Category Archives: King Street West

Fashion House Condos photo update

Fashion House Condos

November 28 2013: A view of Fashion House Condos on King Street West, where construction is nearing completion and units are being fitted with the building’s trademark bold red window coverings.

 

By popular request: Judging by the email I’ve been receiving lately, there’s considerable interest in the Fashion House Condos development on King Street West. Numerous people have asked if I have taken any recent photos of the midrise residential building designed by Toronto’s CORE Architects Inc., which is nearing the end of construction.

I actually had an opportunity to snap some photos just a few days ago during a quick trip to the King West area, so I have posted them in the Fashion House Condos album on thetorontoblog.com’s Flickr page.

An update on this Freed Developments project will follow soon.

 

Click on the image to view a small-format slideshow of Fashion House condo photos. Click twice to open the Flickr album and view individual full-size pictures.

 

 

Winter building pics: February 2013

Above is a link to my February 2013 Flickr album of building and construction photos I shot during walks in the downtown area. Click once on the image to view a small-format slideshow of the pictures, or click twice to access the album directly on Flickr and see full-size photos and captions.

 

Fashion House Condos’ stacked glass box design taking shape as construction climbs to 10th floor

Fashion House Condos

November 23 2010: Hoarding surrounds the historic Toronto Silver Plate Building at 570 King Street West before excavation commenced behind it for the new Fashion House Condos development. The city-designated heritage building will be restored and incorporated into the new condo complex for commercial uses.

 

 

Fashion House Condos

January 10 2013: The L-shaped King Building of the Fashion House condo complex climbs above the north and east sides of the Toronto Silver Plate Building as construction reaches the 10th floor, with 2 floors still to be built

 

 

Fashion House Condos

November 23 2010: A view of the Fashion House condo site from King Street shortly before foundation drilling and shoring work began.

 

 

Fashion House Condos

February 6 2013: The concrete frame for the new building has reached 10 storeys, while window and cladding installation has begun on three floors

 

Designer digs: With construction of Fashion House Condos now up to 10 floors and just a few weeks away from topping off at 12, the building’s stacked platform design is becoming more apparent to passersby on King Street West. Installation of floor-to-ceiling windows on three floors, so far, also indicates that the condo interiors will be cheery, bright spaces regardless of whether the sky is cloudy or clear — unless residents choose  to keep the building’s signature lipstick-red curtains closed.

The 334-unit complex is a project of Freed Developments, which had asked Toronto’s Core Architects Inc. to design a contemporary building that would celebrate King Street’s long history as a fashion district. (The area formerly was known as Toronto’s Garment District.)

 

 

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Pit Stops: Photo roundup of below-ground and at-grade construction activity at 21 downtown condo, office & university building sites

Picasso on Richmond condos

As 2012 drew to a close, some noteworthy downtown building projects had reached different stages of at- and below-grade construction progress. At some sites, like this one for the Picasso on Richmond condo tower, preliminary foundation drilling work was in full swing …

 

Studio on Richmond condos

… while at others, like this one for the Studio on Richmond and Studio2 condo towers just two blocks east of Picasso, site excavation was ongoing.

 

The Yorkville condos

Over the same period of time, underground parking levels were taking shape at some building sites, like this one for The Yorkville condo project on Davenport Road …

 

X2 Condos

… while over on Charles Street East, construction had reached a milestone mark at X2 Condos, where building had started on the ground level of the tower

 

Fall photos: Until condo and office tower construction starts to climb above street level, it can be difficult to track how quickly work is progressing on the dozens of new buildings going up in Toronto’s downtown core. Ground-level views of building sites are often obscured by hoarding and security fences, plus concrete delivery trucks, dump trucks and other construction vehicles maneuvering into and out of staging areas adjacent to construction zones. I find it’s a big challenge to monitor ongoing progress at places where underground levels are taking shape, let alone keep an eye on sites where shovels are just breaking ground or preliminary work is being undertaken to prepare for full-scale construction. The vast number of projects scattered throughout the downtown core certainly doesn’t make the task any easier.

 

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Neighbourhood Watch: Condo construction activity in downtown’s King & Bathurst area (Part 2)

Reve King West condo Toronto

July 17 2011: Rêve King West viewed from Bathurst Street. The building extends from Front Street all the way north to Niagara Street.

