Toronto Hullmark Centre | 167.94m | 45s | Tridel | Kirkor Architects

[salsa]

The share for transit would be higher amongst those living right on the line. Those numbers are for the whole ward.

42

Not sure how I overlooked that.

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

The share for transit would be higher amongst those living right on the line. Those numbers are for the whole ward.

42

True,.... but keep in mind 2/3 of Ward 23 residents live on the subway line,... namely in high density condos between Doris and Beecroft (within 200m east and west of Yonge which only covers 10% of Ward 23). Thus, the numbers for the entire ward VS those on subway line in the ward won't be significantly different.

One of the main reason, folks choose NYCC is because they want to be on subway line,... and close to Highway 401. So these folks want transit,.... and they also want to drive! In many cases, someone in family takes subway downtown for work or university and someone else in family takes car to 905 for work.

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

Let's not discount all the people that get off at Yonge from the 401 and head north of Steeles. 50 years ago most of the area north of Steeles was still farmland.

Folks north of Steeles should really be using Highway 407 as their east-west highway instead of Highway 401. Problem is Highway 407 is a toll-highway whereas the 401 Free-way doesn't require a toll. End result, Highway 401 and its interchanges suffers from severe traffic congestion whereas Highway 407 is have low traffic volumes.

Today, NYCC is basically the centre of the GTA (population density-wise); but yet, the TTC Yonge subway line only goes up to Finch and won't be expanded anywhere north for about 30 years from now!

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

The actual numbers:
View attachment 38400

Source: Toronto Public Health Report

Salsa, I was one of the few who did attend the first and final community meeting for that Public Health Report focused on bike-ability and walk-ability in NYCC that you quoted (they were also doing a similar study near Scarborough Beaches and York centre ward at that time - Ward 23 probably got chosen because Ward 23 Councillor John Filion has sat on Public Health board a number of times and have focused on making NYCC more walk-able & bike-able for a healthier community). I got some really great aerial maps of NYCC Ward 23 from those meetings - more up to date than GoogleEarth. Those data shows for work: 58% automobile, 36% transit and since cycling is almost nil in Ward 23, 6% walk. For non-work purpose: 74% automobile, 19% transit and since cycling is almost nil, 5% walk. The Ward 23 cycling numbers of 0.3-0.4% are very disappointing to say the least, especially since we have the Finch Hydro corridor trail in the northern part of the ward, DonValleyWest-EarlBalesPark to the south-west and DonValleyEast just outside our ward to the east. Ward 23 is practically surrounded by good multi-use trail system.

The wards with 7.5% cycling are the downtown wards where cycling is more favourable with the right density of residential houses and destinations. Here in Ward 23, I always though we'd be at the basic 1% cycling that's representative in the suburbs of Toronto,.... but at significantly less than 1% shows that there's something that really works against cycling in Ward 23.

With 60 new condo towers built and only 1 new office tower since amalgamation in 1998, NYCC has become a vertical sleeping community! In AM peak hours, net flow of traffic is out of NYCC, net flow of subway users in out of NYCC,.... but net flow of cyclist is INTO NYCC! Thus, the percentage of local cyclist in Ward 23 is pathetically low.

How do we get more folks in NYCC to cycle? Especially condo folks. For most in NYCC, unless they basically work within walking distance (the 6% mentioned earlier), cycling really isn't an option to commute to work. What NYCC has shown is that just because you increase density along Yonge corridor (between Beecroft & Doris), you won't increase cycling!

As mentioned before city should be placing one new bike lane on each of Doris and Beecroft next summer,... still debatable as to which direction on which street.


Since NYCC doesn't have a strong network of frequent TTC bus service to areas outside of the Yonge corridor,... ie Senlac & Willowdale bus service isn't frequent and some area condo like Tridel Avonshire have their own shuttle bus service to TTC subway station; it makes sense for some of those folks to cycle to their local subway station. And since Mayor John Tory's smart-cycle plan includes improved cycling routes to subway stations, let's get something done!

Since there's two mods here,... and I've already been warned about going off topic before,... I'll mention HullmarkCentre,... the north TTC subway entrance of HullmarkCentre should open soon. The south TTC subway entrance of HullmarkCentre at Anndale/Poyntz open about 6 months ago and there's always a bunch of bikes locked up outside against street poles, stair railings, etc,... because there's no bicycle racks! But guess what!!!!

