
The complex would have 206 residential units; however, the application (as described on the City’s development applications website) does not indicate how many hotel rooms are planned.
In a November 2010 update on its website, The Greater Yorkville Residents’ Association (GYRA) said it plans to meet with Ward 27 councillor Krystyn Wong-Tam “to suggest a working group be formed for residents and other members of the Bloor-Yorkville Community to be actively engaged throughout the application approval process.”
I’m curious to know if the developer plans to keep only the Tudor-style Ridpaths facade, or part of the actual store. If Ridpaths could somehow remain in operation on the premises (unlikely, I know), condo purchasers would get to enjoy furniture shopping only an elevator ride from their apartments. Imagine the decadent convenience of not needing to bundle up in warm winter coats and boots when you want to go browsing for a new bedroom set or coffee table in the middle of February!
Below is a pic of the zoning application sign outside Ridpath’s, and a shot from McMurrich Street of the parking lot where a condo tower would rise.
Four Seasons towers rising above the Yorkville Ave. fire station and library
Rapid rise: Even though it’s still under construction, the Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences Toronto has already become a new landmark for the Yorkville neighbourhood. You can’t miss it as you approach the Yonge Street Canadian Tire store from Church Street. It’s obvious from the Annex and from many places along Avenue Road, Bay and Yonge Streets. You can even see it from the south side of Bloor across from Holt Renfrew. That’s no small achievement considering that views toward Yorkville are blocked by some of the area’s oldest skyscrapers (the Manulife Centre and the two bank towers at Yonge & Bloor) as well as several new towers (18 Yorkville, Crystal Blu and Uptown Residences, to name but three). It certainly will make it easy to help guide tourists to Yorkville (I won’t have to point at the CIBC tower at 2 Bloor West anymore and say “go there; Yorkville’s right behind it;” I’ll be able to point out the Four Seasons instead. Designed by hotshot Toronto firm architectsAlliance, the two-tower complex is a project of Menkes Developments. Below is an architectural rendering of the property, along with some pics I recently took of the Four Seasons complex from several different perspectives in and around Yorkville. You can view even more photos of construction progress on the blog’s Photo Sets page (just click on the red tab at the top of this page and scroll down to the Four Seasons album).
Architects’ rendering of the new Four Seasons Toronto hotel + condo complex
Four Seasons Toronto seen from Scollard Street January 9
Four Seasons Toronto seen from Church near Yonge on January 9
Four Seasons Toronto from Avenue Rd at Yorkville Avenue on January 9
Four Seasons Toronto seen from Bloor Street opposite Holts on January 9
Four Seasons Toronto seen from Scollard Street on January 9
Four Seasons Toronto seen from Bay Street at Davenport Road on January 9
Couture Condos underground levels taking shape on January 24 2011
Frosty foundation: Their work keeps getting covered with snow, but contractors keep carrying on constructing Couture Condos at 28 Ted Rogers Way (the northernmost block of Jarvis Street between Charles and Bloor that was renamed in late 2009 in honour of the deceased media mogul; the Rogers Communications headquarters sit directly across the road). Designed by Graziani + Corrazza Architects Inc. and developed by Monarch Group, Couture will be a 44-storey glass tower wedged between a 30-year-old, 27-storey beige concrete apartment building and the new, recently-occupied black glass and steel X Condominium tower, itself 44 floors tall. Contrary to what the highrise development listing on the Monarch website has indicated for months, the Couture location is NOT in Etobicoke; I wish someone from Monarch would get around to correcting that glaring geographical mistake. What’s not mistakable is that Monarch picked a hot, in-demand downtown neighbourhood for its building. Besides X Condos, there are three other new condo towers within two blocks of Couture: Casa Condominium, Bloor Street Neighbourhood, and James Cooper Mansion Condos. And just a stone’s throw south, construction is set to start on the X2 condo tower. With even more condo projects proposed for the immediate vicinity, Couture will certainly stand in good company when it’s finished. While I’m not thrilled with the building’s boxy design, I’m convinced it will significantly liven up and greatly improve the streetscape — the site used to be a parking lot, and the whole Jarvis/Charles area has a rather uncomfortable and “dead” feel at night. That will definitely change with hundreds of residents going to and from Couture. But I’m more concerned about the tower’s potential wind tunnel impact on this part of Jarvis Street, which I walk at least once a week. Since X Condos has been built, I have noticed that winds blowing down upper Jarvis Street have become more powerful — there are more of those sudden, strong gusts that suck the air out of your lungs, or wrench your umbrella from your grip on rainy days, than I recall from the days before X. Once Couture is up, along with X2 half a block away, upper Jarvis Street might look great, but the canyon created by all the highrises could make it far from friendly to pedestrians. Below are renderings of Couture from the developer and architect websites, along with photos I’ve snapped showing recent progress on foundation construction.
