Streetcar Developments have been selling and building at Queen and Gladstone, just east of Dufferin, for a few years now, adding sensitively designed low-rise residential condominiums to a neighbourhood in need of renewal. The first building, 2 Gladstone, is soon to finish, while the second, 8 Gladstone, is now a hole in the ground with the garage firmly underway. Soon to join them will be The Carnaby, a 20-storey tower which will mark the group on the skyline, and which has been designed by architects Tact Design to make a real neighbourhood out of all of the buildings: the lanes between the buildings will be constructed with pedestrians in mind, providing new places to stroll and explore and enjoy. Today we will take a tour around the scale model of the complex to give you a good idea of what residents can expect when they move in.

Scale model of The Carnaby: laneways will favour pedestrians between the buildings

The first shot, above, gives you a look down the lane that will separate 2 and 8 Gladstone as it leads towards The Carnaby. Shops and and cafes will open on to it, bringing life to street level here: the name Carnaby was chosen to evoke the eclectic market street in London, England that Streetcar and Tact are hoping to emulate through attention to detail here.

Scale model of The Carnaby: it will rise north and west of 2 and 8 Gladstone

Let's back out a bit: from the southeast we see the complex, with Queen Street West in front and Gladstone Avenue along the right side.

Scale model of The Carnaby: it will rise behind 2 and 8 Gladstone

The view above looking west shows the lane running from Gladstone towards The Carnaby more clearly.

Scale model of The Carnaby: laneways will favour pedestrians between the buildings

From the north we can see that more space separates the new and earlier phases east-to-west. Below, we take a closer look.

Scale model of The Carnaby: laneways will favour pedestrians between the buildings

Vehicular access will mix with pedestrians and bicyclists in a woonerf-type milieu. Entrance to The Carnaby's lobby will be at the northeast corner of the building.

Scale model of The Carnaby: broad stairs will connect laneways to Dufferin and a grocery store

The laneway will drop as it moves west towards Dufferin Street across a broad staircase.  

Scale model of The Carnaby: a Metro grocery store will join the complex

The bottom of the staircase will meet Dufferin Street as it emerges from the rail overpass, and it will give access to a new Metro grocery store housed in the complex's basement.

Scale model of The Carnaby: laneways will favour pedestrians between the buildings

Metro will follow through to Queen Street, with a door there too, one which currently serves as the presentation centre's entrance. Above that will be a green roof covering part of the store, while much of the roof will be given over to The Carnaby's outdoor terrace amenity.

The Carnaby presentation centre by Tact Design for Streetcar Developments, image by Craig White

The presentation centre for The Carnaby features more than just the scale model of course: two model suites decorated by Seven Haus have lots of ideas for sophisticated urban living and show off the project's integrated European appliances and cabinetry.

The Carnaby presentation centre by Tact Design for Streetcar Developments, image by Craig White

UrbanToronto's dataBase entry for The Carnaby, linked below, includes many renderings highlighting the building's common amenities and architecture, along with all the info and links needed for further exploration.

The Carnaby by Tact Design for Streetcar Developments, image by Craig White

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Related Companies:  Baker Real Estate Incorporated, Dream Unlimited, Giovanni A. Tassone Architects