Tag Archives: Davenport Road

Sales starting soon for 9-storey, 38-suite luxury condo development at Davenport & Hazelton

133 Hazelton Residences Toronto

This building illustration appears on promotional signage at the corner site of the proposed 133 Hazelton Residences luxury condo project

 

133 Hazelton Residences Toronto

Another promotional sign for 133 Hazelton Residences

 

Launch date approaching: A former high-end office interior design showroom on Davenport Road is being transformed into a sales centre for a high-end luxury condominium development proposed for the Yorkville neighbourhood.

Mizrahi Khalili Developments of Toronto has planned a 9-storey, 38-suite luxury condominium building for the southeast corner of Davenport Road and Hazelton Avenue, the former Yorkville location of plan b office (now situated at 380 King Street East). The 1-storey plan b building at 195 Davenport Road is currently under renovation for a September reincarnation as a condo showroom, while security fencing around the property is draped with signs advertising the exclusive 133 Hazelton Residences project.

According to the developer’s May 16 2011 rezoning application, 133 Hazelton will offer 130 square meters of ground-level retail space with 38 condominium residences on the floors above. The building will rise 31.5 meters (not including the mechanical penthouse), and will have an underground garage with 79 parking spots. Residences will be priced from $1 million to more than $7 million. The building is a design of Page + Steele IBI Group Architects, with interiors by Gluckstein Design.

With its September sales debut, 133 Hazelton will be the second posh condo project launched this year on Hazelton Avenue , a quiet leafy street lined with expensive brick mansions, townhouses, apartments, galleries and shops.  Earlier this year, Alterra Group and Zinc Developments opened a sales centre for 36 Hazelton, a 7-storey, 18-suite boutique condo being built on the site of the historic St Basil’s Catholic School. That project was designed by Quadrangle Architects Limited, with interiors by Chapman Design Group Ltd.  36 Hazelton made international headlines in June when the project’s publicity firm announced that Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg had just purchased the 4,600-square-foot penthouse for $12 million. Will 133 Hazelton have similar star-drawing success? Stay tuned.

In the meantime, below are recent photos of the 133 Hazelton project site, along with some pics of the 36 Hazelton property. Additional information and photos of 36 Hazelton are available in my March 26 2011 post.

 

133 Hazelton Residences Toronto

133 Hazelton Residences development proposal sign

 

133 Hazelton Residences Toronto

133 Hazelton building illustration from the development proposal sign

 

133 Hazelton Residences Toronto

 133 Hazelton Residences condo development site plan

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

Google maps image of 195 Davenport Road when it was the showroom for plan b office, before the 133 Hazelton project was announced

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

July 13 2011: Promotional signage for 133 Hazelton Residences surrounds the condo site at 195 Davenport Road, just blocks from the new Four Seasons Hotel + Private Residences Toronto (left rear).

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

July 13 2011: Another view of the 133 Hazelton Residences project site at the southeast corner of Davenport Road and Hazelton Avenue

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

July 17 2011: A view of the site from the north side of Davenport Road

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

July 13 2011: The former plan b office showroom is being converted into a sales centre for the new condo project

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

July 17 2011: Looking west along Davenport Road toward the condo site and office/retail buildings at the SW corner of Hazelton Avenue

 

Davenport Road near Hazelton Avenue Toronto

July 13 2011: Looking southeast along Davenport Road toward the 133 Hazelton Residences location

 

Hazelton Avenue view of the 133 Hazelton Residences site

July 13 2011: Hazelton Avenue view of the condo development site

 

133 Hazelton Residences condo development location

July 13 2011: Northeasterly view of the site from Hazelton Avenue

 

131 Hazelton Avenue Toronto

July 13 2011: 133 Hazelton’s immediate neighbour to the south, this brown brick office building at 131 Hazelton Avenue, used to be a cosmetic surgery institute

 