 

 

Three streets, five projects: Last week I profiled five different development projects in Part 1 of my Neighbourhood Watch focus on the King & Bathurst area:  Lofts 399 on Adelaide Street West, plus Victory Condos, Fashion House Condos, Six50 King West and Thompson Residences — all on King Street between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street. Today, Part 2 takes a look at another five projects on three separate streets in the same area.

 

Rêve King West

 

Construction is nearing completion on this midrise Tridel condominium project at 560 Front Street West between Bathurst and Portland Streets.  According to the Rêve King West website, occupancy has been tentatively scheduled for this fall. Many floorplans have sold out; however, the website indicates there is still availability for a $341,000 1-bedroom + den in 650 square feet, a 970-square-foot 3-bedroom priced from $535,000, and several “Dream Collection” suites offering anywhere from 1,030 to 1,55 square feet of living space, at prices between $590,000 and $890,000.

Even with construction winding down, I’m still ambivalent about the building’s design. Rêve does have some striking design features that I like — especially the red trim highlights on the black cladding, and the opaque white balcony panels which really make the building stand out. Yet that’s also what I don’t like about Rêve: it stands out too much.  The building’s sheer size seems completely wrong for the location since it totally dominates the block and overwhelms all of its next-door neighbours. It has an ominous, hulking appearance and, particularly when viewed from either the east or west side, looks far too big and way too black. I would hate to live in one of the townhouses at Portland Park Village and have that vast black building looming next door.

Photos of earlier stages of Rêve’s construction progress can be viewed in my April 14 2011 post and my January 21 2011 post.

 

Reve King West condo Toronto

June 21 2011: Workers install panels at the top of Rêve’s south side

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

 July 17 2011: Rêve dwarfs the Portland Park Village condo complex immediately to its east at 550 Front Street West

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Balconies on Rêve’s south facade above Front Street

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Bathurst Street view of the upper south and west walls

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Balconies along part of Rêve’s extensive west wall

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

 July 20 2011: A window on the upper south facade catches some sun

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 20 2011: A street-level view of Rêve’s south side

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 20 2011: This private driveway off Front Street leads to the lobby entrance

 

Reve King West condos and Portland Park Village condos

July 20 2011: Rêve rises only inches away from the Portland Park Village condos

 

Reve King West condos

July 20 2011:  Looking up the building’s south face

 

Reve King West condos

July 20 2011: Some balconies are still missing panels …

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

… while other parts of the exterior await their own finishing touches

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 20 2011 : Balconies on the south side of the building

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Looking up at the southeast corner of the building

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Ropes for swing stages dangle down the building’s south side

 

Reve King West condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Rêve’s upper northeast floors viewed from Niagara Street

Reve King West condos and Portland Park Village condos

July 20 2011: Rêve looms behind the Portland Park Village townhouses

 

Reve King West condos and Portland Park Village condos

July 20 2011: Rêve viewed from the driveway for Portland Park Village

 

Reve King West condos and Portland Park Village condos

July 20 2011: The Portland Park Village midrise building (left) and Rêve tower above the four-level townhouses nestled below

 

Reve King West condos

July 20 2011: Rêve rises above the townhouses at Portland Park Village in this view from Victoria Memorial Park

 

 

 

Condo development proposal for Front & Bathurst

 

578 Bathurst Street condo development site

July 17 2011: A proposed four-building condo development site on the northeast corner of Bathurst and Front Streets. The new Rêve King West condo building (right rear) stands immediately next door to the east.

 

A rezoning application was recently filed with the city to construct a four-building residential community with nearly 1,000 condos at the northeast corner of Bathurst and Front Streets, right next door to the new Rêve King West condos profiled above. The June 30 2011 redevelopment proposal for 578 Front Street West encompasses a group of properties with frontage on Niagara, Bathurst and Front Streets. The plan calls for a mixed-use development with 970 residential units in four buildings ranging in height from 4 to 22 stories. There would be street-level retail space, along with 960 parking spaces in an underground garage.

