Just what residential tower is going to be highest in the last depends on how you define your terms.
If you count things like spires—and the people behind the World Trade Centre and the Sears Tower (not to mention the CN Tower) certainly did—it’s the newly opened
Trump at 281.02 metres. But the Trump's highest floor, what's known as architectural height, is 256.7 metres.
That means Aura, the
Canderel Stoneridge tower on its way up now, which just got a three-storey boost from City Hall, is the winner in that department. At 78 storeys, it can claim the highest penthouse view at 273 metres above the corner of Yonge and College.
"Planning staff did not have major objections," says the ward's councillor,
Kristyn Wong-Tam. "Obviously, there was already shadow impact everywhere at 75 storeys."
What made the deal a slam dunk for Wong-Tam, who is ambivalent on the subject of Yonge becoming a street of towers, was an additional Section 37 contribution, which will now allow for the complete reconstruction of
Barbara Ann Scott rink and park.
Under the original agreement, Canderel was making a $2-million contribution to community benefit in return for the variance that allowed them their initial 75 storeys. But motivated by their desire to beat Trump and partner
Alex Schnaider, the developer agreed to another $1 million for the three extra floors.
According to Wong-Tam, there will also be wider sidewalks, better "pedestrian treatment," and "all sorts of cafés and restaurants at the base." There will also be a Marshalls department store opening in the fall.
The extra floors in the
Graziani and Corazza-designed building will add about 50 units to the building, bringing its total to 985.
Occupancy is expected to begin next winter.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Kristyn Wong-Tam
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