Category Archives: Milan condos

Milan Condominium rising higher in Yorkville

Milan Condos

December 30 2012: Church Street view of construction progress on The Milan Condominium, which has climbed more than 15 floors near the northeast corner of the Church Street-Yonge Street-Davenport Road intersection. Only 8 months ago …

 

Milan Condos

… construction was just beginning to approach ground level at the east end of the project site, formerly occupied by a parking lot for the Canadian Tire flagship store on Yonge Street (white building at rear left)

 

Milan Condos

May 6 2012: Looking toward the Church-Yonge-Davenport intersection of Yorkville from the east end of The Milan Condominium construction site

 

Steady climb: The Milan Condominium continues to make its mark in Yorkville. As the tower steadily climbs taller on a former parking lot site near the northeast corner of Yonge and Church Streets, it is completely changing the look and feel of the area in the process.

Construction was still below grade last May, but during the summer the building began making its presence felt as The Milan’s podium reached three levels on its way to eight.  The tower has since passed 15 floors, and now commands attention from the east, north and west. I have crossed the Church-Yonge-Davenport intersection several times in the past two weeks, and on each occasion have overheard other pedestrians making positive comments about how different the corner looks with The Milan on the rise. (I haven’t heard any negative feedback about the building, but have heard passersby remark that it’s a huge improvement over the unsightly parking facility that previously occupied the site.)

 

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Milan Condo construction climbs to 5th floor

The Milan Condominium

September 6 2012: Podium and tower construction progress at The Milan Condominium

 

Photo update: Construction of the podium for The Milan Condominium has climbed to five floors, giving an early indication of how drastically the 37-storey tower will dominate the Yonge-Church-Davenport intersection once it’s finished.

Below are several photos I snapped while walking past the construction site on Thursday. Pictures from earlier in the summer and spring can be viewed in my August 12 2012 post and my May 9 2012 report.

 

The Milan Condominium

September 6 2012: The Milan Condominium construction progress viewed from the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Davenport Road, looking east

 

The Milan Condominium

September 6 2012

 

The Milan Condominium

September 6 2012

 

The Milan Condominium

September 6 2012

 

The Milan Condominium

September 6 2012: Construction viewed from the southeast, along upper Church Street

 

The Milan Condominium

September 6 2012

 

 

The Milan condos adding new look to landscape at Church-Yonge-Davenport corner in Yorkville

Milan condos Toronto

August 6 2012: Construction of the third above-ground level of The Milan Condominium viewed from the southeast on Church Street

 

Milan condos Toronto

August 6 2012: View from the southeast corner of Yonge & Church Streets. Construction of the tower’s 4th floor gets underway as building forms are placed at the northwest corner.

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Milan Condos Toronto

July 29 2012 view of The Milan from the west along Davenport Road

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New landmark: The Church-Yonge-Davenport intersection in Yorkville is taking on a whole new look as construction of The Milan Condominium commences its steady, gradual climb above street level.

For decades, the intersection was instantly identifiable by two familiar landmarks: the flagship Canadian Tire store and gas bar on the northeast corner, and the 94-year-old Masonic Temple (now production studios and offices for MTV Canada) on the northwest. But as The Milan tower makes its ascent, some pedestrians and motorists are getting a bit confused about where they are.

 

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Construction of The Milan Condominium tower approaches sidewalk level on north Church St.

Milan Condos in Yorkville Toronto

May 6 2012: Looking west across The Milan Condominium tower construction site near the Yonge & Church intersection in Yorkville

 

Milan Condos in Yorkville Toronto

May 6 2012: Construction has climbed to 1 meter below grade at the southeast side of the site, seen here looking north from the Church Street sidewalk …

 

Milan Condos in Yorkville Toronto

… but still has some catching up to do at the southwest corner …

 

Milan Condos in Yorkville Toronto

… while construction continues to progress the fastest at the northeast corner, where the building already looms above the Yonge subway line

 

Closing the gap: Passersby will soon be able to watch construction activity at The Milan Condominium tower site in Yorkville without having to peer through a chainlink fence surrounding parts of the property that aren’t blocked by wood hoarding.

