If you've walked by the corner of Front and Church in the
last week you will have noticed that the perpetual book blow-out shop on the
southwest corner has finally disappeared, replaced by a hoarding from
Vancouver-based Concert Properties.
From 51 to 61 Church, and from the book blow-out shop up to
but not including the Christmas Market at 51 Front Street East will soon be The
Berczy, a 13-storey terraced condo with retail on the bottom floor.
Designed by Young + Wright/IBI Group Architects, with
interiors by the Chapman Design Group, the short tower is set to be finished by
2012, and will be incorporating the historic building that currently houses The Keg at 12 Church into its fa�ade. Previous Young + Wright/IBI Group buildings
include One St. Thomas and the Sharp Centre of Art & Design. Chapman
have worked on the famous Cotton House hotel on the island of Mustique in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines and the renovation of the residences at College
Park.
According to Concert's Toronto marketing department, though
prices have not been definitively set yet, they will likely start around
$280,000 for the larger-than-average one-bedroom units, which will be just
under 600 square feet (as a comparison, the smallest units in the L Tower a
block west on Front will be under 500 square feet).
The Berczy is named for the park across the
street, which in turn is named for William Berczy (1744-1813), an early Toronto
painter and founder of Markham.
V. Tony Hauser, whose photography studio is at 55 Front
Street East, will be relocating,
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Concert Properties