city building : Development News

The last of four towers that helped transform Mississauga's city centre got one of its finishing touches this month.

Onyx, the fourth tower by Davies Smith Developments, across from Square One, got its rooftop terrace. Though it's been accepting occupants since last summer, the 36-storey, 353-unit building at 223 Webb Drive has only now reached is registration phase.

"When we started the ball rolling on this whole community, we put a lot of thought into the kind of style for the first building coming in there," says developer Ian Smith, "because that was very early in what has now become a well developed residential core in the city. We saw it not as a suburban site, but as Mississauga city centre, which could be pretty urban.

"So we went with a pretty sleek glass tower design, which hadn't been done there before. Before, it was very traditional suburban condo designs, more individual, punch windows, facades with individual windows breaking up the exterior. At that time, nothing in Mississauga city centre had lofts, two-storey units, and they sold incredibly fast."

The first designs for the four-tower project, which also includes CityGate I and II, and Solstice, were done in 2002, just after the zoning for the area had been changed to allow the increased density, according to Smith.

The towers' architect was Roland Rom Colthoff, current principal at Raw Design, who was a principal of Quadrangle Architects while designing the first three towers; the credit for Onyx is split between the two firms.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Ian Smith

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CORRECTION: Raw Design was incorrectly credited as the architecture firm behind the four towers in the original version of this story. Roland Rom Colthoff was the principal in charge of these designs while at Quadrangle.

After a series of invitation-only discussion sessions, as of Monday, the city's Creative Capital Initiative has started asking for help from the public.

According to Councillor Michael Thompson, describing it in a story posted on the city's TO Live With Culture site, the initiative is "about the cultural industries working with city staff and with the private sector to fashion a plan that will be part of the City's cultural strategy."

At the events there were five tables set up, each with its own facilitator and devoted to a different aspect of the initiative, including one where people could gather to discuss infrastructure and offer ideas as to how it might be improved and expanded.

"Finding affordable space is always a challenge, " says Terry Nicholson, the city's manager of cultural affairs. "And there's about a $30-million backlog for repair�. There's an issue of the condition of the current facilities, and also a concern about where the new facilities will come from. Outside of the downtown core, there are very few dedicated spaces for culture."

He points out that for many cultural activities, not just any space will do. "If it's dance, it needs a sprung floor. If it's for music, it needs soundproofing."

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Terry Nicholson

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Toronto is finally able to take its espresso standing up.

After the briefest of renovations, the Yonge and Bloor location of Crema Coffee Co. has become the first cafe in the city, as far as its owner knows, to have a stand-up, standalone espresso bar.

"It's so people will have a place to stand and have a quick espresso," says Geoff Polci, "basically like they do in Italy."

The walnut-top bar was installed on March 25 by Tom King of Discrete and Discreet, cost a total of $800.

Polci plans to install another, possibly larger one at his location in the Junction over the summer.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Geoff Polci

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Starting on April 4, the authors of a city-sponsored report on the future of Toronto the Vertical will present their findings to the public in search of comment.

The meetings are taking place in the three wards --- 20, 27 and 28 -- covered by the report.

"There will be information up on boards," says the city's Tall Buildings project manager Helen Bulat, that will give people the opportunity to look at what's being proposed, and speak to the representatives of the architecture firm of Hariri Pontarini and Urban Strategies, Inc., "then there will be a Power Point presentation that highlights what the report is about.

"The point," she says, "is to get feedback � on what is it we have to do with these tall buildings to make them more palatable, in terms of their relationship with one another and their relationship to the street and surrounding parks and so on and so forth their impact on views, their impact on historical buildings and existing development "

The first meeting will be held in the parish hall of St. Basil's church at 50 St Joseph Street on the St. Michael's College campus, the second at Palmerston Library on April 7, and the third at the St. Lawrence Community and Recreation Centre's gym at 230 The Esplanade on April 11.

Anyone who wants to have their say but can't make it to any of the meetings can write in to [email protected].