The site itself has an intriguing history going back more than 150 years. In the late 1800s, the land was used as a coal and wood yard, and then became home to the Doty Engine Works machinery-building plant. Bertram Engine Works subsequently acquired the property, where it manufactured engines and boilers for its nearby shipyard. For a time, it was the location of a brick press manufacturer, and during the First World War operated as a munitions factory. Over the decades that followed, the land and buildings were occupied by a variety of different businesses, including the Rock Oasis indoor climbing gym which operated there until it relocated in June. (The property’s history is outlined in extensive detail and photos in a June 21 2011 post by Toronto blogger Nathan Ng. A shorter account of Mr. Ng’s historical essay can be read in The Architourist column by Dave Leblanc in the July 15 2011 Globe and Mail.)

Below are pictures of the development proposal notice as well as recent photos of demolition activity on the site.

 

578 Front Street West condo proposal notice

 The development proposal sign on the property

 

578 Front Street West condo proposal site plan

Site plan illustration on the development proposal sign

 

buildings at 33 - 49 Niagara Street Toronto

July 17 2011: Hoarding surrounds buildings at 33 – 49 Niagara Street that will be demolished to make way for the condo development

 

buildings at 33 - 49 Niagara Street Toronto

July 17 2011: The buildings at 33 – 49 Niagara Street, viewed from Victoria Memorial Park looking west toward Bathurst Street

578 Front Street West condo development site

July 20 2011: Demolition activity at the 578 Front Street West condo development site, viewed here from Front Street looking northwest toward Bathurst Street.

 

578 Front Street West condo development site

July 20 2011: From the late 1890s until 1940, the buildings on this site were home to several different machinery manufacturing companies.

 

578 Front Street West condo development site

July 20 2011: This building was the downtown Toronto location of the Rock Oasis indoor climbing gym for 13 years until the business relocated in June.

578 Front Street West condo development site

July 20 2011: Four buildings will range from 4 to 22 storeys tall

 

former downtown Toronto Harley Davidson dealership

July 20 2011: The former downtown Toronto Harley-Davidson dealership occupies the eastern end of the proposed condo development site

 

 

Minto 775 King West

 

A project of Minto Group Inc., this development is currently under construction on a large site at the southwest corner of King and Tecumseth Streets. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the 16-storey building has a variety of floorplans for studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom suites that vary in size from 542 to 1,425 square feet and in price from $356,800 to $639,800. Suites in “The Penthouse Collection” range from an 821-square-foot 1-bedroom unit costing $580,800 to an 1,866 2-bedroom going for $1,288,800. Retail space will occupy the ground level of the five-storey podium along King Street. Below are recent photos showing construction progress on the site. Further information about the building design is available on the Harini Pontarini webpage for the Minto 775 King West project.

 

Minto 775 King West condo building artistic rendering

From the Minto 775 King West condo website, an artistic rendering of the Hariri Pontarini-designed building

 

Minto 775 King West condos location

 August 23 2008:  The Minto 775 King West location before construction commenced, looking southeast from King Street toward Tecumseth Street

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011: West view toward the condo site at King & Tecumseth Streets

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011:  One of two cranes on the construction site, viewed here from the sidewalk on the north side of King Street

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011: Overlooking the L-shaped excavation from the NE corner

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011: Construction activity several levels below Tecumseth Street

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011: Underground levels take shape near the northeast corner

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011: Looking west from the Tecumseth Street side of the property

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011: Walls taking shape four levels below street grade

 

Minto 775 King West condo Toronto

July 20 2011: Concrete delivery at the King Str. construction entrance

 

 

400 Wellington

 

This midrise building on Wellington Street just west of Spadina Avenue is a project of DesignSorbara, a family-owned and operated design development company. It’s essentially two buildings in one, with a 10-storey wing in front and a 12-storey section in back. The complex also blends two distinct architectural styles: The front building was inspired by the  reddish-brown warehouses in the surrounding neighbourhood, while the rear structure features  “a mid-1900s-inspired horizontal layout of windows and masonry,” according to the 400 Wellington website.

Below are construction progress photos I snapped during June and July. Photos of earlier stages of construction can be viewed in my February 27 2011 post and in my January 17 2011 post.

