Tag Archives: Tridel

A peek at the Ten York condo tower excavation

Ten York condo towe

September 16 2014: Excavation is well underway at the wedge-shaped site for the Ten York condominium by the Tridel development firm.

 

 

Ten York condo tower

This illustration, from an image gallery on the Ten York website, shows how the tower podium will look when viewed from the approximate area where I shot the excavation photo posted above.

 

 

 Ten York condo tower

This image, captured from Tridel’s construction webcam, shows an aerial view of the site on the afternoon of Wednesday September 17.

 

 

Just before I began an extended break from blogging at the end of January, I published an update about the exciting Ten York condo tower project. That post, Drilling rigs ready to rumble at Ten York condo site, included a photo of foundation drilling equipment that had recently arrived at the future tower location — a triangular piece of property awkwardly situated between Harbour Street, York Street, Lake Shore Boulevard and the elevated Gardiner Expressay.

I walked past the Ten York site yesterday and had the chance to snap a new photo from a spot on the York Street sidewalk near the project’s northeast corner.  The pic shows an excavation rig loading a dump truck in the pit, which is already several levels below grade. Once digging is complete, a six-floor underground parking garage will be constructed for the flatiron-shaped 224-meter tower (735 feet, approximately 65 storeys).

Ten York was designed by Wallman Architects of Toronto.

Below are two images from Tridel’s webpage for the Ten York project. Click on the link to obtain extensive information about condo floorplans and building details, as well as to view dozens of additional images and illustrations.

 

Ten York condo tower

This illustration shows the “community master plan” for the Ten York site

 

 

Ten York condo tower

This artistic illustration, from the Ten York project website, depicts a view of the north side of the condo tower and its podium.

 

 

Drilling rigs ready to rumble at Ten York condo site

10 York Street condo tower

January 18 2014: An Anchor Shoring rig stands on the site where Tridel will build its skyline-changing Ten York condominium tower. 

 

 

10 York condo tower

This Tridel photo illustration shows how the wedge-shaped Ten York condo tower (center) will rise to prominence between the elevated Gardiner Expressway and the Gardiner’s raised exit ramp to York, Bay and Yonge Streets.

 

 

Ten York’s turn: Preliminary construction work is starting on an eagerly-awaited condominium tower that will transform a tightly-cramped and unsightly piece of land into a premier residential address and, at the same time, greatly enhance one of the bleakest-looking blocks in the city’s south downtown core.

Foundation drilling rigs are in place at 10 York Street, where Tridel will build its highly successful Ten York tower, one of 2012’s best-selling condominium projects.

Ordinarily, the oddly-shaped property would seem an unlikely place to build a skyscraper — let alone one that people would love to live in.

Roughly triangular in shape, the site is completely surrounded on all sides by busy roads that are often clogged with traffic — Lake Shore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway to the north, Harbour Street and the Gardiner’s elevated off-ramp to York, Bay and Yonge Streets to the south, and of course York Street itself to the east. These high-volume thoroughfares, along with a large above-ground parking garage on the south side of Harbour Street, make the pie-shaped area from York to Lower Simcoe Street one of the darkest, ugliest and noisiest places in the downtown core. The block presents pedestrians and cyclists with a harsh and unpleasant streetscape they wouldn’t want to linger on, but would rather hurry past to get somewhere nicer.

But Ten York should improve the pedestrian experience enormously — as should a three-tower mixed-use development that will revitalize another similarly dismal strip of land on the east side of York Street. (See my January 26 post, which profiles construction progress on a Menkes project that will transform a 1-hectare site at 1 York Street into a vital new residential and employment hub.)

Together, the Tridel and Menkes projects will renew and repurpose two “islands” of under-utilized real estate — roughly half a kilometer in length — that have long been a visual and physical barrier separating Toronto’s popular Harbourfront district from its bustling commercial core. In addition to enhancing the public realm, the new buildings will  establish a pleasant gateway between the two neighbourhoods — especially if the City ever follows through on plans to remove or reconfigure the Gardiner off-ramps that pass beside the development sites.

 

Ten York condo 

A Tridel image showing a street-level perspective of the prow-shaped Ten York podium. The 69-storey skyscraper was designed by Toronto’s Wallman Architects.

