Community Responds Positively to 80-Storey Tower by Mizrahi Developments
By Lucas on Mar 12, 2015
Since Mizrahi Developments purchased the Stollerys site at Yonge and Bloor in Toronto late last year, the community and other interested parties have been waiting eagerly to see what the developer has in mind for the iconic location. Well, we didn’t have to wait that long because some slick renderings have been released. Dubbed “The One,” it is set to be Canada’s tallest building.
Via Mizrahi
With Mizrahi’s recent community meeting, that makes two exciting presentations at the Park Hyatt this month. At the beginning of March, Westbank unveiled their initial renderings for Bloor and Bathurst to a crowd of about 600. Like the Stollerys site, Bloor and Bathurst is also replacing one of Toronto’s beloved buildings, Honest Ed’s.
Via Mizrahi
When Mizrahi announced that a luxury condo was on the way, Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam lead the charge on attempting to get the 114 year old Stollerys building designated a heritage building, but it didn’t happen. At the recent community meeting, Mizrahi announced to around 300 people that portions of Stollery’s limestone facade have been saved and will serve as the foundation to some sort of monument or sculpture on the site to commemorate the four-storey building.
Via Mizrahi
Mizrahi’s plan for the Yonge and Bloor site is a stunning 80-storey condo, which will stand 318 metres tall, making it the second tallest tower in Toronto (second only to the CN Tower). The building is being designed by Foster + Partners of London and Toronto’s Core Architects, and will feature “exoskeleton construction.”
Via Mizrahi
There will be eight levels of retail, over 600 underground parking spaces with valet service, and 560 residential units. The interesting thing about the residential units is that there will be no columns or pillars, so there will be no structural factors determining the arrangement of your living space. This allows buyers to make the unit their own so it functions in a way that best suits their lifestyle. The building will also connect to the PATH system and feature a significant outdoor public realm. The site includes 11 Bloor Street, as well as a line of properties along the southwest side of Yonge.
Via Mizrahi
Mizrahi hasn’t made a formal application to the City yet because they wanted to hear what the community and BIA thought of the proposal. Even though there was a group who was agitated by the loss of Stollerys, the overall mood of the crowd was positive. Of course, there are still a few who loved the unique facade of the Stollerys building and are sad to see it go. Also, this height has raised many concerns about shadowing and wind tunnels, especially with Great Gulf’s One Bloor right across the street.
Via Mizrahi
If all goes according to plan and all the rezoning applications come through in a reasonable amount of time, Mizrahi predicts that the retail space could be open by 2018, and that occupancy of the residential units could take place as soon as 2020.
What do you think of the designs?
