Tag Archives: Yorkville condos

7-storey luxury condo coming to East Annex street

Architectural rendering of 10 to 14 Prince Arthur Avenue condo

From the Hariri Pontarini Architects website, a rendering of the terraced condo building to be built at 10 to 14 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

Legal battles resolved: I don’t think W.C. Fields had condo development in mind when he cautioned: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” But people who saw great real estate potential in two prime East Annex properties seem to have heeded his sage advice. And despite more than a decade of rigorous and strong opposition, they’ve finally succeeded at winning approval to redevelop the site into condos. The lands in question are located near the edge of Toronto’s tony Yorkville district: 10 Prince Arthur Avenue, a 2-storey historic house that has sat vacant for more than two decades, and 14 Prince Arthur Avenue, a 4-storey office building with an Indian fine dining restaurant occupying the ground floor.

From 1998 to 2008, various applications to expand, alter and redevelop the adjacent properties were unsuccessful, for reasons outlined in detail in an April 23 2009 city planning department report. But in early 2008 a developer tried yet again, proposing a 19-storey mixed-use building for the site. City staff and area residents strongly the scale and other important elements of the building proposal, so the developer went back to the drawing boards and modified its plans. It returned with a new proposal for a 9-storey mixed-use building that would retain the historic house, but require demolition of the office and restaurant next door. Area residents and the city still objected with numerous planning concerns, while the Toronto Preservation Board recommended that the City refuse the developer’s application for non-compliance with East Annex Heritage Conservation District Plan guidelines. The developer appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board, but the dispute settled during mediation in February of this year.

The end result is that the developer, Castlepoint, will be permitted to build a seven-storey structure with significant setbacks from the street and neighbouring properties. The luxury condo complex, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto, will incorporate the historic house at 10 Prince Arthur. “The listed structure will be kept intact, the exterior restored, and moved southward towards the road. This move will enhance the normalcy of a street that has been fractured by the variety of built forms. The large treed terraces raking the North side of the nine-storey building eases the transition between the traditional three-storey residential fabric to the North, and the high-rise buildings of Bloor Street and Avenue Road to the South and East,” the Hariri Pontarini website explains. Though legal battles over the properties have finally been resolved, there’s no word yet on when Castlepoint plans to commence construction.

Meanwhile, changes could be coming to the heritage building directly across the street at 17 Prince Arthur Avenue. According to Ward 20 Councillor Adam Vaughan’s website, developers want to build a 4-storey addition to the rear of the structure, currently used as commercial office space. “The building owners would also like to preserve and enhance the grass boulevard and trees in front of the building and add a pedestrian walkway to the west of the building, which would connect the Green P parking lot to the south with Prince Arthur Avenue.  The four storey addition would be made of clear glass and zinc siding. A concern is that the addition would be visible just above the roofline. The developer and architect have met with representatives of the Annex Residents Association for initial community feedback on the design of the building and how concerns, such as the one above, might be addressed. A mechanical penthouse would be built at the rear and east side of the building. The architect proposed that it be clad in brick that matches the brick of the original building,” Councillor Vaughan’s website reports. No word yet on when an official application for that project will be presented to city planners. Below are recent photos of the two development sites and their immediate neighbours on Prince Arthur Avenue.

 

10-14 Prince Arthur Avenue condo development notice

Development sign posted on hoarding outside 10 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

8 Prince Arthur Avenue and 10 Prince Arthur Avenue

January 9 2011: 10 Prince Arthur Avenue, left, and 8 Prince Arthur Avenue. Number 8 is a city-listed historic house, currently used as offices.

 

14 Prince Arthur Avenue

January 9 2011: Formerly an apartment building, 14 Prince Arthur Avenue was converted into office space some years ago. The ground floor is occupied by an Indian fine dining restaurant, The Host.

 

A photo of 8 10 and 14 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: Looking northwest toward 8, 10 and 14 Prince Arthur Avenue. The highrise apartment building in the background is 20 Prince Arthur Avenue.