195 Davenport Road toronto

August 14 2011: Promotional signs for 133 Hazelton cover the security fencing around the development site

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

August 14 2011: Renovation work underway to transform the former showroom at 195 Davenport Road into the condo sales centre

 

195 Davenport Road Toronto

August 14 2011:  The developer anticipates a September launch for its new condo showroom, seen here from the west side of Hazelton Avenue

 

36 Hazelton Avenue Toronto

July 13 2011: The 36 Hazelton condo presentation centre on the project development site, the former St Basil’s Catholic School in Yorkville

 

36 Hazelton Avenue Toronto

July 13 2011: A 36 Hazelton building illustration on a billboard outside the presentation centre. Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg has purchased the 4,600-square-foot penthouse for $12 million.

 

36 Hazelton Avenue Toronto

July 13 2011: Billboard outside the 36 Hazelton development site

 

36 Hazelton Avenue Toronto

July 13 2011: Window and brickwork details on the former St Basil’s School building that will be incorporated into the condo development

 

36 Hazelton Avenue

July 13 2011  The northeast corner of the St Basil’s School building

 

36 Hazelton Avenue

April 23 2011: 36 Hazelton Avenue seen prior to the opening of the condominium presentation centre

 

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)


Florian’s classy curves go with the Davenport flow

The Florian condos

The Florian’s long sweeping podium hugs the curve on Davenport Road


Ship shape: When I view The Florian from certain angles, I sometimes feel like I’m looking up at the prow of a tall, grand Cunard ocean liner, like the Queen Mary 2.

That’s the visual impact, on me, of the long, curved podium that draws to a sharp point at the east and west ends of the 25-storey luxury condominium complex currently under construction on Davenport Road, at the northern tip of Bay Street. It won’t be crossing any oceans, but from its berth along the big bend on busy Davenport Road, The Florian will overlook a steady stream of traffic flowing past. Away from the street, The Florian’s crescent-shaped site will be a sea of tranquillity, with lush secluded gardens and landscaped rooftop terraces. 

And like a Cunard liner, The Florian will exude class and sophistication: though it’s more than 80% sold, suites are still available at prices ranging from $1 million to more than $3 million.

A project by Diamante Development Corporation, The Florian was designed in a joint venture by Toronto architects Young + Wright / IBI Group Architects and David Pontarini of Hariri Pontarini Architects.

Below is a rendering of the condo entrance, from The Florian website, along with a series of photos I shot recently. More renderings can be viewed at this link on the Hariri Pontarini website.

 

The Florian Condos

The podium’s west tip reminds me of a ship’s prow


The Florian condos

The Florian condo tower viewed from the northwest tip of Bay Street


The Florian condos

Upper floor construction at The Florian on January 29 2011


The Florian condos

Safety netting and construction forms protrude from the upper floors


The Florian condos

Billboard outside The Florian condo presentation centre


The Florian condos

The Florian condo presentation centre on Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Looking up at The Florian tower from south side of Davenport Road


The Florian condos

South side of The Florian condo tower faces Bay Street


The Florian condos

The Florian’s lower levels along Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Graceful sweeping curve of the podium on Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Looking up the southwest corner of The Florian tower


The Florian

Brickwork on The Florian facade above Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Another view of the west point of The Florian podium


The Florian condos

Balconies on The Florian’s southeast corner


The Florian condos

Columns at street level on The Florian’s long curved podium


The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto

The Florian and the new Four Seasons towers viewed from Davenport Road


The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto

Another view of The Florian and Four Seasons Toronto towers


The Florian condos

Gracefully curved balconies on The Florian condo south side


The Florian condos

The Florian condo podium bends with the curve of Davenport Road


The Florian condos

Main entrance to The Florian will be under this point on the east side


The Florian condos

Website artistic rendering of The Florian condo entrance


The Florian condos

The Florian condo tower viewed from the east on Davenport Road


City Scene: Yorkville’s highrise building boom

Yorkville condo and hotel towers

Davenport Road (near Bay Street) view of new towers being built in Yorkville


Growing up: Construction activity is apparent in practically every corner of downtown, and the Yorkville neighbourhood is no exception.