As per agreement with the city, Tridel HullmarkCentre is to provide 139 bike parking spaces with washroom and change/shower facilities - 69 for residents and office and 70 for public usage (in comparison EmeraldPark will only have the bare minimum for it's size: 57 bike parking spaces for residents & office + 6 for public and no extra facilities). Tridel HullmarkCentre actually, went above and beyond by providing 132 public bike parking spaces for free, instead of the negotiated 70! The problem is they're all in the P1 parking level and nobody knows about them!!! 100 in north end and 32 in south end with public washroom and 3 change/shower facility,.... all FREE! See attached photos,... sadly, yes, these bike parking spaces are always this empty! They're relatively accessible from HullmarkCentre new north and south TTC subway stations (first image is of door to HullmarkCentre P1 parking level at bottom of first flight of stairs TTC Sheppard-Yonge south entrance at Anndale/Poyntz),... but you have to carry your bike down a flight of stairs,..... hmmmm,... if only the TTC would build bike ramps on stairs like they do in Copenhagen - Oh wait,... last image is of a TTC bike ramp on stairs at the newly renovated Dufferin subway station which just reopened about 2 weeks ago.

 

[officedweller]

Those bike spaces should be more secure - looks like it would be subject to a lot of thefts.

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

Those bike spaces should be more secure - looks like it would be subject to a lot of thefts.

Oops,... maybe I should have used some of my other photos,.... Tridel HullmarkCentre's 132 public bike parking spaces in the P1 parking level are quite secure since:
- there are security camera everywhere
- there's usually a parking lot attendant present during business hours
- HullmarkCentre has a high level of on-site staff
- P1 & P2 parking level are for Office and Retail parking including WholeFoodsMarket so there's usually someone coming and going through - it's not residential parking level
- P1 level has direct underground connection to Sheppard-Yonge Subway south entrance at Anndale - thus residents of HullmarkCentre south&north tower would use this connection
- P2 level has direct underground connection to Sheppard-Stubway eastbound platform entrance - thus residents of HullmarkCentre south&north tower would use this connection

Note: Tridel HullmarkCentre residents and office workers have their own bike parking spaces in 4 different locked room also on P1 parking level. They need to leave $100 deposit with building management for access key. But the public bike parking spaces are free!

Anyways,... better than leaving your bike out on the street in the rain by the garbage can, as per last photo taken outside Sheppard-Yonge Subway new south entrance at Anndale

 

[reaperexpress]

HullmarkCentre's 132 public bike parking spaces in the P1 parking level are quite secure since:
- there are security camera everywhere
- there's usually a parking lot attendant present during business hours
- HullmarkCentre has a high level of on-site staff
- P1 & P2 parking level are for Office and Retail parking including WholeFoodsMarket so there's usually someone coming and going through - it's not residential parking level
- P1 level has direct underground connection to Sheppard-Yonge Subway south entrance at Anndale - thus residents of HullmarkCentre south&north tower would use this connection
- P2 level has direct underground connection to Sheppard-Stubway eastbound platform entrance - thus residents of HullmarkCentre south&north tower would use this connection

Note: Tridel HullmarkCentre residents and office workers have their own bike parking spaces in 4 different locked room also on P1 parking level. They need to leave $100 deposit with building management for access key. But the public bike parking spaces are free!

Anyways,... better than leaving your bike out on the street in the rain by the garbage can, as per last photo taken outside Sheppard-Yonge Subway new south entrance at Anndale

These parking spaces don't look too bad, but I'd still be a bit hesitant to store my bicycle there. The enclosed parking area sounds a bit more promising, do you have any photos?

In the fourth photo, it looks like the bike posts are too close to the wall to properly park a bicycle at them.

The people parked outside the subway entrance are likely going to the subway, not residents of the tower.