 

architectural rendering of the 400 Wellington condos

This artistic rendering of the 400 Wellington condo buildings appears on the condo project website

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

June 21 2011: 400 Wellington viewed from the southeast end of the block

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

June 21 2011: The front wing (left) stands 10 storeys; the rear section 12

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

June 21 2011: A closer view of the five upper levels of the rear building section

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

June 21 2011: Construction progress on the southwest side of the building

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

June 21 2011: A yellow construction garbage chute stands out against the blue insulation on the exterior wall of the front wing

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

July 17 2011: Brickwork has been installed on much of the building’s exterior

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

July 17 2011: Brickwork on the building’s southwest corner

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

July 17 2011: Street level view from the south side of Wellington Street

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

July 17 2011: Upper levels on the south side of the 12-storey wing

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

July 17 2011: Construction viewed from Wellington Street, looking northwest

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

July 17 2011: Brickwork on upper levels of the 10-storey front building

 

400 Wellington Street West condos

July 17 2011: 400 Wellington rises behind The Globe and Mail newspaper’s head office in this view from Concord CityPlace. The Globe site could become condos in several years’ time, too; the newspaper has announced it will begin construction in 2012 on a new building next door (at right, currently a Toyota dealership).

 

 

500 Wellington West

 

A project of Freed Developments, this 10-storey boutique condo building is nearing completion. Designed by Core Architects, 500 Wellington West has 17 luxury suites that occupy either half or full floors.  It’s just a short walk west of the 400 Wellington project site (above), and even closer to the Victoria Memorial Park at Portland Street.  Below are photos showing construction progress in June and July. Pictures of earlier stages of construction can be viewed in my February 27 2011 post and in my January 16 2011 post.

 

500 Wellington West condos

June 21 2011: A crew works on the exterior of the building’s south facade

 

500 Wellington West condos

June 21 2011: The building appears small from the outside, but offers incredible space inside. For example: Residence 6 offers 5,990 square feet of interior space on a full floor, along with a 975-square-foot terrace.

 

500 Wellington West condos

June 21 2011: A closer look at the crew working on the front windows

 

500 Wellington West condo

July 17 2011: Even the half-floor suites are spacious.  Residence 5 offers 3,515 square feet of interior space along with a 535-square-foot terrace.

500 Wellington West condo

July 17 2011: Glass panels will be installed on the 3 balconies seen here

 

500 Wellington West condo

July 17 2011: Floor-to-ceiling windows line three sides of the top-level suites

 

500 Wellington West condo

July 17 2011: Construction progress viewed from across Wellington Street

 

Neighbourhood Watch: Condo construction activity in downtown’s King & Bathurst area (Part 1)

Six50 King West condos Toronto

 July 17 2011: The 9-storey King Street facade of Six50 King West

 

Good fits?: They’re not skyscrapers, but the collection of low- and midrise condo buildings under construction on Adelaide, King and Wellington Streets, between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street, are significantly transforming the vibrant west downtown neighbourhood nonetheless. Rising above, between and behind the old brick warehouse buildings that are characteristic of the area, they’re adding contemporary style, colour and flair — along with expensive “to die for” designer penthouses — to the once-gritty and now hot & trendy district.

I manage to visit what some call the “Central King West” area about once or twice a season. I still enjoy its general look and and atmosphere, and find it’s still a comfortable area to walk around. Although some of the new buildings do appear to loom rather large next to their neighbours, they don’t seem overwhelming or out of scale for the streets. So far, at least, the area hasn’t developed the sterile and impersonal “condo canyon” feel or annoying wind tunnel conditions of Bay Street and other downtown streets that keep sprouting skyscrapers. But since some of the projects are only in early stages of construction (three are still below grade, while one is just beginning to break ground), and just as many more are in the development pipeline, it’s possible my impressions of the neighbourhood could change significantly  in several years’ time. Until then, I’m sure I’ll find it interesting to keep tracking the progress with each changing season. Below are photos I’ve taken recently of several different condo projects. Photos of additional neighbourhood projects will appear in Part 2.

 

Lofts 399 at 399 Adelaide Street West

 

A project of Cresford Developments, Lofts 399 is being built on the south side of Adelaide Street between the two Quad Lofts condos, and will sit back-to-back to the new Victory Condos on King West. My February 20 2011 post has several photos showing earlier construction progress at Lofts 399 and its proximity to the other condos.

 

artistic rendering of Lofts399 condos

From the Lofts 399 project website, an artistic rendering of how the 10-storey, 173-unit building will look when viewed from Adelaide Street.