 

10-14 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: The boarded-up historic house at 10 Prince Arthur Avenue, right, has been vacant for 20 years. It will be restored and incorporated into the new condo building, but will be relocated closer to the city sidewalk.

 

10-14 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: Northeast view of 14, 10 and 8 Prince Arthur Avenue. The brick building to their rear is The Prince Arthur at 38 Avenue Road, a 24-storey luxury condo tower on the western edge of Yorkville.

 

10 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: A view of 10 and 8 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

10 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: Another view of 10 and 8 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

14 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: Direct north view of 14 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

14 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: Northeast view toward 14, 10 and 8 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

14 Prince Arthur Avenue

March 24 2011: On the left is an above-ground parking lot and entrance to the underground garage for the apartment building at 20 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

20 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: This 22-storey apartment building at 20 Prince Arthur Avenue is a listed historic property. Designed by architect Uno Prii, the Neo-Expressionist building was constructed in 1965.

 

20 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: Another view of the sweeping curves on the 20 Prince Arthur Avenue apartment building designed by architect Uno Prii

 

20 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: Looking east from the front lawn outside 20 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

20 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: Looking east from the city sidewalk outside 20 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

20 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: West view toward the 10-14 Prince Arthur Avenue development site

 

21 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: East view from the city sidewalk outside 21 Prince Arthur Avenue. The tall building at the end of the block, on the right, is the Park Hyatt Toronto Hotel at the southeast corner of Avenue Road and Prince Arthur Avenue.

 

10-14 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: Southeast views toward 10-14 Prince Arthur Avenue

 

21-23 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: 21-23 Prince Arthur Avenue. The Women’s Art Association of Canada has offices and a gallery in number 23.

 

21-23 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: 21-23 Prince Arthur Avenue. The tower visible to the rear right is the new One Bedford luxury condominium at on Bloor Street.

 

17 Prince Arthur Avenue Museum House condos and 21 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: 17 Prince Arthur Avenue, left, the Museum House on Bloor condo tower on Bloor Street, center, and 21 Prince Arthur Avenue, right.

 

17 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: A developer is planning to build a four-storey addition to the rear of the stately brick heritage house at 17 Prince Arthur Avenue, right.

 

15 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: This building at 15 Prince Arthur Avenue is home to the Toronto offices for Brendan Wood International

 

9 and 11 Prince Arthur Avenue

April 1 2011: 9 and 11 Prince Arthur Avenue. Number 11 is occupied by Barristers Chambers, offices for a number of lawyers including prominent civil litigation specialist Clayton Ruby of Ruby & Shiller Barristers.


General sales starting soon for boutique condos on site of historic St Basil’s School in Yorkville

36 Hazelton condo building site

The 83-year-old St Basil’s Catholic School building, site for the 36 Hazelton luxury boutique condo project,  seen on March 24 2011…

36 Hazelton condo building site

…and on March 25, after a huge black banner was removed from the facade. The building sits on the west side of Hazelton Avenue just north of Scollard Street


Website rendering of 36 Hazelton luxury boutique condo building in Yorkville

This rendering, from the 36 Hazelton website, suggests how the luxury boutique condo complex will look once it is built on the St Basil’s schoolhouse site.

 

School’s out, condo’s coming: Exclusive VIP sales previews started last year, but a general sales presentation centre should be opening soon for 36 Hazelton, an exclusive seven-storey, 19-suite boutique condo building to be constructed on the site of the historic St Basil’s Catholic School in Yorkville. A project of Alterra Group and Zinc Developments, the 36 Hazelton development sparked considerable controversy in the Yorkville community when the proposal to redevelop the school property, a designated heritage site, was filed with the city several years ago. Area residents were alarmed by the developers’ plan to demolish most of the 83-year-old schoolhouse while retaining only its neo-Gothic facade on Hazelton Avenue. Residents worried that the height and density for the proposed 8-storey condo complex would look out of place on a street noted for its charming two- and three-storey Victorian houses. They also feared that City approval of the project would set a precedent that could endanger the Yorkville heritage district and put other historic buildings at risk of demolition and redevelopment.

