As the Pan Am Athlete’s Village continues to take shape in the West Don Lands, the former industrial land is looking more and more like a neighbourhood and less like several acres of dirt.  The community is indeed coming together nicely, but before there was a park, several cranes, realigned roads and streetcar tracks, there was just a lone construction site at the northeastern edge of the West Don Lands site; River City Condos.

Phase one of River City Condos viewed from the north on River Street, image by Jack Landau

In 2007, Urban Capital Property Group was selected by Waterfront Toronto from a group of bidders to build the first private development in the then-barren West Don Lands, and in the time since, the Saucier + Perrotte Architects and ZAS Architects-designed project with its uniquely contemporary look has become a fan favourite among Urban Toronto readers and contributors.

Phase one of River City Condos, image by Jack Landau

The nearly complete first phase is made up of 16 and 7-storey structures connected by a multi-level bridge.  

Bridge connecting phase one's two buildings, image by Jack Landau

Residents have already started to occupy the smaller building, while cladding and other detail work continues on the larger building.

Phase one's smaller building evidence of new residents on balconies, image by Jack Landau

As finishing touches are being applied to the 350-unit first phase’s two buildings, we turn our attention to the progressing construction work on the project’s adjacent second phase.

Phase two construction to the immediate left of the 16-storey tower, image by Jack Landau

Phase two of River City will feature 248 residential units in a single building designed to appear as three connected 12-storey structures.

Construction on River City Phase two, image by Jack Landau

Phase two’s concrete is currently only an extension of the parking garage. It can be seen peeking out from atop the Eastern Avenue overpass, located immediately south of the project.

Construction on River City Phase two seen from atop the Eastern Ave overpass, image by Jack Landau

With the overwhelmingly positive critical reception of phase one’s unconventional modernist approach, many are anticipating the execution of phase two, which will feature a polished white cladding chosen to contrast the sleek black exterior of phase one.

Phase two construction flanked by the two buildings of the first phase, image by Jack Landau

Additional information and renderings can be found at River City’s dataBase listing, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or voice your opinion in the comments section provided at the bottom of the page.