 

Lofts 399 condo construction

July 17 2011: Looking from west to east across the Lofts 399 site

 

Lofts 399 condos on Adelaide Street West

July 17 2011: The Lofts 399 foundation begins to take shape

 

Lofts 399 condos on Adelaide Street West

July 17 2011: Looking along the south wall of the Lofts 399 site

 

Lofts 399 condos on Adelaide Street West

July 17 2011: A closer view of the bottom underground level. Lofts 399 will have four floors of below-grade parking.

 

Lofts 399 condos on Adelaide Street West

July 17 2011: Looking across the site toward Adelaide Street West

 

 Victory Condominiums on King

 

This project by BLVD Developments is approaching completion on the north side of King Street just west of Spadina Avenue. Designed by Rudy Wallman of Toronto’s Wallman Architects, the L-shaped building is 12 storeys tall and has 175 units. My March 13 2011 post and my January 15 2011 post both include photos of Victory during earlier stages of construction.

 

Victory Condos on King Street West Toronto

From the Lifetime Developments website, an artistic rendering of the Victory Condominiums on King West building designed by Toronto architect Rudy Wallman

 

Victory Condos on King West  Toronto

July 17 2011 : A street-level view of Victory Condos on King West

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011: The south side of Victory Condos, viewed from across King Street

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011:  Balconies, windows and brickwork on the south facade

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011: Victory viewed from the southwest on King Street

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011: Victory Condos offers six penthouse suites. The smallest is an 800-square-foot 2-bedroom unit with 80-square-foot balcony; it was priced at $706,900. The largest is a 2,545-square-foot residence with a 530-square-foot balcony. It carried the eye-popping pricetag of $2,219,900.

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011: Victory rises behind the brick building at 500 King Street West

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011: Victory viewed from the intersection of King & Brant Streets

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011:  Another view of Victory from Brant & King

 

Victory Condos on King West Toronto

July 17 2011: The upper four floors of south-facing balconies

 

 Fashion House Condos on King West

 

One of several Freed Developments projects in the popular Central King West neighbourhood, Fashion House Condos was designed by Toronto’s Core Architects Inc. Its red colour accents and striking design are definitely going to make a bold architectural fashion statement on the street.  As described on the project website: “a stunning 12-storey glass and steel staircase tower, the intricate platform design sets the stage for large terraces and balconies, while the glass showcases the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.” The 334-unit building is 85% sold. Photos of earlier construction progress at Fashion House can be seen in my April 2 2011 post and in my January 24 2011 post.

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

From the Fashion House Condos website, an artistic rendering of how the building will look when viewed from the south side of King Street

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: King Street view of excavation progress at the Fashion House site

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Looking down on the southeast corner of the construction site

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Looking northwest across the construction site

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Excavation progress viewed from Morrison Street to the northeast

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Overlooking the excavation from the northeast corner of the site

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Morrison Street view toward the south side of the excavation

 

Fashion House Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: A construction worker takes a rest on a woodpile in the pit

 

Six50 King West Condominiums at King & Bathurst

 

Another successful (80% sold) project by Freed Developments, Six50 King West is a 236-unit two-building complex with frontage on both King Street and Bathurst Street. The Bathurst wing will be the tallest, rising 15 floors, while the King section will have nine storeys. Like Fashion House, Six50 was designed by Core Architects Inc. Photos of earlier stages of construction can be viewed in my March 30 2011 post and in my January 20 2011 post.

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

From the Six50 King West condo project website, an artistic rendering of the two-building complex that will front on both Bathurst (left) and King Streets (right)

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

 July 17 2011: Street-level view of the King side of the two-building complex

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: The glass-fronted upper floors of the King Street building

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Northeast view of the building during streetcar track replacement work on King Street West

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Northeasterly view of the upper levels of the King Street wing

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 20 2011:  Bathurst Street view of construction progress on the west wing

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: West sides of the complex viewed from Bathurst Street

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: The west wing will rise 15 storeys above Bathurst Street

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Adelaide Street view of the north and east sides of Six50 King West

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 17 2011: Balconies on the northeast side of the Six50 King complex

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Another view of balconies on the east side of the condo complex

 

Six50 King West Condos Toronto

July 20 2011: Balconies and windows at the northeast corner of the building

 

 Thompson Residences on King Street West

 

Freed strikes condo gold — again. Thompson Residences is yet another Freed Developments project on the Central King West strip, just a stone’s throw from its hip Thompson Hotel & condo complex that opened at 550 Wellington Street West in 2010  (and scored a coveted spot on Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s Hot List Hotels 2011). According to the project website, Thompson Residences will offer “hotel inspired living” in 314 luxury condos, lofts and penthouses “loaded with the amenities and services of a top-tier hotel” — along with access to the Thompson Hotel on the other side of Stewart Street to the south. As such, it will be the polar opposite to the former motor hotel that once occupied the site at 621 King Street West.