In a March 2 2009 report to the Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC) and the Toronto Preservation Board, city planners recommended that the developer’s application to alter the St Basil’s School building be rejected. And in a March 30 2009 report to the TEYCC, planners described the development plan as “inappropriate and out of context,” and recommended that it be refused. When the developers presented a revised proposal, the TEYCC deferred consideration of the refusal report at its meeting in April 2009, and asked city planners to review the new plan. In a June 12 2009 final report to the TEYCC, planners recommended that the revised building application be approved. The TEYCC was supposed to consider that report at its June 2009 meeting; however, that meeting was cancelled after municipal employees went on strike. In July 2009, the developer filed an appeal with the Ontario Municipal Board, but the dispute got resolved when the TEYCC,  and then city council, approved the revised 7-storey project in the fall of 2009. 

With a project sales centre set to open soon, a construction start is possible later this year or early in 2012. As 36 Hazelton goes up, it should quickly become apparent if area residents were correct in claiming that the project wouldn’t be an appropriate redevelopment for the location — and, of course, if it will be too big, and look too out of place, on the leafy, quiet street. I’ve walked around the area numerous times recently, trying to get a sense of how 36 Hazelton might change the neighbourhood. Hazelton Avenue is one of my favourite downtown streets, and I’d be sorry to see its character destroyed by development. But since most of the new condo building will be set back from the street, occupying what is currently a parking lot, it’s quite possible it could fit in rather nicely, especially since it’s situated at the north end of the tony Hazelton Avenue retail strip (rather than being plunked farther down the block between semidetached two-storey brick houses). However, even if 36 Hazelton does wind up being a suitable and attractive addition to the streetscape, I really would hate to see further development of low- or midrise condos elsewhere on the avenue. Below are photos I’ve taken of the St Basil’s School and other buildings and homes in its immediate vicinity, along with condo illustrations that have appeared on the 36 Hazelton website and an illustration, from a city planning report, showing the new building’s east elevation.

 

Website illustration of 36 Hazelton condos

Website illustration of the 36 Hazelton boutique condo building

 

36 Hazelton website illustration of the St Basil's schoolhouse

36 Hazelton website illustration of the St Basil’s schoolhouse facade, which will be incorporated into the new luxury condominium complex

 

36 Hazelton condos

An illustration showing 36 Hazelton’s east elevation

 

36 Hazelton condos

January 9 2011: The St Basil’s Schoolhouse dates from 1928. Access to a large parking lot behind the building is through a laneway on the left side of the school.

 

36 Hazelton condos at St Basil's School

January 9 2011: The condo site is literally only a stone’s throw away from Yorkville’s chic Hazelton Lanes shopping centre

 

36 Hazelton condos site at St Basil's School

January 9 2011: Condo marketing signs and banners on the St Basil’s School site

 

36 Hazelton condos at St Basil's School

January 9 2011: Passersby examine the illustrations on the 36 Hazelton billboards

 

36 Hazelton condos at St Basil's School

January 9 2011: A large banner blocks most of the schoolhouse facade from view

 

36 Hazelton condos at St Basil's School

March 24 2011: The north half of St Basil’s School

 

36 Hazelton condos at St Basil's school

March 25 2011: The banner has been removed and the full facade is visible


36 Hazelton condos

March 25 2011: A closer view of the St Basil’s School facade on Hazelton Avenue

 

36 Hazelton condo site at St Basil's School

March 25 2011: St. Basil’s School viewed from the rear parking area. The Four Seasons Toronto hotel and condo tower, visible in the background,  is under construction on Bay Street, just one block to the east.