As of this past weekend, construction of the tower’s underground levels had climbed to just one meter below the sidewalk along Church Street at the site’s southeast corner, where rebar reinforced floor forms were ready for a concrete pour. As construction of the podium for the 37-storey tower starts to climb above grade, motorists and pedestrians on Church Street will get their first clear view of the building since work commenced in the summer of 2010.

 

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Neighbourhood Watch: Photos of Bloor-Yorkville area condos and construction activity (Part 2)

Casa condominium tower on Charles Street West

May 5 2011: The 46-storey Casa condo on Charles Street West, viewed from a driveway between the Bloor Street Neighbourhood condo (left) and the St Charles Court apartment building (right)

 

Bloor Street Neighbourhood condos

May 5 2011: looking up at the L-shaped Bloor Street Neighbourhood condo tower

 

Bloor Street Neighbourhood condos

May 5 2011: Balconies on the west side of Bloor Street Neighbourhood

 

driveway betwen Bloor Street Neighbourhood condo tower and Charles Court apartments

May 5 2011: South view toward the Casa condo tower from a driveway linking Hayden Street and Charles Street between the Bloor Street Neighbourhood condo tower and Charles Court apartments

 

walkway between Charles Court apartments and Bloor Street Neighbourhood condo tower

May 5 2011: Pedestrians take a short-cut north to Hayden Street along the driveway between the Charles Court apartments (left) and the Bloor Street Neighbourhood condo tower

 

Uptown Residences and Crystal Blu condo towers

May 6 2011: A driveway just two vehicles wide is all that separates The Uptown Residences (left) and Crystal Blu Condos, new condo towers on Balmuto Street

 

Uptown Residences condo tower

May 6 2011: Construction on the exterior of The Uptown Residences is complete — except for the condo tower’s main entrance on Balmuto Street

 

Four Seasons Toronto Hotel + Residences

May 6 2011: Construction of the Four Seasons Toronto Hotel + Residences, viewed from outside The Uptown Residences

 

Four Seasons Toronto Hotel + Residences

May 6 2011: Four Seasons Toronto Hotel + Residences viewed from Balmuto Street

 

Four Seasons Toronto hotel + residences

April 30 2011: Four Seasons Toronto Hotel + Residences tower viewed from the northwest corner of Bloor and St Thomas Streets

 

Four Seasons Hotel + Residences Toronto

May 5 2011: Four Seasons Hotel + Residences Toronto construction viewed from Church Street near Park Road

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

April 23 2011: Looking south at the excavation progress for the Milan condo tower under construction at Yonge & Church

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

April 23 2011: View toward the southeast corner of the Milan condo tower excavation site, from the Canadian Tire store parking lot next door

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

April 23 2011: Deep excavation in the site’s southeast corner on Church Street

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

April 23 2011: Excavation activity near the Yonge subway line at the north side of the Milan condo tower construction site

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

April 23 2011: The Milan condo tower excavation entrance ramp off Church Street

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

May 5 2011: A view of the Milan excavation from the site’s southeast corner on Church Street, as a subway train passes the east side of the construction area.

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

May 5 2011: Church Street view through security fencing toward the northeast corner of the Milan condo tower construction site

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

May 5 2011: Looking north from Church Street toward the Canadian Tire store next to the Milan condo construction zone

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

May 5 2011: view toward the east side of the Milan site from the Church Street construction entrance ramp

 

Milan condo tower at Yonge & Church

May 5 2011: Church Street view of the Milan site, looking northeast

 

Seventy Seven Charles West condos

April 30 2011: Construction progress at the Seventy Seven Charles West condos viewed from Charles Street

 

Seventy Seven Charles West condos

April 30 2011: Seventy Seven Charles West condos viewed from the corner of St Thomas and Charles Streets

 

Seventy Seven Charles West condos

April 30 2011:  Looking south on St Thomas Street at the Seventy Seven Charles West condos

 

One St Thomas condo tower

April 22 2011: A window washer descends the south side of the 29-storey One St Thomas condo tower, which sits directly across Charles Street from the Seventy Seven Charles west condo construction site

 

One St Thomas condo tower

April 22 2011:  The cleaner works his way down the limestone-clad wall

 

One St Thomas condo tower

April 22 2011: His job perk is a view inside some of the city’s most exclusive luxury condos