The competition to the basement parking is probably people keeping bikes in their units or, more likely, not owning a bike at all. NYCC has a huge number of short distance trips, yet barely any of them are cycled because there is no infrastructure that goes from A to B. The multi-use trails are nice but they don't get you the first and last mile to your destination, dumping you on hostile, high-traffic streets. I think a big improvement would be to build a protected bi-directional path along the west side of Beecroft, with Beecroft made one-way southbound for auto traffic (Doris would be northbound). This would provide a connection to the Finch Hydro path from all the destinations in NYCC. And because most of the intersections are T- to the east, the west side path would be able to bypass many traffic signals.

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

These parking spaces don't look too bad, but I'd still be a bit hesitant to store my bicycle there. The enclosed parking area sounds a bit more promising, do you have any photos?

In the fourth photo, it looks like the bike posts are too close to the wall to properly park a bicycle at them.

The people parked outside the subway entrance are likely going to the subway, not residents of the tower.

The competition to the basement parking is probably people keeping bikes in their units or, more likely, not owning a bike at all. NYCC has a huge number of short distance trips, yet barely any of them are cycled because there is no infrastructure that goes from A to B. The multi-use trails are nice but they don't get you the first and last mile to your destination, dumping you on hostile, high-traffic streets. I think a big improvement would be to build a protected bi-directional path along the west side of Beecroft, with Beecroft made one-way southbound for auto traffic (Doris would be northbound). This would provide a connection to the Finch Hydro path from all the destinations in NYCC. And because most of the intersections are T- to the east, the west side path would be able to bypass many traffic signals.

I'm not sure if these rules applies at HullmarkCentre but many condo and office buildings do NOT allow bikes on the elevators and into condo units.

The vertical poles of those bike triangles are 22" from the wall, the widest part of the triangle is 17"; thus as long as any part of your bike frame is 14" to 30" from the tip of the tires in rear or front, then its lockable. Since most bike tires are about 26" in diameter and thus 13" radius before you get to frame,... you should be able to lock most bikes unless they have a 5 feet tire!


BTW, Finch Hydro Corridor Trail goes west of Yonge to York University and beyond (I'm assuming you ride this trail into NYCC via Beecroft),... but also east of Yonge to Don Valley East trail system and beyond.

The problem with building protected bi-directional bike lanes (or even the proposed southbound only bike lanes) along west side of Beecroft is that most designations are along Yonge Street and thus cyclist would be required to cross 4 lanes of Beecroft traffic to get on and off the bike lanes.

In addition, west side of Yonge corridor in NYCC is more office buildings which are better served along Beecroft. VS east side of Yonge corridor in NYCC there's more condo along Doris. Building cycling infrastructure along Beecroft only instead of Doris would benefit mostly the office workers (mainly from outside the ward) instead of the local condo residents. If you're building cycling infrastructure for people from outside the ward, you shouldn't expect to increase the number local cyclists!

From a traffic engineering viewpoint, vehicular traffic with only one-way southbound on Beecroft and only one-way northbound on Doris would be a terrible idea. The only benefit is at the southern and northern points where these service ring roads would meet Yonge Street, where more problematic left turns is eliminated in favour of right turns. The problem is when you have to get to a designation on Beecroft or Doris and traffic direction does not flow in your direction, thus you'll need to use the other service ring road that's flowing in your direction,... and then you'll have to go a few blocks further on that other service ring road in order to get to a east-west connector street with signalized intersections at Yonge so you can get to the service road you really want to be on and be flowing in the right direction on it to your designation. Thus, half the time your trip will be longer (by about 1 km) making these extra U-shaped trips - worst for environment and more congestion. Discourage locals from using service roads in favour of Yonge Street which counter the original purpose of these service roads - to take local traffic off Yonge Street. More vehicular traffic on east-west connector streets means better signal timing for them at the cost of Yonge street traffic.


Since the bike rooms are for residents and office workers of HullmarkCentre, I only have photos of the locked doors!

Hmmm,... leave it to real estate agents to figured out a use for all these free public bike ring-triangles,...

 

[Suiseiseki]

When is the Guu and Chipotle scheduled to open?

Will they be taking those spaces in the south tower, facing south? It looks like things are developing fast there.

