Category Archives: The Berczy condos

The intriguing top of The L Tower

The L Tower

I often hear people comment about how much they like the distinctive big bend on the upper north face of The L Tower at Yonge & The Esplanade …

 

 

The L Tower

… the 58-storey condo tower designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in conjunction with Toronto’s Page + Steele/IBI Group Architects

 

 

The L Tower

… but I’m equally fascinated by the interesting shape and layout for the tower’s mechanical penthouse levels …

 

 

The mechanical penthouse levels of The L Tower take shape

… seen in this telephoto view from the northeast along Church Street near King Street East. Below are more photos of The L Tower, one of my favourite new skyscraper additions to the city skyline.  The L Tower is a project of Fernbrook Homes, Cityzen Real Estate Group and Castlepoint Realty Partners.

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Winter building pics: March 2013

 My March 2013 album on Flickr features more than 500 photos showing dozens of downtown construction projects and building sites. Click once on the image above to view a small-format slideshow of the pictures, or click twice to access the actual album where you can view individual full-size photos with captions.

 

 

Frozen fingers: It’s only a few days into spring and I’m still sorting through hundreds of building and construction photos I took during the winter. What has struck me the most is how gloomy and grey the city looked most of the time. Sunny, clear days were few and far between — and when they came, it was usually too bitterly cold and windy for me to risk freezing my fingers by wandering around with my camera.

I did manage a few long photo walks, though, and have been gradually posting the pics in albums on thetorontoblog.com’s Flickr photostream.  Above is a link to my fourth winter photo album, March 2013.

 

 

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Berczy condo construction reaches 5th floor

The Berczy condos

August 15 2012: Construction of The Berczy condo building viewed from the south at the intersection of Church Street and The Esplanade

 

The Berczy condos

August 15 2012: Construction has reached four levels at the south end of the complex …

 

The Berczy condos

… five floors in the building’s midsection …

 

The Berczy condos

… and two floors along Front Street, across from the iconic Flatiron Building

 

The Berczy condos

August 15 2012: Construction progress viewed from the northeast on Front Street

 

The Berczy condo building

This artistic illustration from The Berczy website shows how the 13-storey building will look once construction is completed sometime early next year

 

Catching glances: While Toronto’s iconic Flatiron Building continues to attract strong interest from tourists exploring the St Lawrence Market neighbourhood, The Berczy condo building across the street seems to be catching more attention from locals — especially now that construction has climbed several levels above grade.

 

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Demolition derby: Contractors busy ripping up and tearing down to build The Berczy condos

The Berczy condo construction

Lower Church Street view of The Berczy condo site on March 7 2011: Demolition progress means much of the Flatiron building is now visible across the site…

 

The Berczy condo constructiion

…compared to February 3 2011, when the old 3-storey buildings on the corner of Church and Front still blocked sight of the Toronto landmark.

 

Demolition derby: It’s been two months since I first reported on construction progress at The Berczy condominium, a project of Concert Real Estate Corporation.

In my January 13 post, I noted that hoarding had been installed around The Berczy site, and demolition had started on the Church Street building that formerly housed one of The Keg steakhouse restaurants. Since then, demolition crews have been making steady progress clearing the site.

When I passed by in February, they were taking apart the three-storey building that sat on the southwest corner of Church and Front Streets. Last week that building was gone, and for the first time you could see most of Front Street’s famous Gooderham Flatiron Building from the bottom two blocks of Church Street at The Esplanade.

Below are photos showing the demolition activity on February 3 and March 7.

 

The Berczy condo construction

Lower Church Street view of demolition activity on February 3 2011. Only the rooftop of the Gooderham Flatiron Building on Front Street is visible.

 

The Berczy condo construction

Demolition at the south end of The Berczy site on February 3 2011

 

The Berczy condo construction

The middle of The Berczy site, looking west toward the CN Tower.

 

The Berczy condo construction

The CN Tower and Toronto’s Financial District skyscrapers loom to the west

 

The Berczy condo construction

Demolition work behind buildings that will be razed on the south side of Front St.

The Berczy condo construction

Top floor being removed from the building on the corner of Church & Front

 

The Berczy condo construction

Crews are busy demolishing the third floor behind the safety netting

 

The Berczy condo construction

The demolition site and the Gooderham Flatiron Building, seen February 3 2011

 

The Berczy condo construction

The Berczy condo construction site viewed from The Esplanade on March 7 2011. Most of the Flatiron Building is now visible from the bottom of Church Street.

 

The Berczy condo construction

Northwest view of The Berczy site and Flatiron Building on March 7 2011.

The Berczy condo construction

Two flagmen directing traffic in, out and past The Berczy construction site

The Berczy condo construction

The building at the southwest corner of Church & Front Street has been demolished; another is partially dismantled.

 

The Berczy condo construction

Demolition activity at The Berczy condo construction site on March 7 2011

 

The Berczy condo construction

Three backhoes arrange huge piles of debris from the demolished buildings

 

The Berczy condo construction

I’m sure it would have been contrary to the Fire Code and a violation of municipal bylaws, but these woodpiles would have made spectacular Berczy bonfires

The Berczy condo construction

The construction crews never block access to the portable toilets!

The Berczy condo construction

The crews are creating two huge heaps of brick and wood rubble

The Berczy condo construction

One of the buildings along Front Street that’s being torn down

 

 

Demolition underway as The Berczy prepares to build “boutique” condo complex at Church & Front

Artistic rendering of The Berczy condos at Church and Front Streets


New neighbour for the Flatiron: The Berczy condo site at the southwest corner of Church and Front Streets is now surrounded by hoarding, and demolition activity is underway at what used to be the The Keg steakhouse chain’s Church Street location.

The Berczy will be a 13-story building with just 163 suites, billed by its developer — Concert Real Estate Corporation — as “a boutique collection of city homes.”

It will be a new neighbour for one of Toronto’s most popular landmarks, the Flatiron building at Front and Wellington Streets.

The Berczy itself is just as popular, it seems: the project is completely sold out.

Below are some pics I shot recently at The Berczy site.

 

A view of The Berczy site before demolition commenced


Hoarding around The Berczy construction site January 5 2011


Hoarding along Church Street side of The Berczy construction site


Hoarding along Church Street side of The Berczy construction site


The Berczy construction site viewed from The Esplanade January 5 2011


Apparently, much of this brick building immediately to the south of The Berczy will be restored and  incorporated into the new condominium complex.