 

One St Thomas condo tower

April 22 2011: The tower, which evokes highrise buildings from 1920s and 1930s-era New York City, was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects

 

Nicholas Residences condo construction site

May 6 2011: Hoarding is installed along St Nicholas Street and heavy machinery positioned on St Mary Street as crews prepare to demolish buildings where the Nicholas Residences condo tower will be constructed

 

Nicholas Residences condo tower construction site

May 6 2011: This building was formerly home to Regis College, the Jesuit Graduate Faculty of Theology at the University of Toronto. The interior has been gutted, and demolition of the brick exterior is imminent

 

Nicholas Residences condo tower construction site

May 6 2011: Nicholas will rise 35 storeys next to the Church of Scientology Toronto building, left, at the corner of Yonge & St Mary Streets

 

U Condos construction site

April 30 2011: Bay Street view of excavation progress at the U Condos construction site, looking northwest toward hoarding along St Mary Street. The construction crane for the Seventy Seven Charles West condo building rises behind Loretto College, the 6-storey brick building toward the upper left of the photo.

 

U Condos construction site

April 30 2011: Looking from Bay Street toward excavation machinery at the northwest corner of the U Condos construction site

 

A shoring machine on the U Condos construction site

April 30 2011: A shoring machine on the U Condos construction site

 

U Condos foundation construction

April 30 2011 A steel I-beam sunk into the ground to help shore up the huge U Condos site for excavation and foundation construction

 

U Condos construction site excavation

April 30 2011: Southward view from St Mary Street of excavation progress on the U Condos construction site

 

U Condos construction site excavation

April 30 2011 St Mary Street view toward the southeast corner of the U Condos construction site

 

U Condos construction site

April 30 2011 St Mary Street view toward the southwest corner of the U Condos construction site

 

U Condos construction site

April 30 2011 St Mary Street view toward the southwest corner of the U Condos construction site

 

U Condos construction site

April 30 2011: A shoring machine in the SW corner of the U Condos site

 

Mucking around at the Milan condo tower site

Milan condo tower excavation

Earth mover in the muck at the Milan condo tower excavation

 

Milan condo tower excavation

Church Street view of the Milan condo excavation, looking northeast

 

Milan condo tower excavation

Canadian Tire parking lot view of the Milan condo excavation, looking south

 

Messy mass of muck: At a property on the north end of Church Street, where the road makes a long sweeping curve to the northwest as it approaches Yonge Street, crews spent the entire winter digging out — literally. And they’re nowhere near finished yet. But it isn’t snow they’ve been shovelling; Toronto didn’t get much of the white stuff over the winter.  Instead, the workers have been moving muddy brown earth by the truckload as they excavate the site where the Conservatory Group’s 37-storey Milan condominium tower will be built.

Designed by E.I. Richmond Architects Inc., the condo complex will occupy a wedge-shaped parcel of land bordered by the Canadian Tire store to the north and west, Church Street to the south, and the Yonge subway line to the east.

Below is a tower rendering from a billboard outside the Milan condo sales centre, along with another rendering — from the Milan website — suggesting how the condo’s podium rooftop terrace will look. There’s also a series of photos I’ve taken at the Milan site over the past three years, along with recent pics of some of Milan’s neighbours.

 

Milan condo tower rendering

This rendering of the Milan condo tower appears on the exterior of the sales centre on Yonge Street. The condo tower will rise from a long podium that will stretch along the north side of Church Street.

 

Architectural rendering of the Milan condo rooftop terrace

Architectural rendering of Milan’s podium rooftop terrace

 

Milan condo tower site viewed from Church Street

December 3 2008: Milan condo site viewed from Church Street looking north

 

Milan condo tower site

December 3 2008: Milan billboard on the condo tower site

 

Milan condo tower site

December 3 2008:  Milan condo location viewed from Church Street looking north. A pay parking lot occupied the site until construction commenced

 

Condo development proposal sign at the Milan condo site on Church Street

This notice, seen in September 2008, was posted next to the Milan site on Church Street for several years. If I recall correctly, stiff neighbourhood opposition to the two buildings originally proposed by a developer led city council to approve construction of only one taller tower instead