 

 

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300 Front Street West condo construction passes 45 storeys on way to 49th-floor topping-off

300 Front Street West

September 18 2008: The northwest corner of Front and John Streets used to be a parking lot just steps away from the CBC Canadian Broadcasting Centre at 250 Front Street West (right), the Metro Hall Civic Centre at 55 John Street (right rear), and the Rosemont Residences at 50 John Street (center rear) …

 

 

300 Front Street West

… as seen in this view from the CN Tower on September 22 2008

 

 300 Front Street West

But during 2010 and early 2011 Tridel excavated the site …

 

 

300 Front Street West

… and began building the foundation and underground levels …

 

 

300 Front West

… for its 300 Front Street West condo complex, depicted in this artistic night view rendering by Rudy Wallman of Toronto’s Wallman Architects.

 

 

 

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Proposals for four skyline-changing towers set for review at Tuesday meeting of TEYCC

York/Harbour Street office & condo towers

This illustration, from a city planning department report, compares the heights of four towers proposed for the York Street/Harbour Street area to the two ÏCE Condominium skyscrapers currently under construction nearby. Click on the image to view it in a larger format.

 

1 York Street office building

The proposed towers include a 37-storey office building …

 

Harbour Plaza condo sign

… and two condo skyscrapers rising 62 and 66 storeys …

 

1 York Street / 90 Harbour Street

… on this surface parking lot property at 1 York Street and 90 Harbour Street, viewed here from York Street looking east.

 

 Ten York condo tower

Just across the road on the west side of York Street, this surface parking lot is the location for developer Tridel’s proposed Ten York condo tower …

 

 Tridel Ten York Condominium

 … which would soar 65 storeys from its wedge-shaped site, as depicted in this artistic illustration provided courtesy of Tridel. The developer recently launched sales previews for the 735-foot, 725-suite skyscraper.

 

Decision day: Two development proposals that would dramatically change the look of the city skyline are up for review at the monthly meeting of Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC) on Tuesday. 

The proposals — the Ten York condo tower by Tridel, and the 1 York office tower and two  Harbour Plaza condo skyscrapers by Menkes — both have the blessing of City planners, who have recommended “approval in principle” of Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments that would permit the projects to proceed, subject to the provision of adequate parking space.

 

 

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Tridel previews trimmed Ten York condo tower as redesigned project goes to TEYCC for approval

Tridel Ten York condo tower

Making a strong point: The prow-shaped podium for the proposed Ten York condo tower will add tremendous visual interest and excitement for eastbound drivers emerging onto Harbour Street from the dark Lake Shore Blvd corridor beneath the Gardiner Expressway. This artistic rendering, provided courtesy of Tridel, depicts a view of the podium from its western point.

 

Tridel Ten York condo tower

This illustration, featured in current Tridel marketing promotions, depicts the dramatic impression the 65-storey, flatiron-shaped Ten York condo tower (center) would make on the Toronto skyline. Ten York was designed by Toronto’s Wallman Architects. Click on the image to view the illustration in a larger format.

 

Back in the spotlight: It was one year ago this month (November 22 2011, to be precise) that the announcement of plans to build Ten York, a 75-storey condo tower near the foot of York Street, became the talk of the town — and the focus of news headlines and discussion right across the country. Ten York remained a popular conversation topic for weeks afterward, with people continuing to comment as much on its soaring floor count as its unlikely location — a triangular site tightly wedged between three of downtown’s busiest traffic arteries, the Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Boulevard and Harbour Street. Ten York even dominated cocktail chat at holiday parties and get-togethers I attended throughout the holiday season  (asking the question: “Who would want to live so close to the Gardiner and Lake Shore?” always sparked a lively debate).

 

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Cladding & glass on new condo/loft complex brings shades of grey to Front Street West

300 Front Street West Toronto

July 27 2012: A view from the west of construction progress on the Three Hundred Front Street West condo tower being built by Tridel at Front & John Streets

 

300 Front Street West Toronto

July 27 2012: Charcoal grey and silver cladding is being installed on the southwest corner of what ultimately will be a 49-storey condo tower …

 

300 Front Street West Toronto

… with an attached 15-storey loft building …

 

300 Front Street West Toronto

… both of which are seen here from the south side of Front Street last Friday

 

Nearly halfway there: The exterior colour of a condominium tower currently under construction on Front Street West shares two things in common with one of the year’s most popular novels. Not only do shades of grey figure prominently with the building’s cladding and the book’s title, but both have been selling exceptionally well also.