 

[steveve]

Driving by tonight, everything is looking amazing. Especially on the south end of the site, at street level, there's tons of transparency allowing the interiors to be illuminated and be visible from the outside. The 'lightbox' at the corner, or entrance to the lobby for (the offices?) ,and the residential entrance behind it both have very high ceilings and are equally stunning. Very impressed.
Blurry photo:

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

When is the Guu and Chipotle scheduled to open?

Will they be taking those spaces in the south tower, facing south? It looks like things are developing fast there.

Suiseiseki: We had this conversation before on page 93 & 94 where in post# 1395 I answered Guu would be in that retail space along the south side of HullmarkCentre on Anndale Drive just east of Yonge.
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showth...e-(NYCC-Tridel-Hullmark-45-35s-Kirkor)/page93
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showth...e-(NYCC-Tridel-Hullmark-45-35s-Kirkor)/page94

That retail space looks huge because its about 100 feet wide frontage on Anndale but it's only about 25-30 feet deep from front glass to back wall (not including patio area) add in kitchen area and seating area will be more cramped than their Church & Gerrard location. You assumed Chipotle would be sharing this space with GUU Izakaya but I heard it's only Guu,.... thus, InterChange42 would have to get his yakotaki burrito somewhere else.

GUU Izakaya should open in February,... but these dates are very tenative,.... basically still working on the guts of the interior (plumbing, piping, electricals,... still no finished walls or floors). The Rexall is already painted and looks ready to open in a couple weeks,... shelves are in place,... not stocked yet. RBC hasn't started interior. HullmarkCentre north TTC subway entrance was supposed to open months ago,... but constantly delayed opening,... everything seems to be done except a few trim pieces and signage,..

First photo below shows Guu Izakaya space,... about 2 weeks ago,... today, there's just more pipes all over the place but still basically a cement box.

Other than here, I can't find any mention of Chipotle at HullmarkCentre,... I would suspect it was a false rumour or that Chipotle bailed,... there is a small retail space at HullmarkCentre with Yonge frontage just between the Anndale TTC subway entrance and WholeFoodsMarket,... it now has a for lease sign. It's about 50 feet wide by 25 feet deep, see second photo. Maybe this was the space that Chipotle originally had? The Chipotle website mentions a coming soon to St.Clair&Keele location but nothing about Yonge&Sheppard.


SteveEve: Yes, that lightbox at the northwest corner of HullmarkCentre is called the GrandHall and is the lobby for the office building.

 

[salsa]

The corner area is still a work in progress. Anyone know what that concrete cube is for?

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

The corner area is still a work in progress. Anyone know what that concrete cube is for?

Since that cement cube wasn't in any of the original rendering of the plaza,.... I asked one of the construction guys that same question about a month ago,... he said its for a TTC sign. That's a pretty big TTC sign!

If you recall, since the Sheppard Stubway line opened around 2001, there was a cement bunker emergency exit at that plaza along Sheppard (see attached images from Cruzin4u page 39 post# 582 and NYk_Drne page 40 post# 593),... one end closer to Yonge & Sheppard corner had an antique finished ATM and camp-fire artwork along with stone signage saying "Bonnington Corner". That "Bonnington Corner" stone signage is still around the site at the plaza so I'm guessing they plan on remounting it somewhere at the plaza,.... likely on that stone cube you mentioned. In addition, the original camp-fire artwork was removed by the city for safety reason since it was originally placed on ground level but when covered by snow became a tripping hazard and liability,.... I'm guessing that'll be placed on top of the stone cube you're asking about.

 

[junctionist]

Rexall is doing what Shoppers Drug Mart did in the late 1990s and 2000s. They're going after the best storefronts in every area with a renewed focus on their retail component and opening bright and clean stores to take as much market share as they can get. It'll be interesting to watch their rivalry with Shoppers heat up.

 

[sunnyraytoronto]

Rexall is doing what Shoppers Drug Mart did in the late 1990s and 2000s. They're going after the best storefronts in every area with a renewed focus on their retail component and opening bright and clean stores to take as much market share as they can get. It'll be interesting to watch their rivalry with Shoppers heat up.

Especially relevant since there's an established Shoppers Drug Mart right across the street in the basement of Sheppard Centre. Sheppard Centre mall *should* start their renovation around March 2015,... it'll be interesting to see if Shoppers Drug Mart gets a better higher visibility location within the mall.