Couture condo tower rendering from the developer’s website
Couture Condos foundation work on January 9 after a light snowfall
Couture Condos foundation work on January 9 after a light snowfall
Couture Condos foundation work on January 10
Couture Condos foundation work on January 10
Couture Condos foundation work on January 10
Construction crane on Couture Condos building site January 24 2011
Construction crane on Couture Condos building site January 24 2011
Couture Condos construction progress viewed through a safety fence along the rear grounds of X Condos on January 24 2011
Couture Condos construction progress on January 24 2011
No workers on site January 24 because of the bitter cold temperatures
Couture Condos construction progress on January 24 2011
Couture Condos tower renderings from the building architects’ website
Skyscrapers keep rising at the massive CityPlace district west of the CN Tower
Tracking progress: Condo towers and construction cranes greet visitors arriving in downtown Toronto by GO Train or Via Rail. As the trains slow down for their arrival at Union Station, they pass the steadily expanding Concord CityPlace development on the south side of the tracks. This was the Bathurst Street Bridge view of CityPlace on the afternoon of January 14.
Foundation pile drilling rig at Fashion House Condos site January 14 2011
Big Red: Construction has started on what’s promising to be the most fashionable — and eye-popping colourful — digs on trendy King Street West. Foundation pile drilling crews were on the site of Fashion House Condos last week, the latest Freed Developments project to get shovels in the ground.
Situated on the north side of King between Brant and Portland Streets, Fashion House will have 334 condo suites along with ground-floor retail shops and restaurants in what the project’s website describes as “a stunning 12-storey glass and steel staircase tower” of “intricate platform design.”
The sleek glass structure will connect to the historic three-storey brick building at 570 King Street West, which will be restored.
Fashion House seems destined to become an address that will be easy to find and hard to miss, thanks to the “dashing lipstick-red window coverings on the building’s exteriors (all of which shine a crisp, clean white inside)” that will complete the building’s “fashion-forward design statement.” (That’s assuming red remains a hot fashion colour by the time construction concludes.)
The project, designed by Toronto’s Core Architects Inc., is more than 85% sold.
Below are some photos I’ve taken at the Fashion House site, along with some artistic renderings of the condo building from the Fashion House website.
Artistic rendering of Fashion House Condos
Artistic rendering of Fashion House Condos
Fashion House Condos rendering on billboard at project site
This historic brick building, seen on March 11 2010, will be restored and connected to the sleek glass Fashion House Condos tower
Fashion House Condos location viewed on March 11 2010
Fashion House Condos location viewed on November 23 2010
Fashion House Condos location viewed on November 23 2010
Fashion House Condos location viewed on November 23 2010
Foundation pile drilling rig at Fashion House Condos site January 14 2011
Foundation pile drilling rig at Fashion House Condos site January 14 2011
Foundation pile drilling rig at Fashion House Condos site January 14 2011
Excavation activity at fly condos on January 14
Digging deeper: The hole in the ground for fly condos on Front Street West has gotten just a bit deeper in the two weeks since my “Big Digs” excavation update post.
Here are three more pics of the excavation progress.
Aura at College Park condo tower foundation progress on January 18 2011
Gaining ground: The last time I posted progress pics of construction at Aura at College Park was January 7. These latest two photos, from this past week, show work on the underground levels for the 75-storey tower quickly approaching street level.