someMidTowner
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
And my brain just exploded. Yonge and Eg is getting crazy.
He feels that his values aren’t aligning with what Build Toronto wants: “They’re trying to jam-pack as much as possible into that whole block,” said Matlow, who favours open space and public squares.
“More people are moving into the area, and therefore, we need to create people-friendly spaces,” he said. “There needs to be a great public space for the local community. That’s how great cities are planned. Go to Paris, London, Rome or New York, and you will find great public squares and parks near major junctions. And we haven’t done that in Toronto.”
Those green spaces are a sharp contrast to what Build Toronto has sketched out on one preliminary plan obtained by Post City Magazines from councillor Matlow’s office. Those plans include a five-storey hotel, two-storey mall, four-storey podiums and residential towers stretching 20, 30, 50 and 60 storeys. According to executive assistant to Coun. Matlow, Andrew Athanasiu, these preliminary sketches are the only plans that have been presented to the councillor.
^ Link broken.
The site will likely remain fenced off and abandoned in until Spring 2016 when the tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Eglinton LRT is scheduled to reach the west side of Yonge Street. At that time Metrolinx will demolish the concrete bays and dig an extraction shaft to retrieve its underground machinery.
Also in 2016, a separate TBM will arrive from the east and be removed from a separate shaft that's likely to be in the middle of Eglinton Avenue. The intersection will be closed at this point for construction of the station and the connecting tunnels to the subway line.
"It will be post-2020 before something else can be built there," says Jamie Robinson, Metrolinx's director of Toronto LRT projects. Brad Ross of the TTC confirms that date, saying no development will take place before the provincial transit agency has finished its light rail line.
Local councillor Josh Matlow says he's working with Metrolinx, the TTC, and the city to build a small public space surrounded by "good quality hoarding" on the periphery of the bus bay lands in the meantime.
"We're going to put up big boards that have really nice pictures of the Crosstown, slogans like "Coming Soon," and pictures of the Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhood. Information boards as well, information about the progress of the project ... about construction, either good news or delays. Basically, a place where people come to collect information."
I keep looking at Canada Square and wondering if Oxford (who recently bought it) has plans to demo and build something larger there? Perhaps after the LRT is complete? Would be a perfect spot for a larger office tower on top of two transit lines.
http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/toronto/2525-blackwoods-spec-tacular-leed-venture/
Canada Square dates back to 1962, when the first tower was built (the others sprouted in 1972 and 1987). It has 844k SF of gross leasing area with a multiplex cinema, retail concourse, and 745-stall parkade. Ken says the property is performing well at the moment, but adds that CT REIT will be working with the complex's co-owners to explore redevelopment opportunities down the line. He wouldn't dish on how much CT REIT paid for the acquisition, citing confidentiality. The Canada Square deal was announced the same day CT REIT reported a Q2 net income of $45.7M.
Public space? Square or park? Retail? Market?