Pedestrians and drivers approaching Bay Street along Davenport Road are greeted by this view of three highrise towers currently under construction: The Florian condo building (left) and the two towers of the new Four Seasons Toronto Hotel and Private Residences.

Meanwhile, just beyond the bend in the road, east of Bay, there’s more construction in progress.  Excavation is underway for the Milan condominium tower on Church near Yonge, while in a few years’ time there could be as many as three towers rising right behind The Florian on McMurrich Street.

 

31-storey copper-toned condo tower aims to draw Yorkville district’s golden glow to Davenport Road

The Yorkville Condominiums

Artistic rendering of The Yorkville Condominiums, a 31-storey luxury tower proposed for the corner of Davenport Road and McMurrich Street.


More new digs for Dav: The drab two-block stretch of Davenport Road between Yonge and Bay Streets keeps improving, slowly but surely.

At Yonge, the wedge-shaped parcel of land dividing Davenport from Scollard Street brightened up a bit when the Lotus condominium opened in 2008. Sadly, it took more than two years before work finally finished on a new public square in the awkward triangle at the front of the condo highrise. Paving stones, landscaping, lighting and benches weren’t installed until late summer 2010, but the narrow, long parkette instantly became a huge hit with the local pigeon population.

Meanwhile, The Florian luxury condo has been under construction just a short distance away, where Davenport twists to the northwest at its intersection with Bay. Once the location of an Infinity dealership and a Premier fitness club, the elegant 90-suite Florian promises to class up the corner with its gracefully curved brick and glass facade. 

Now, Lifetime Developments has proposed a new neighbour for the site immediately east of The Florian, currently the offices of Moriyama and Teshima Architects. Lifetime’s latest venture, The Yorkville Condominiums, will be a 31-storey glass condo tower with six “executive” townhouses at the corner of Davenport and McMurrich Street. The project is being designed by Rudy Wallman of Wallman Architects, who also designed the Victory Condos development on King Street West that I profiled in a post several days ago.

So far, I’m ambivalent about his design for The Yorkville, though I admit the only drawing I’ve seen is the one displayed on its website and marketing materials (and shown at the top of this post).  First time I saw it, I loved the building … but the more I look at it, the more I wonder if it’s just the artist’s choice of colours that appeal to me. At times, I think some elements of the tower — particularly the roof, the five floors that angle out from the south face of the tower, and the long rectangular gold stripe of glass down the east wall — are merely bold, attention-seeking design gimmicks that scream “Look at me!” Other times, I think those very same features look cool, and give the tower a distinctive appearance.

Maybe I’ll make up my mind once I see more renderings or models. Most likely, this is a building I’ll have to see in finished form before I can tell if I truly like it or not. Either way, I do think The Yorkville will improve this part of Davenport Road and enhance the neighbourhood, so I’ll be happy to see it go up.

Below are some photos I snapped of the proposed development site recently, along with a pic of the pigeon parkette at Lotus.

 

development proposal sign

Development proposal sign outside the Moriyama and Teshima building


32 Davenport Road

November 1 2010 view of The Yorkville Condominiums project site


32 Davenport Road at McMurrich Street

November 1 2010 view of the corner of Davenport Road & McMurrich Street


32 Davenport Road

January 9 2011 view of The Yorkville Condominiums proposed site


32 Davenport Road

January 9 2011 view of The Yorkville Condominiums proposed site


32 Davenport Road

January 9 2011 view of The Yorkville Condominiums proposed site


32 Davenport Road

January 9 2011 view of The Yorkville Condominiums proposed site


The Florian

The Florian under construction next to The Yorkville site on Davenport Road


Lotus condominium parkette

Pigeons enjoying the new parkette at Lotus condominium