Three Hundred Front Street West, a project of Toronto’s Tridel group of real estate development and management companies, is an L-shaped condo-loft complex being built at the northwest corner of Front and John Streets, just north of the CN Tower. The condo tower will soar 49 storeys above the street, while the loft section of the building will rise just 15 floors.  As of last week, the tower was approaching the halfway mark, while work on the midrise loft wing had reached the 12th level.

 

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Public meeting Tuesday for Ten York condo plan

 

illustrations of proposed Ten York condo tower Toronto

Images from developer Tridel’s website show the 75-storey Ten York condo tower that has been proposed for a former parking lot site wedged between Lake Shore Boulevard, the Gardiner Expressway, Harbour Street & York Street

 

Tight squeeze: A community consultation Tuesday evening will let members of the public tell city planners what they think of Ten York, the proposed 75-storey condo tower that made national headlines when the project was unveiled late last fall.

The public session starts with a 6.30 p.m. open house followed by a meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. at the PawsWay Toronto Centre at 245 Queen’s Quay West.

Typical community consultations include a brief presentation during which a representative for a developer (often, the building architect) describes highlights of a highrise condo proposal and shows slides illustrating the shadow impacts the tower is expected to have on its neighbourhood. That’s usually followed by a comment, question and answer period chaired by the city planner in charge of the file. City planners consider community input when making final recommendations on actions Toronto City Council should take with respect to planning applications.

 

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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

 

Contractors digging deep foundation for 49-storey Three Hundred Front Street West condo tower

300 Front Street West condo tower construction

March 29 2011: Excavation machines and equipment inside the deep pit at the Three Hundred Front Street West condo tower construction site

 

Three Hundred Front Street West condo

From the Tridel website, an artistic illustration of a southeast night view of the Three Hundred Front Street West condo building

 

Deep dig: An already huge hole in the ground is getting even bigger at the northwest corner of Front and John Streets, where Toronto developer Tridel is building its latest luxury condominium tower on the site of a former parking lot. Designed by Rudy Wallman of Toronto’s Wallman Architects, the L-shaped Three Hundred Front Street West will actually be two buildings in one. A 49-storey tower offering a variety of 1- and 2-bedroom condo suites plus spacious penthouse residences will rise from the west side of the property, while a connected 15-storey loft building will stand to the north. A grand two-storey lobby entrance will overlook a large landscaped garden gracing the southeast corner of Front & John.

Design-wise, Three Hundred Front Street West will bring a bit of Big Apple appeal to downtown Toronto. “I was inspired by the classic skyscrapers of the modern era to create a structure that is timeless and elegant,” Wallman explains in a video presentation on the Tridel website.  Three Hundred Front Street West, he adds, will be “a unique and elegant addition” to the neighbourhood, complementing the new Ritz-Carlton Toronto hotel and condo tower one block to the east, as well as the new Festival Tower and TIFF Bell Lightbox buildings two blocks north at John and King. Interior designer Alex Chapman of Chapman Design Group says Wallman has conceived a “Manhattan-style” tower that is “totally reminiscent of many of the famous complexes” in New York City. Unfortunately, I haven’t been to Manhattan yet, so I can’t draw any comparisons myself. But I do think that,  with its soaring height and its striking silver and charcoal grey glass exterior, Three Hundred Front Street West will become a landmark commanding attention both in its immediate area and on the city skyline. The neighbourhood is dominated by office and condo towers with similar green glass exteriors, so Three Hundred Front Street West’s unique silver and grey tower accents should provide a refreshing visual break from the rest as well as an attractive addition to the skyline.

Amenities-wise, Three Hundred Front Street West will be a contemporary condo offering the look and feel of an exclusive, upscale boutique hotel. The airy two-storey lobby off Front Street will be “a sophisticated urban arrival space” with a lounge atmosphere, Chapman says, while a 13,500-square-foot recreational center on the 15th floor will feature a “professional-level” exercise area. The rooftop of the loft wing will look like a chic “urban resort” with its infinity pool, sundecks, Roman fountain and barbecue. Interior recreational amenities will include a party room with south views, a private dining room with a catering-size kitchen and its own “cocktail balcony,” a poker room, billiards room and lounge. I’m jealous; with the exception of a ground-level swimming pool, all of the amenity areas in the downtown condo where I live are windowless basement spaces with all the sophistication of a recreation room from a 1970s-era suburban house.