For this project, Freed chose Saucier + Perrotte Architectes of Montreal, whose design for the 12-storey Residences (actually, two separate buildings situated parallel to each other) is described at length in a February 18 2010 Globe and Mail column by John Bentley Mays. But Freed had to battle the City for approval to build as high as it planned. City zoning permitted a maximum height of 20 meters for the site, but the Thompson Residences buildings will stand 36 and 40 meters tall, respectively. The height dispute wound up at the Ontario Municipal Board, which sided with Freed, and now the project is proceeding.  (A short online story in the Toronto Star described the dispute and its outcome, as did a more extensive February 25 2011 Globe and Mail article available to online subscribers.)

Below are several photos showing the Thompson Residences site while the property was occupied by the condo project sales centre after the motel was demolished, and with recent pictures showing some preliminary site preparation and excavation activity.

 

Thompson Residences King Street West Toronto

From the Thompson Residences project website, an artistic rendering of the condominium, designed by Montreal’s Saucier + Perrotte Architectes

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

March 11 2010: The Thompson Residences site on King east of Bathurst Street. The Thompson Hotel complex at 550 Wellington Street stands at rear left.

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

November 23 2010: Sandwich board sign outside the showroom

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

January 14 2011: The Thompson Residences showroom reflects buildings on the north side of King Street in this view, looking east along King

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

January 14 2011: The old motel sign was re-purposed for the condo project

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

June 21 2011:  Looking west along King Street at the Thompson Residences site

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

June 21 2011: Preliminary site preparation work is underway

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

June 21 2011: An excavating machine digging at the west end of site

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

June 21 2011: Marketing signs on hoarding along the east end of the property

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

July 17 2011: Looking across King Street toward the Thompson Residences site

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

July 17 2011: Looking toward the west half of the construction site

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

July 17 2011: Excavation work continuing at the west end of the property

Thompson Residences Toronto

July 17 2011: Two excavation machines at work on the site

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

July 17 2011: The Thompson hotel and condo complex on Stewart Street is visible across the Thompson Residences site

 

Thompson Residences Toronto

July 17 2011: A mound of demolition rubble at the east end of the property

 

 

Pit stops: Checking out excavation activity at Fashion House, Motion Apartments and U Condos

Fashion House condos on King Street West

March 29 2011: Excavation at the NE corner of the Fashion House site

 

Motion on Bay apartment tower

March 22 2011: Motion on Bay apartment tower excavation at Bay & Dundas Streets

 

U Condos condo tower excavation

April 1 2011: U Condos condo tower excavation at Bay and St Mary Streets

 

Digging deeper: Excavations for three new highrise residential buildings are moving steadily along in three different downtown areas.

The digs at Fashion House Condos on King Street West, Motion Apartments on Bay at Dundas, and U Condos on Bay near Yorkville, all are more than one underground level deep at parts of their respective construction sites. But while excavation activity is underway on almost the entire Motion on Bay site, digging is limited to certain perimeter points at Fashion House and U Condos. Pile driving and shoring activity continues at both of those sites, where roughly three-quarters of the ground on each property has yet to be broken.

Below is a series of recent photos showing excavation progress at each building site. To view building renderings and pictures I’ve published previously, see my January 24 post on Fashion House, my January 29 post for Motion on Bay, and my February 4 and March 18 posts on U Condos.

