Novae Res Urbis: ARTSY REDEVELOPMENT
Beverley proposal
By Mark Ostler
A contemporary condo building that has been proposed for the Queen West neighbourhood will tower over neighbouring Victorian row houses. If approved as proposed, the development would result in two houses currently listed on the city’s heritage inventory demolished.
Developer BSÄR Group has submitted a rezoning application to redevelop the site at 15-27 Beverley Street, just northwest of Queen Street West and John Street.
BSÄR Group is seeking permission to build a 14-storey condo, including 113 units and three levels of underground parking. The site is currently home to several lowrise buildings in the form of newer row houses and a warehouse
building, with storefront and apartment attached.
“[The site] stood out to us [as being] in dire need of redevelopment and intensification,†BSÄR Group principal Tarek Sobhi told NRU. “We feel that it’s a very positive addition to the neighbourhood and it’s in the right direction.â€
However, two of the properties that the developer wants to demolish, 15 and 27 Beverley Street, are listed on the city’s heritage inventory and one of the sites has an intriguing architectural connection.
“One of them was the childhood home of Frank Gehry when he used to stay with his grandmother,†local Councillor Adam Vaughan told NRU. “Gehry used to watch the carp from Kensington Market that his grandmother picked up to cook their meals swimming around the bathtub, and it was the silver shine on the skin of the fish that was the inspiration for…his whole experimentation as an architect with that silver shimmering skin of his buildings.â€
Vaughan said that there had been requests made to attempt to preserve some aspect of the building, or the original bathtub if it still remains, or to commemorate the site in some way, even if the buildings themselves are
ultimately demolished. When asked about the heritage listed structures, Sobhi said, “We’re not planning on retaining those buildings.â€
The site is designated mixed used under the official plan and is currently zoned residential on some portions and industrial on others, with a height limit of 12 metres. The developer is proposing a residential building more than 40 metres tall. City planner Sarah Phipps told NRU that staff is currently reviewing the application, which was submitted at the beginning of May, and a staff report is expected in September.
BSÄR Group became interested in redeveloping the site a year ago and purchased the buildings in September 2008. It hired Charles Gane of Core Architects to design the building, looking to take an artistic approach to the development.
“We’re intending to play off the artistic nature of the neighbourhood, given that fact that the AGO and OCAD are in the neighbourhood,†Sobhi said. “We’re just trying to contribute to the community, which we feel has a strong art feel to it. We really feel that this is going to set the tone for anything that goes on in that neighbourhood from now on.â€
The project has been discussed at one of Vaughan’s public neighbourhood meetings, where early versions of the design were presented.
"At first they looked like they were heading down the right road and then they veered off and went with a monster building,†Vaughan said. “That was clearly rejected at the meeting and they’re coming back with a mor sensitive approach to the site and we’ll see where it goes from there.â€