This month’s coverage of B.streets Condos’ construction progress is pretty special. On July 29, 2013, we sat down with Construction Manager Chris Hawkins, Lindvest’s Director, Sales & Marketing, Joseph Alberga, and Sandro Zanini, a Senior Associate Partner at Hariri Pontarini Architects. So, we took this opportunity to discuss not only the construction progress, but also a few other interesting topics.

Construction progress at B.streets

Hawkins started by explaining what phase of construction they are at:

“Today we are pouring the third of four pours on the eighth floor. We’ll be doing the first pour on floor nine later this week. Next week, we’ll be doing the concrete work on the lane homes - that will be finished in two weeks. The overall schedule, weather permitting, is to be completed the concrete work by the week of August 19.”

Because of B.streets’ long form, they need to separate the concrete pours into four different stages. Each floor has four pours, and the ninth floor is the last floor, so they will be topping off very soon!

Hawkins continued, outlining the next construction steps for August:

“The precast is currently scheduled for Sunday August 11. The brick is coming up and the first load is being delivered on the 6th of August. The drywall contractor has started, he’s been on the site for close to three weeks. First delivery of windows is scheduled for the middle of August, probably the week of August 19. The cladding will get going through August, and the roofing will be starting then, too.”

The Lane Homes at B.streets

With Zanini present, we leapt at the chance to discuss the design of B.streets, specifically the Lane Homes.

Zanini explained, “They’re situated on the south, next to the street (Loretto Lane). They should work out well. It will be an interesting corner. It gives the purchasers more of an identity, makes them feel like they're part of the development, but also gives them a sense of privacy.” He continued, “With the entrance being on the lane side, it will certainly attract more vehicular traffic, more pedestrians, more cyclists, sort of animate it, and help it grow into something as time goes by.”

Alberga added, “The articulation is very pronounced. You expect the building to be symmetrical on both sides or mimic that same style, but it doesn’t. Two Lane Homes have sold, and there are four available. They’re all larger, 1,200 square feet and up. Whoever purchases at the Lane Homes will have that home-type feel - they’re completely different from your traditional condo design.”

The Lane Homes feature large front porches and an upper level for a second bedroom. They are like combinations of townhomes and condos, but attached to a boutique condo in a vibrant downtown neighbourhood - doesn’t get much better than that.

The fate of Honest Ed’s

As you probably know, Honest Ed’s was quietly put up for sale recently. Since B.streets is right across the street from Honest Ed’s, we had to ask what Alberga and Zanini expect to happen at the site. Here’s what they said:

Zanini: “I’ve been in Toronto since 1956, ‘55, Honest Ed’s was always there. It’ll be interesting to see in the next five or six years what they’re plans are, if any. They may be just testing the market.”

Alberga: “There may be cranes all over the city building high-rises, but there’s nothing really like that in The Annex. We were the only major construction project, and I personally like the scale of our building and the way it sits on Bathurst. Hopefully, they keep that attitude. It would be sad to see soaring towers.”

Zanini added that the area wouldn’t allow any high-rises. If anything goes up at the Honest Ed’s site, Zanini predicts that it will be 10 or 12 storeys, maybe some terracing like B.streets, and obviously some retail on the ground floor.

Topping off at B.streets

Alberga said that on August 21, they are going to celebrate with a topping off party:

“We’re going to have all the trades and everyone that’s been involved in the project up until now. We’ll invite a number of the consultants, our entire marketing and sales teams, we’ll have a few of the principals and office staff. It’s to acknowledge everybody’s hard work. Typically, the construction runs the topping off party because it’s to acknowledge the completion of the superstructure. All that concrete work is nearing completion and it’s always been done to reward those guys because they’re leaving the project.”

Zanini took the opportunity at the end of our discussion to thank Lindvest: “I’d like to thank Lindvest for allowing us to participate. It was very surprising, the awards, it was well received by everyone. We’re very pleased, everyone is.”

B.Streets’ awards include a number of 2012 OHBA Awards, such as Project of the Year - High or Mid-rise. B.streets also received many 2012 BILD Awards, also including a Project of the Year - High-Rise award.

We would like to thank Chris Hawkins, Joseph Alberga, and Sandro Zanini for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with us at B.streets Condos. We’re looking forward to the topping off celebration!