Daniels Waterfront in Toronto Unveiling Soon!
By Lucas on Feb 27, 2015
For the past couple years, the spotlight has been on Toronto’s waterfront. With so many master-plans and large residential and commercial developments in the works, it’s hard to not to keep turning east to see what the future holds for Toronto. Last May, The Daniels Corporation announced the purchase of the Guvernment site at Jarvis and Queens Quay, which is big news considering there are already a number of big players in the area, all of which are working with Waterfront Toronto to develop a cohesive east waterfront.
We got pretty excited when Daniels announced Daniels Waterfront because they are already involved in another grand master-plan in the east end, the revitalization of Regent Park. Daniels has done some amazing work within the Regent Park community, and we’re positive that they will bring the same attitude to the waterfront neighbourhood.
“As the developer of TIFF Bell Lightbox, and with our continuing work in the Regent Park Revitalization, Daniels has created some of Toronto’s most important mixed-use communities, and we look forward to bringing our 30 years of experience in master planning and city building to the corner of Jarvis and Queens Quay,” said Niall Haggart, Executive Vice President of Daniels, during the initial announcement of the site acquisition.
Last spring, we had no idea what Daniels had in store, and to be completely honest, we still don’t. Daniels has a one-page website up now with a nighttime view of Toronto’s skyline featuring a giant crate labelled “Arriving in 2015.” To be the first to see what’s in the crate, you have to register!
Until then, let’s make some predictions. At 2.8 acres, the site isn’t small, but it isn’t that large either. The development obviously won’t be quite as expansive as other master-planned neighbourhoods in the area, like Tridel and Hines’ Bayside Toronto, Dundee Kilmer’s Canary District, or even the Distillery District (13 acres). So, we’ll likely see one or two buildings.
Located directly next door to the Corus Entertainment building and Sugar Beach, and just east of Cityzen’s Pier 27, we expect that the building (or buildings) won’t be that tall. At Bayside Toronto, the maximum height is 13 storeys, and that community is directly to the east. Even Menkes’ new Waterfront Innovation Centre (on the water next to the Corus building and George Brown College) will only rise 10 storeys. Being closer to Yonge than Bayside Toronto and the Innovation Centre, and located on the north side of Queens Quay, Daniels Waterfront could be a bit taller than 13 storeys, maybe 15 or 16. But who knows, we could be wrong and a high-rise could be on its way to the waterfront.
“Daniels shares in Waterfront Toronto’s vision to ‘put people first and reconnect Toronto with the Waterfront’, and we continue to work together with the City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto and area stakeholders to realize the collective vision of a revitalized waterfront and bring this incredible community to life,” Haggart said.
As far as amenities go, we can always count on Daniels to include a variety of fitness facilities, communal gardening plots, and flagship retail opportunities on the ground level. Without a doubt, Daniels will bring something special to the waterfront community and will surely be a significant piece in the master-planned puzzle that Waterfront Toronto is gradually shaping.