 

Fashion House condos on King Street West

March 29 2011: View from King Street of the Fashion House site

 

Fashion House condos on King Street West

March 29 2011: Activity at the northwest corner of the Fashion House site

 

Fashion House condos on King Street West

March 29 2011: Activity at the northwest corner of the Fashion House site

 

Fashion House condos on King Street West

March 29 2011: Excavation at the north side of the Fashion House site

 

Fashion House condos on King Street West

March 29 2011: Activity at the NE corner of the Fashion House site

 

Motion on Bay Apartments

February 15 2011: Northwest view of Motion on Bay excavation

 

Motion on Bay Apartments excavation progress

February 15 2011: The north half of the Motion on Bay construction site

 

Motion on Bay Apartments excavation progress

March 22 2011: Excavation activity at the SW corner of the Motion site

 

Motion on Bay Apartments excavation progress

March 22 2011: Shoring and excavation equipment at the Motion site

 

U Condos on Bay Street below Yorkville

April 1 2011: Digging away at the southwest corner of the U Condos site

 

U Condos on Bay Street below Yorkville

April 1 2011: Excavator digging at the NW corner of the U Condos site

 

U Condos on Bay Street below Yorkville

April 1 2011: The dig is more than one level deep at U Condos’ western perimeter

 

U Condos on Bay Street below Yorkville

April 1 2011: A closer view of the depth of the excavation at the northwest corner

 

U Condos on Bay Street below Yorkville

April 1 2011: Excavation depth along the property’s western perimeter

 

U Condos on Bay Street below Yorkville

April 1 2011: St Mary Street view of activity at the east end of the site

 

U Condos on Bay Street below Yorkville

April 1 2011: Preparing the Bay Street side of the site for excavation


Construction climbs to sixth floor on King St. flank of Freed’s six50 King West condo complex

Six50 King West condo construction

King Street view of Six50 King West construction on March 29 2011

 

Six50 King West condo construction

Bathurst Street view of six50’s east wing on March 29 2011

 

Two-thirds of the way up: The Six50 King West condo project already has a strong presence in the King & Bathurst area — and construction of one of its two wings hasn’t even topped off yet.

A project of Freed Developments, six50 King West actually will be two buildings in one, an L-shaped complex wrapping around the back of two brick buildings on the northeast corner of King & Bathurst Streets. The east section of the complex, a 9-storey building with frontage on King Street, is going up first, and construction has reached the sixth floor. Foundation work is still underway for the west wing, which will be a 15-storey midrise tower overlooking Bathurst Street.

The project, which is 80% sold, was designed by Toronto’s Core Architects Inc.

Below are some pics I snapped yesterday at the six50 construction site. You can see the progress that has been made since January by comparing them to photos I published in my first post about six50 King West back on January 20  2011.

 

Six50 King West condo construction

A building rendering on hoarding along King Street

 

Six50 King West condo construction

Northwest view of construction from the opposite side of King Street

 

Six50 King West condo construction

King Street wing of the six50 complex viewed from the opposite side of the street

 

Six50 King West condo construction

Northeasterly view of construction progress on six50’s King Street building

 

Six50 King West condo construction

six50 construction viewed from the intersection of King & Bathurst Streets

 

Six50 King West condo construction

Construction viewed from the west side of Bathurst Street

 

Six50 King West condo construction

The numbers on the construction elevator may read 23 and 24, but the east wing of six50 King West will rise only 9 storeys tall

 

Six50 King West condo construction

The CN Tower is still visible in this Bathurst Street view of the six50 King West construction activity. The condo building will soon block the tower from sight


The two sides of Victory Condos

Victory Condos construction progress

Balconies on the north side of Victory Condos, viewed from a park below

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Adelaide Street West view of Victory Condos and Quad Lofts, left

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Victory Condos frontage along King Street West on February 17 2011

 

Both sides now: My January 15 post about Victory Condos included photos of the building site and construction progress as viewed from King Street West. A few weeks ago, I took a walk down Adelaide Street West so I could get some pics of the building’s north side. Here they are.

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Victory Condos viewed from Spadina Avenue on February 17 2011

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Victory Condos north side viewed from a lane on Adelaide St. W.

 

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Adelaide Street West view of Victory Condos and its two Quad Lofts neighbours. The long excavation site in the foreground, along on the south side of Adelaide, is where the Lofts 399 Condos are currently under construction.

 

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Victory Condos viewed from a driveway beside Quad Lofts

 

Victory Condos construction progress

North side of Victory Condos viewed from a driveway behind the building

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Victory Condos viewed from a park between the two Quad Lofts buildings

 

Victory Condos construction progress

South side of Victory Condos seen from King Street near Brant Street

 

Victory Condos construction progress

The upper levels of the 12-storey condo building approach completion

 

Victory Condos construction progress

King Street West view of the Victory Condos entrance area

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Victory Condos facade coming together above King Street West

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Another view Victory Condos from King Street West

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Another view of the Victory Condos ground level along King Street West

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Looking up the front of the building from King Street West

 

Victory Condos construction progress

Victory Condos construction progress on February 17 2011


Fashion House Condos breaks ground

Fashion House Condos

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.