 

Condo development proposal sign on Church Street

This sign also stood on Church Street next to the Milan site. My understanding is that, in the early 2000s, developers proposed building a complex of several condo towers and townhouses on the lands occupied by the big Canadian Tire store as well as on the parking area where Milan currently is under construction. However, Canadian Tire ultimately decided to retain and renovate its Yonge Street store instead, and sold off the parking lot property. Now only one tower is being built


Milan condo sales office and Canadian Tire gas bar

December 3 2008: The Milan condo sales office in the two-storey building at left, and the Canadian Tire gas bar at the corner of Yonge & Church

 

Canadian Tire gas station at the corner of Church and Yonge Streets

December 3 2008: Milan will rise on the gas depot’s right side

 

Church Street view of the Milan condo site

July 25 2010:  The parking lot has been closed and fenced off so the site can be prepared for excavation and construction of the condo tower

 

Church Street view of the Milan condo tower construction site

July 25 2010: Rubble remaining  from structures demolished on the condo site. The Canadian Tire store and its parking lot are visible to the north

 

Church Street view of the Milan condo tower construction site

July 25 2010: Northeast view of demolition activity. A subway train can be seen passing the property (upper middle of the photo) along the Yonge subway line

 

Church Street view of Milan condo site

November 1 2010: Preliminary site excavation work has begun

 

Church Street view of Milan condo site

November 1 2010:  Preliminary excavation work at the site’s northeast corner

 

Church Street view of Milan condo site

November 1 2010: Pile driving and excavation equipment at work

 

Lotus condo parkette view toward Milan condo tower site

November 1 2010: Eastward view toward the Milan site from a new parkette in front of the Lotus condo tower on Davenport Road at Yonge Street

 

Milan condo tower excavation after a snowfall

January 9 2011: Eastward view of the Milan condo tower excavation

 

Milan condo tower excavation after a snowfall

January 9 2011: Southeasterly view of the Milan condo excavation

 

Milan condo tower excavation after a snowfall

January 9 2011: Snow-covered excavation at the west end of the site

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: Excavation progress at the southeast corner of the site

 

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: Excavation progress at the southeast corner of the site

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: A sea of mud stretches all the way to the west end of the site next to the gas bar on Yonge Street, visible at the top left

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: From Church Street, the Milan property slopes toward the TTC subway tracks and Aylmer Avenue in the Rosedale ravine

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: The excavation is deepest on the north edge of the site

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: The subway tracks run along on the other side of the wall

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: Milan site looking northeast toward Rosedale

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: Truck ramp from Church Street to the bottom of the pit

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: Boots box in a muddy pit

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: The ramp from the Church Street construction entrance

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: Machines and equipment at the bottom of the ramp

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: The deep pit below the Canadian Tire gas station

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: The Milan excavation, looking south toward Church Street

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: Foundation building machine at the bottom of the pit

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: An earth mover in a muddy pool of water in the pit

 

Milan condo tower excavation

March 16 2011: The entrance to the subway tunnel leading to the Bloor-Yonge subway station can be seen at the top left corner

 

Milan condo tower location

March 16 2011: Canadian Tire view toward the Milan location

 

Canadian Tire parking lot view toward Milan condo tower location

Milan’s neighbours to the south and east include several condo and apartment buildings, as well as The Bay and CIBC office towers at Yonge & Bloor (rear right)

 

Canadian Tire parking lot view toward Milan condo tower location

March 16 2011: Canadian Tire southeast view of the Milan location

 

Toronto Reference Library on Yonge Street

The Toronto Reference Library is situated directly across Church Street from Milan; the office towers at Bloor & Yonge are just a short walk south

 

Davenport Road view toward the Milan condo tower site

March 16 2011: Davenport Road view toward the Milan site. The 37-storey condo tower will dominate this view once construction is complete

 

MTV Canada Masonic Temple

March 16 2011: One of Milan’s neighbours will be the MTV studios in the historic Masonic Temple building on the corner of Yonge Street and Davenport Road

 

Four Seasons Toronto and Lotus condos

Milan’s neighbours to the west are the two Four Seasons Toronto hotel and condo towers currently under construction (left), and the Lotus condos (right)