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Helen Bulat

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Forty-six years after it was built, Viljo Revell's new city hall is getting some new windows.

Starting this week, all 758 windows in the east tower are being replaced, floor by floor, in a project that's set to cost $5 million and take till November.

"The existing single pane windows will be replaced with tinted, double pane, energy efficient units," says Jim Kamstra, the city's manager of energy and waste management. Due to heritage considerations, there will be little change to the look of the building."

The work, carried out after office hours and on Saturdays, is being handled by general contractor Buttcon Limited, and the window supplier is C3 Polymeric. The contract for the west tower has yet to be tendered.

The funds, from the Strategic Infrastructure Fund, were set aside two years ago.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Jim Kamstra

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The work being done to replace the water mains and sewers on Eastern Avenue and Front Street is set to be completed by July.

The $3-million project is dealing with Eastern Avenue from Trinity to Sumach, and Front Street from Jarvis to Eastern.

"The water mains were identified for replacement due the age of the water mains, and to coordinate with the planned road works," says Salima Jivraj, senior engineer with the technical services section of the city's Design and Construction: Linear Infrastructure division. "The sewer works on Front Street East were added to the program due to poor structural condition. There is no sewer work identified along Eastern Avenue."

There is one lane of traffic in each direction being kept open during construction.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Salima Jivraj

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The finalists for the newly expanded Green Toronto Awards have been announced for 2011.

In the Green Design category Architects Alliance (for the Sackville-Dundas Apartments, part of the Regent Park revitalization), the Leon's furniture store at the Roundhouse, and Modrobes are up for the award, which according to the prize committee "rewards leadership in infrastructure, architecture of industrial design which complies with the principles of sustainability."

Finalists for the new Green Home award, which recognizes individual residents who are doing remarkable work on their own homes, are Anthony Ketchum, John Tabone and Lynn Brady.

The prizes will be $5,000 to continue the winners' green efforts, or to donate to whichever environmental charity they like. Winners will be announced at the Green Living Show on April 15.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Valerie Cassells

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City Hall is considering a site plan for an 8-storey condo on Dundas Street at Dovercourt.

Currently the site of a garage at 1243-1245 Dundas Street West, the new building, whose address will be 1245 Dundas West, is being developed by a company called 1245 Dundas West Inc.

The architects are Raw Design.

 "We looked at several options including angled facades but decided on stepping floor plates - progressive cantilever would be the most cost effective and also not result in unusual interior spaces with angled walls," says Raw principal Richard Witt.

The building, whose construction schedule has not yet been set, will have a glazing and metal panel facade.

Neighbourhood meetings will be held, but have not yet been scheduled.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Richard Witt


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Beginning this week, Victoria Park Avenue between Kingston and Winston roads will have reduced northbound capacity until July.

The east boulevard is being dug up in order to replace the water mains, which is expected to cost the city $430,000.

According to Salima Jivraj, a senior engineer with the city, "The water main was identified for upgrade as the existing water main was considered substandard in size, and therefore was planned for upgrade."

The project is one of several commencing this month and next, part of the annual spring fling of road works.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source; Salima Jivraj

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paul baron - century21 - [email protected] 416 849

For the first time, the Toronto Green Awards are this year recognizing individual homeowners' efforts to reduce their environmental impact.

John Tabone, one of the first finalists, submitted the 800 square foot East York bungalow he tripled in size over the past two years, while incorporating every green measure he could think of, and several he had never heard of.

"The flooring in our house is FSC certified bamboo called plyboo," he says of one of his new discoveries, "sourced from one particular place in China, done a sustainable way." The plyboo is processed without urea-formaldehyde, and is grown and harvested in a panda-friendly fashion, according to Tabone.

The project cost him $350,000, and included digging 180-foot holes in his driveway to facilitate the home's geothermal heating and cooling system.

One of the reasons Tabone is especially proud of the work on his Woodbine Gardens-area home is that he did it on a relatively reasonable budget.