 

Fashion House Condos

Artistic rendering of Fashion House Condos


Fashion House Condos

Artistic rendering of Fashion House Condos


Fashion House Condos

Fashion House Condos rendering on billboard at project site


Fashion House Condos

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

Fashion House Condos location viewed on March 11 2010


Fashion House Condos

Fashion House Condos location viewed on November 23 2010


Fashion House Condos

Fashion House Condos location viewed on November 23 2010


Fashion House Condos

Fashion House Condos location viewed on November 23 2010


Fashion House Condos

Foundation pile drilling rig at Fashion House Condos site January 14 2011


Fashion House Condos

Foundation pile drilling rig at Fashion House Condos site January 14 2011


Fashion House Condos

Foundation pile drilling rig at Fashion House Condos site January 14 2011


Construction under wraps at Six50 King West

Six50 King West Condominiums

Six50 King West Condominiums construction on January 14 2011


All wrapped up: Construction had reached the second floor when I walked past the Six50 King West Condominiums last week. But there wasn’t much to see and in turn tell you about because protective plastic sheeting was wrapped around the entire street level of the building.

I’m sure the plastic wrap was a legitimate winter construction procedure, rather than some sneaky scheme to keep my prying eyes and camera from getting a glimpse of how the new building is shaping up. I could be wrong; the people working at some downtown building projects (most notably the Maple Leaf Gardens transformation) really don’t want folks like me tracking construction progress, especially with my camera.  But the kind contractors at Six50 didn’t give me any grief.

A project of Freed Developments, Six50 is just one of a dozen new condo buildings — either recently completed or currently under construction — that are radically changing the look of the booming King West neighbourhood. And nine of those just happen to be Freed projects.

Six50 will be two “high style” contemporary buildings “joined at the hip,” according to the condo’s website. There will be a 15-storey building on Bathurst, and its 9-floor companion fronting on King Street. Together, they will boast 220 contemporary condo units. Of those suites, 201 will be typical one-story apartments, while a lucky 13 will each have two floors of living space. Six units will be townhomes.

The project is more than 80% sold, but units still are available at prices starting in the $300,000’s.

Below is a website rendering of the project, along with several photos I’ve taken of the Six50 site, one of which shows a crew at work demolishing the building that formerly occupied the location.

 

Six50 King West Condominiums

A rendering of Six50 King West, from the condo website


Six50 King West Condominiums

Demolition at Six50 King West Condominiums site on August 20 2008


Six50 King West Condominiums

Excavation work at Six50 King West Condominiums March 11 2010


Six50 King West Condominiums

Excavation work at Six50 King West Condominiums March 11 2010


Six50 King West Condominiums

Crane on site as condo foundation is built Sept 4 2010


Six50 King West Condominiums

CN Tower view of Six50 King West November 2 2010.  Nearly all the new buildings in the photo are Freed Developments projects.


Six50 King West Condominium

Street level view of construction November 23 2010


Six50 King West condominium

Street level view November 23 2010


Six50 King West condominium

Street level view November 23 2010


Six50 King West condominium

Street level view November 23 2010


Six50 King West Condominiums

Street level view on January 14 2011


Six50 King West Condominiums

Street level view on January 14 2011


Six50 King West Condominiums

Street level view on January 14 2011


BLVD Developments ready to declare Victory in condominium building battle on King Street West

Victory condo construction progress on January 14 2011


Building exterior nearly done: Window, brickwork and balcony installations are giving the exterior of Victory Condos on King Street West a more finished look this week.

The L-shaped, 12-storey building is a project of BLVD Developments. It will feature 175 units, including penthouses with large terraces, 2,500 square feet of retail space on its ground level, and another 3.500 of retail shops accessed by a landscaped walkway at the west side of the property.

The building was designed by Rudy Wallman of Toronto’s Wallman Architects.

Below is a series of photos showing construction progress at Victory Condos. There are three shots showing the condo location in 2008 before construction commenced, a picture taken from the CN Tower in November, and several pics from just this past week.