Overall, I think Three Hundred Front Street West will significantly enhance the streetscape in one of the city’s most popular tourist areas, particularly since it will block many sightlines of the Windsor hydroelectric station on Wellington Street. And with plans in the works for John Street to get a major makeover in the next several years, Three Hundred Front Street West’s main entrance park will become a classy southern gateway to the Entertainment District’s main north-south street. The only downside to the development, that I can see, is the block full of ugly power transformers on its north flank. But since Wallman’s design means all of the loft suites face south, their residents will still enjoy good views and won’t get stuck overlooking electrical equipment.

Below are photos I’ve taken of recent construction activity at Three Hundred Front Street West, along with several artistic illustrations provided by Tridel that suggest how the tower, its street-level exterior, and its landscaped park will appear. Additional artistic illustrations of the building exterior, lobby and amenities, as well as floor plans and brief video presentations by Rudy Wallman and Alex Chapman, are available on the Three Hundred Front Street West website.

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

November 28 2010:  Signage on hoarding around the construction site

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

November 23 2010: North-facing view of the 300 Front West site

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

November 23 2010: A tall shoring machine at work on the condo excavation site

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

November 23 2010: Northeast view of the condo construction site. The building with the red window frames is the CBC broadcasting headquarters on the southeast corner of Front & John Streets.

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

November 23 2011: Northeast view across the 300 Front Street West condo site

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

January 14 2011: The ramp leading from Front Street into the excavation

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

January 14 2011: Some of the hydroelectrical equipment at the Windsor Station on the north side of the 300 Front Street West site. Thankfully, the condo will block views of the hydro station from most parts of Front and John Streets.

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

February 18 2011: A view of the crane recently installed on the site

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011: Excavation machines inside the pit at 300 Front West

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011: Looking toward the northeast corner of the excavation

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011: Excavation machines at the bottom of the deep pit

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011: The supporting wall on the north side of the excavation

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011: Excavation activity at the eastern half of the site

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011:  Considerable excavation work remains on the west side of the site

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011: Looking toward Front Street from the site’s NE corner

 

300 Front Street West condo tower

March 29 2011:  Slick white hoarding protects pedestrians on Front Street

 

Three Hundred Front Street West condo park

From the condo website, an illustration of the landscaped SE corner park

 

Three Hundred Front Street West condo lobby

Website illustration of the lobby exterior, viewed from the condo park

 

Three Hundred Front Street West condo

Website illustration of the Three Hundred Front West lobby exterior

 

Three Hundred Front Street West condo lobby

Website illustration of the Three Hundred Front Street West lobby interior

 

Three Hundred Front Street West condo lobby

Another illustration of the Three Hundred Front Street West lobby interior

 

 

Rêve King West exterior looking more complete

Reve King West condo construction progress

Rêve King West condo construction progress viewed from the Bathurst Street bridge to the southwest on March 29 2011

 

Nearly finished: January was the last time I was in the vicinity of the Rêve King West condo construction site. At that time, concrete had been poured for all 14 floors of the midrise Tridel condo building, while windows and exterior cladding had been installed on all but the top six storeys. Two construction cranes were still working on site. When I was back in the area at the end of March, I saw that the cranes had been removed from the roof, while almost all windows had been installed. Most of the exterior finish was in place, too. Occupancy is tentatively scheduled for this summer. Most suites have already been sold, but several are still available, at prices ranging from $334,000 for a 1-bedroom with den, to $850,000 for a 1,55-square-foot, 3-bedroom suite with a large terrace. Below are several more pics of the building; earlier construction photos can be viewed in my January 21 2011 post.

 

Reve King West condo construction progress

Southeast view of Rêve King West condo building on Front St. W. near Bathurst St.

 

Reve King West condo construction progress

North end of the Rêve King West condo building viewed from Niagara Street

 

Reve King West condo construction progress

The upper southwest floors of Rêve King West, viewed from Front Street

 

Reve King West condo construction progress

Another Bathurst Street bridge view of Rêve King West


Move-in dates approaching quickly for buyers at James Cooper Mansion condos on Sherbourne St.

James Cooper Mansion condos on Sherbourne Street January 9 2011


Looking good: “If you think it’s nice on the outside, you should see inside. This place is beautiful!”

That’s what a contractor said when he saw me snapping photos outside the James Cooper Mansion condo tower on Sherbourne Street last weekend.

The Tridel condo project designed by Burka Architects Inc. is close to completion, and the contractor said buyers will probably start moving into the building by the end of the month.

Today, I saw workers putting up signs for a rental office and Tridel customer care centre, so at least parts of the building must be nearly ready for occupancy.

Below are photos I’ve taken of the building in recent weeks.