"I see some of the huge eco houses in the more affluent areas, and clearly without a budget you can do more than we did," he says. "We tried to keep it in with a manageable budget."

The winners of this year's award will be announced on April 15.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: John Tabone

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Awards seasons continues and the call for nominations went out last week for the biannual Toronto Urban Design Awards.

The awards are meant to recognize design, architecture and landscapes.

"The Toronto Urban Design Awards is an exciting program that recognizes the important contribution made by the design and development community to the look, livability and vitality of Toronto," said Robert Freedman, Toronto's director of urban design. "I'm pleased as well to encourage design students to enter theoretical or studio projects relating to Toronto."

The categories are private and public buildings in context, small open spaces, large open spaces and neighbourhood design, visions and master plans, student projects and "elements," which includes smaller design features like benches, fences, light fixtures and works of art.

Nominations close May 19, and the winners will be announced September 19.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Bruce Hawkins

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The most disruptive road work in the city is starting up again this week.

Its significant effect already the inspiration for a poster campaign among local merchants with the tag "Road work sucks," the work on Roncesvalles seems to have been going on forever, and after a short respite, it's up and running again, part of a $9-million improvement program for the area.

"This project was initiated through the maintenance program for track replacement," says city senior engineer Salima Jivraj, "and subsequently tacked on various public realm improvements from the Environmental Assessment initiated 2008."

The work will now consist of streetcar track replacement and road resurfacing. It's expected to last until July.


Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Salima Jivraj

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The 10th annual Rex Awards for real estate excellent were handed out at the beginning of March, with Corus Quay taking the award for office development of the year.

The awards are handed out by NAIOP, an organization of developers, owners and related professionals.

Corus Quay is owned by Build Toronto and the Toronto Port Lands Company, developed by DTZ Barnicke Limited, designed by Diamond and Schmitt (exterior) and Quadrangle (interior), and funded by Morguard Investments Limited.

According to NAIOP, "The awards criteria focus on results (quality and performance), skills (teamwork, collaboration, innovation and creativity) and values (community and environmental awareness)."

Other winners were the TD Centre for office lease of the year, 7381 Bramalea Road for industrial lease of the year, Flynn Canada for industrial development of the year, Adelaide Place for investment deal of the year, and AeroCentre V by Sweeny Sterling Finlayson and Co. Architects for green award of the year.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Nathalie Pastuszac

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Thanks to some DIY spirit, the 1,000 square foot space that once housed Johny Banana on Bathurst just north of Queen has been transformed into 416snackbar for about $50,000.

The 1,000 square foot space (plus basement) needed new wiring, and got some new floors, purpose-built tables, new lights and a new bar.

Dave Stewart and Adrian Ravinsky took over the lease on Sept. 15, and after some wrangling over a liquor license, began work in October. The restaurant, named for Ravinsky's blog, opened Jan. 24.

The pair not only did the work themselves, the financing was DIY as well. Each partner invested $15,000, which was added to an $18,000 line of credit, and a couple of credit cards.

"We were lucky to inherit the bones of a kitchen," Stewart says. "It probably would have been another $25,000 in expenses if it hadn't already been a restaurant."

Though it's been open for business more almost two months, work is continuing, including the installation of a prep kitchen in the basement.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Dave Stewart

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Imperial Plaza, the old Toronto headquarters of Imperial Oil, is having its guts ripped out to make way for some of the city's more distinctive condominiums.

According to Richard Mariani, marketing co-ordinator for the building's re-developer, Camrost-Felcorp, floors 5 through 15 are now having their interiors demolished, a process that involves "taking down the old flooring and walls so they can strip it down to the bones to see what needs to be done."

The 19th floor was stripped out this past summer, and the 20th floor of the 22-storey building is being kept intact for the moment to allow prospective buyers to get a look at the view and an idea of what the vintage 50s interiors of the classic building, designed by architect Alvan Mathers and built in 1957, look like.

Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Richard Mariani

Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a new house being built in the neighbourhood? Please send your development news tips to [email protected].