Lucy Cameron of Diamondcorp Discusses The Well

As you probably noticed, the new home industry practically erupted when Diamondcorp, Allied, and RioCan introduced The Well via a slick, eye-catching website. As thorough as the website is, we just had to learn more, so we reached out to Lucy Cameron, Vice President of Diamondcorp to discuss The Well in more detail.

First off, the name really intrigued us and we had to figure out the inspiration behind it. Cameron explained that the rich history of the neighbourhood played the biggest role in determining the name for the project. In the early 1800s, this neighbourhood was called Wellington Place (the area along Wellington between Spadina and Portland). There was housing in Wellington Place as early as 1842, and a variety of industries, including coal, wood, and engine manufacturing arrived by 1890 and during the early 1900s. So, it’s only natural that a mixed-use development be planned for this 7.7-acre site!

So, Wellington had to be included in the name, but that word alone seemed too long, so it was shortened. It’s not that simple though, there is definitely some wordplay at work here. Cameron explained that a well (as in a watering hole) in a community setting “has always been a gathering place, source of life, and typically a place where people of a community would gather to meet.” It works on so many levels!

According to Cameron, every space (residential, retail, and office) will accommodate a wide range of demographics, and each building will feature two to three different uses. With different sized spaces available, The Well will showcase boutique shops, big businesses, single working professionals, childless couples, growing families, and more!

“Our whole plan is to connect with the rich fabric that’s already surrounding the site at Spadina and Wellington,” said Cameron. “We’re also very excited about the opportunity to create a signature office building at the corner of Front and Spadina.” The office tower is planned to reach 34-storeys, making it the tallest building in The Well.

Cameron continued to explain that The Well will be punctuated by pedestrian walkways, which will allow the excitement and vibrancy of the surrounding environment to flow through the heart of the community. Pedestrians will be able to travel from Front to King with ease, avoiding vehicular obstacles.

Diamondcorp, Allied, and RioCan are already receiving inquiries about The Well, and they plan to start collecting registrations by 2015. If all goes well (pun intended), we should see construction starting as early as 2016! Diamondcorp is known as the Greater Toronto Area’s zoning specialists, so if there’s one company that can get this project moving, it’s them!

We’re really looking forward to watching The Well develop over the course of this year. Stay tuned - we’ll be releasing more info about the mixed-use development as information becomes available.