goodcitywhenfinished
Active Member
Westbank is great news here. Their Vancouver buildings have many issues but they at least care about enhancing the public realm and cityscape more than most Toronto developers.
Toronto U of T: The Gateway | ?m | ?s | Westbank
- Thread starter PEC
- Start date
AlbertC
Superstar
Maybe another BIG project!
(I can dream lol)
(I can dream lol)
UtakataNoAnnex
Senior Member
Um...didn't they just finish working on this school already, like here...
urbantoronto.ca
...or are they planning to work on the same school in another timeline Quantum Leap style?
U of T: University of Toronto Schools | UrbanToronto
U of T: University of Toronto Schools, Toronto by , Diamond Schmitt Architects
...or are they planning to work on the same school in another timeline Quantum Leap style?
It appears that the site as a whole is being put forward as a way to obtain greater densities. It would not mean that any of the redevelopment would occur on the portion of the site where UTS just spent $52 Mil or whatever it was.Um...didn't they just finish working on this school already, like here...
U of T: University of Toronto Schools | UrbanToronto
U of T: University of Toronto Schools, Toronto by , Diamond Schmitt Architects
...or are they planning to work on the same school in another timeline Quantum Leap style?
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greenleaf
Senior Member
There is currently a job posted at UofT to presumably oversee this:
Req ID:29288
Faculty/Division: VP - University Operations
Department: Real Estate Department
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Description:
The University is seeking a highly motivated real estate professional to lead the University’s 4Corners Strategy, which aims to develop more than 4,000,000 square feet across its three campuses. In particular, the Strategy will develop almost 4000 units of housing and over 1,000,000 square feet of innovation, retail, and amenity space over the next 10-15 years, while generating a sustainable source of net cash flow for the University’s academic mission. This is an opportunity to directly manage one of the largest development pipelines in the country while partnering with some of the most respected development companies in the world. The University already has the land, capital, and in-house expertise to realize this vision, and requires a strong leader that can inspire and provide strategic direction to multidisciplinary teams to execute the vision.
Managing Director, Real Estate
Date Posted: 01/23/2023Req ID:29288
Faculty/Division: VP - University Operations
Department: Real Estate Department
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Description:
The University is seeking a highly motivated real estate professional to lead the University’s 4Corners Strategy, which aims to develop more than 4,000,000 square feet across its three campuses. In particular, the Strategy will develop almost 4000 units of housing and over 1,000,000 square feet of innovation, retail, and amenity space over the next 10-15 years, while generating a sustainable source of net cash flow for the University’s academic mission. This is an opportunity to directly manage one of the largest development pipelines in the country while partnering with some of the most respected development companies in the world. The University already has the land, capital, and in-house expertise to realize this vision, and requires a strong leader that can inspire and provide strategic direction to multidisciplinary teams to execute the vision.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
University of Toronto selects Westbank as development partner for The Gateway
/CNW/ - The University of Toronto has chosen Westbank, a leading private North American real estate developer, to design and build its innovative Site 1: The...
www.newswire.ca
University of Toronto selects Westbank as development partner for The Gateway
TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - The University of Toronto has chosen Westbank, a leading private North American real estate developer, to design and build its innovative Site 1: The Gateway project.
The Gateway (Bloor-Spadina Project) will be developed in partnership by University of Toronto and Westbank (CNW Group/University of Toronto)
The Gateway project will create significant housing for faculty, staff and student families, academic space focused on life-long learning, ancillary retail opportunities, and enhanced public space at the northwest gateway to the university's downtown campus. Key objectives for the project include sustainable design, energy conservation and energy infrastructure improvements, thoughtful integration with existing heritage assets, animation of the public realm and commitment to Indigenous engagement, along with inspiring architecture and design excellence. The project envisions a seamless and dynamic gateway between the university and the city.
The university's evaluation committee selected Westbank from a shortlist through a competitive procurement process, led by CBRE. The project team has also initiated an RFQ process to prequalify firms for architectural services.
