Office Space Conversions

[rdaner]

There should be a place to gather the increasing number of proposals to convert commercial uses to residential, hotel and increasingly cultural/post-secondary.

Calgary just unveiled an incentive program to convert commercial to university/college space and it looks like the University of Calgary’s Architecture and Planning School is moving downtown.

 

[yrt+viva=1system]

From what I remember reading, Toronto has a legal problem when it comes to converting downtown commercial office properties to residential. There’s a law that prohibits any loss of office property in the downtown core. I forgot where I came across it but it was mentioned as one of the challenges to converting buildings over in Toronto.

 

[Undead]

I believe that's a city wide policy?

 

[Northern Light]

From what I remember reading, Toronto has a legal problem when it comes to converting downtown commercial office properties to residential. There’s a law that prohibits any loss of office property in the downtown core. I forgot where I came across it but it was mentioned as one of the challenges to converting buildings over in Toronto.

I believe that's a city wide policy?

This is what you're discussing:

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-92567.pdf

Its achieved mostly through the Official Plan, but may also be partially enacted in some Secondary Plans.

Council can change these for any site via an application to amend; however, Planning is unlikely to deliver significant approvals w/o a clear change in policy.

****

It does not apply to every office space in the City, but does apply to most in the core.

****

Toronto has approved conversions in the past, many in fact, though these predate the above.

Conversions of office to residential occurred on both the N/E and S/E corners of Yonge and Wellesley, the S/E Corner of Yonge/Davisville, King East, just east of Yonge, south side, as well as in Thorncliffe, at the corner of Overlea/Millwood.

All of the above happened more than 20 years ago.

 

[DSC]

For an example of a conversion that appears to be heading towards approval see: https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/toronto-69-yonge-89-45m-21s-h-r-reit-partisans.33008/

 

[rdaner]

Are there cities that have done well with turning offices into homes or other uses? And what changes in Toronto's policies might help make these conversions easier, given the legal challenges?

I know that Calgary is the leader in conversions and in fact has expanded the range of uses that qualify for grants to include arts facilities and post-secondary education. For example the Architecture department for the University of Calgary is going into a renovated office tower downtown.

 

[rdaner]

London, Ontario is getting into the office conversion game.

London to spend federal millions converting empty offices into housing

London Mayor Josh Morgan said grants of up to $28,000 per apartment will be proposed to turn empty core office space into housing.

windsorstar.com

 

[rdaner]

And London now has an office conversion project. And I am hoping that it won’t take too many of these to make a noticeable difference.

The core of downtown London. A vacant building. A buyer's 'heartfelt' plans

The new owner of a vacant building in the centre of downtown is planning to convert several floors of former office space to apartments.

lfpress.com

 

[rdaner]

Cross posting this from its dedicated thread in the Buildings section. Will also add that a 1950s office building in central Windsor is being converted into a boutique hotel.

65 Yonge (Terracap, ?s, ?)

Terracap has registered to lobby the City concerning the above noted, heritage-designated, downtown office building. The Traders Bank Building, later Montreal Trust, would appear to be in play. Streetview: Aerial Pic: Site Size: Just a bit over 10,000ft2 Comments: Given the...

urbantoronto.ca

 

[yrt+viva=1system]

Landmark Toronto office tower granted new life as residence after special exemption​

The plan would see the former CPR building at Yonge and King streets house 127 condos along with retail and restaurant space on the lower levels.

https://www.thestar.com/real-estate...b3e4ec3748a.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=ymbii
https://www.thestar.com/real-estate...b3e4ec3748a.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=ymbii

 

[ShonTron]

Landmark Toronto office tower granted new life as residence after special exemption​

The plan would see the former CPR building at Yonge and King streets house 127 condos along with retail and restaurant space on the lower levels.

https://www.thestar.com/real-estate...b3e4ec3748a.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=ymbii
https://www.thestar.com/real-estate...b3e4ec3748a.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=ymbii

Given the size of the old CPR office building, this conversion makes a lot of sense. I’m glad to see that some of the original details will be restored.