 

36 Hazelton condos at St Basil's School

March 25 2011: Another view of the schoolhouse from the rear of the property

 

36 Hazelton condos St Basil's School parking lot

March 25 2011: The Hazelton Lanes complex sits to the immediate west of the parking lot behind the St Basil’s School building

 

36 Hazelton condos site at St Basil's School

March 25 2011: Northwest view from the parking lot behind the schoolhouse

 

36 Hazelton condo site at St Basil's School

March 25 2011: Looking north from the parking area behind the school

 

36 Hazelton condos at St Basil's School

March 25 2011: Parking lot view of the back of buildings next door to 36 Hazelton

 

36 Hazelton condos site at St Basil's School

March 25 2011: Parking lot view to the south. A walkway on the opposite side of the brick building leads from Hazelton Avenue into Hazelton Lanes

 

40 Hazelton Avenue in Yorkville

March 25 2011: Apartments at 40 Hazelton Avenue

 

40 Hazelton Avenue in Yorkville

March 25 2011: St Basil’s School and 40 Hazelton Avenue

 

40 Hazelton Avenue in Yorkville

March 25 2011: The four-storey 40 Hazelton Avenue building next door to St Basil’s School. The 36 Hazelton condos will stand three storeys higher.

44, 46 and 48 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: The brick houses at 44, 46 and 48 Hazelton Avenue

 

56 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: The west side of Hazelton Avenue, looking north from outside #56

 

Hazelton Avenue looking south from 52 Hazelton

March 25 2011: Looking south on Hazelton Avenue from outside #52

 

West side of Hazelton Avenue south of Scollard Street

March 25 2011: The west side of Hazelton Avenue below Scollard St.

 

 

Homes on the east side of Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: Homes on the east side of Hazelton Avenue near 36 Hazelton

 

59 57 55 and 53 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: Brick houses at 59, 57, 55 and 53 Hazelton Avenue

 

55 53 51 and 49 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011:  Looking southeast toward 55, 53, 51 and 49 Hazelton Avenue

 

 

51 and 49 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: 51 and 49 Hazelton Avenue

 

53 51 and 49 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: The new Four Seasons Toronto tower looms behind the houses at numbers 53, 51 and 49 Hazelton Avenue

45 43 and 41 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: Numbers 45, 43 and 41 Hazelton Avenue

 

45 43 and 41 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: Yorkville’s upscale shopping district extends north to the buildings at 4, 43 and 41 Hazelton Avenue

Toronto Heliconian Club at 35 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: The Toronto Heliconian Club at 35 Hazelton Avenue

Toronto Heliconian Club at 35 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: The Four Seasons tower looming behind the Heliconian Club

Toronto Heliconian Club left and 33 Hazelton  Avenue

March 25 2011: Toronto Heliconian Club and 33 Hazelton  Avenue

33 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: 33 Hazelton Avenue at the northeast corner of Scollard Street

33 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: The upper levels of 33 Hazelton Avenue

33 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: The northeast corner of Scollard Street and Hazelton Avenue

33 Hazelton Avenue

March 25 2011: Another view of 33 Hazelton Avenue

33 Hazleton Avenue

March 25 2011: Hazelton Avenue view to the northeast at Scollard Street

Scollard Street looking east from Hazelton Avenue

March 24 2011: Scollard Street, looking east from Hazelton Avenue towards the two Four Seasons Toronto hotel and condo towers under construction on Bay Street between Scollard Street and Yorkville Avenue.

Florian condo tower getting window treatments

Florian condo tower in Yorkville

March 16 2011: Newly-installed windows are visible on the 5th floor

 

Glass going in: Window installation has commenced at The Florian highrise condo tower on Davenport Road in Yorkville.  When I walked past the construction site the other day, I noticed a row of new windows on the south side of the fifth floor, along with frames for upcoming curtain wall installation on the tower’s southwest corner. Below are several pics I snapped of construction progress to date; there’s many more building photos in my February 12 post about The Florian.

 

Florian condos in Yorkville

March 16 2011: South-facing windows on The Florian’s fifth floor

 

Florian condo tower in Yorkville

Frames for the curtain wall to be installed on the tower’s southwest corner

 

The Florian condo tower in Yorkville

The sharply pointed east corner of The Florian’s podium on Davenport Road

 

The Florian condo tower in Yorkville

Lower levels of The Florian, viewed from the south side of Davenport Rd.

 

The Florian condo tower in Yorkville

A long look up the south side of The Florian