Westbank is one of North America's leading mixed-use real-estate development firms, with three other projects currently underway in Toronto, including Mirvish Village at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets, a new purpose-built rental-housing community.
"The Gateway will significantly address the university's strong demand for housing, advancing the academic mission by adding hundreds of new units to the campus and to downtown Toronto," said Scott Mabury, vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships. "We are thrilled to partner with a team so well aligned with the university's values, with further expertise in design and construction and a solid track record in stakeholder engagement and positive city building. We are excited to bring this project forward and committed to our goal of achieving a climate positive campus by 2050."
"With The Gateway, we saw an opportunity to create an inspiring faculty and student family housing project that will incorporate a high degree of innovation in its response to climate change and a level of city building that the University of Toronto consistently strives to achieve," said Ian Gillespie, founder and CEO of Westbank. "This project will allow the university to advance its leading role in addressing climate change while accelerating Toronto's path towards carbon neutrality. We look forward to working with the University of Toronto to create not only a new gateway into its campus, but a gateway to more inclusive, low-carbon city-building."
dgto
New Member
This is super exciting, great to see Westbank doing another project in the city. Mirvish Village, 19 Duncan, KING Toronto, Shangri-La and now this - good track record of projects which I hope continues here.
AlbertC
Superstar
U of T set to build the largest university housing development in Canada
The move is part of the university's renewed interest in exploring how the northwest corner of the St. George campus can be revitalized
streetsoftoronto.com
From the UofT's FAQ page on this development (italics mine)…
Very interesting that the housing here is aimed not just at regular, boring old students, but at students in family situations, plus at faculty and staff. I assume this is an acknowledgement that the UofT is hearing from faculty and other staff members about how hard it is for them to find housing at price points they can afford. (I wonder how long until Couche-Tard starts building housing for all of its Circle K store employees? I'm joking… but I'm not; I just wonder if we'll have anywhere close to enough housing for those who we expect to work in low-paying store clerk type jobs, etc.) There's just no way it makes sense to travel long distances for such jobs, and even the UofT is seeing that if it wants quality employees, it needs to help with better housing options for them now. Could the city end up with a number of vertical company towns over the coming decades? Hmm…
Anyway, also great to see that they intend to install a geothermal system here. (Click on that FAQ link above and read more.)
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Situated directly on the University’s St George Campus at the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue, The Gateway will address the University’s strong demand for University housing, advancing the academic mission by providing hundreds of new units to the campus. Moreover, complementary academic space (focused on life-long learning), accessory retail, and open spaces to animate the public realms and engage the community will be added. Envisioned as a inviting entrance into the northwest quadrant of the St George Campus at the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue, The Gateway proposes to link the university with the surrounding neighbourhood.
The Gateway will be the largest university housing development of its kind in Canada for student families, faculty and staff. The University envisions a curated mix of family friendly residential suites, indoor and outdoor amenities, and complementary accessory retail and academic space within the podium. Thoughtful integration with historic character, animation of the public realm, and commitment to Indigenous engagement will be critical in delivering a development that services the broader community. An engagement process to help members of the Indigenous community share their thoughts on how design choices, landscaping and common spaces can be harnessed to foster Indigenous acknowledgment and place at the site.
Very interesting that the housing here is aimed not just at regular, boring old students, but at students in family situations, plus at faculty and staff. I assume this is an acknowledgement that the UofT is hearing from faculty and other staff members about how hard it is for them to find housing at price points they can afford. (I wonder how long until Couche-Tard starts building housing for all of its Circle K store employees? I'm joking… but I'm not; I just wonder if we'll have anywhere close to enough housing for those who we expect to work in low-paying store clerk type jobs, etc.) There's just no way it makes sense to travel long distances for such jobs, and even the UofT is seeing that if it wants quality employees, it needs to help with better housing options for them now. Could the city end up with a number of vertical company towns over the coming decades? Hmm…
Anyway, also great to see that they intend to install a geothermal system here. (Click on that FAQ link above and read more.)
42
Northern Light
Superstar
From the UofT's FAQ page on this development (italics mine)…
Situated directly on the University’s St George Campus at the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue, The Gateway will address the University’s strong demand for University housing, advancing the academic mission by providing hundreds of new units to the campus. Moreover, complementary academic space (focused on life-long learning), accessory retail, and open spaces to animate the public realms and engage the community will be added. Envisioned as a inviting entrance into the northwest quadrant of the St George Campus at the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue, The Gateway proposes to link the university with the surrounding neighbourhood.The Gateway will be the largest university housing development of its kind in Canada for student families, faculty and staff. The University envisions a curated mix of family friendly residential suites, indoor and outdoor amenities, and complementary accessory retail and academic space within the podium. Thoughtful integration with historic character, animation of the public realm, and commitment to Indigenous engagement will be critical in delivering a development that services the broader community. An engagement process to help members of the Indigenous community share their thoughts on how design choices, landscaping and common spaces can be harnessed to foster Indigenous acknowledgment and place at the site.
Very interesting that the housing here is aimed not just at regular, boring old students, but at students in family situations, plus at faculty and staff. I assume this is an acknowledgement that the UofT is hearing from faculty and other staff members about how hard it is for them to find housing at price points they can afford. (I wonder how long until Couche-Tard starts building housing for all of its Circle K store employees? I'm joking… but I'm not; I just wonder if we'll have anywhere close to enough housing for those who we expect to work in low-paying store clerk type jobs, etc.) There's just no way it makes sense to travel long distances for such jobs, and even the UofT is seeing that if it wants quality employees, it needs to help with better housing options for them now. Could the city end up with a number of vertical company towns over the coming decades? Hmm…
Anyway, also great to see that they intend to install a geothermal system here. (Click on that FAQ link above and read more.)
42
A couple of observations here.
The photo above shows that the 1924 'east wing' of the Darling and Pearson UTS complex is off limits; but it includes the original 1910 main building as part of a potential development.
The latter is listed, but not designated in the City's Heritage Register, making it vulerable to demolition. I imagine saving the facades would be a given (I'd hope), but I wonder if any of the interior spaces would be a particular loss.
***
A second observation is that in the picture above, three of the four corners of Bloor and Spadina are now the subject of development proposals (with this one still early on obviously). But the N/E, N/W and S/E corners now all have development proposals associated with them; as does the Metro site seen in the picture just to the west of the S/W corner.
Makes me wonder if the JCC will ultimately be in play. I don't know what any covenants on past donations have to say about such a thing; and I assume were it so, that a replacement facility would be built. But the adjacent precedents, there has to be some temptation there.
AnnetteMeetsJane
Active Member
UTS had to pay to replace the windows on the entire Bloor frontage, including the part which will make up this new development, as the façade is heritage listed. It would be cruel and unusual punishment for the UTS community, who had to fundraise to replace UofT windows, to watch those windows be torn down. I am certain that the façade will stay.
As for the interior - The classrooms, hallways etc. were in a pretty poor state, and the plumbing would have to be re-done given the fact that that the bathrooms in the original section are confined to the basement. I know that the auditorium is coming down - the kids are sad about that, especially as the new auditorium isn't suitable to stage Show.
greenleaf
Senior Member
From the UofT's FAQ page on this development (italics mine)…
Situated directly on the University’s St George Campus at the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue, The Gateway will address the University’s strong demand for University housing, advancing the academic mission by providing hundreds of new units to the campus. Moreover, complementary academic space (focused on life-long learning), accessory retail, and open spaces to animate the public realms and engage the community will be added. Envisioned as a inviting entrance into the northwest quadrant of the St George Campus at the southeast corner of Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue, The Gateway proposes to link the university with the surrounding neighbourhood.The Gateway will be the largest university housing development of its kind in Canada for student families, faculty and staff. The University envisions a curated mix of family friendly residential suites, indoor and outdoor amenities, and complementary accessory retail and academic space within the podium. Thoughtful integration with historic character, animation of the public realm, and commitment to Indigenous engagement will be critical in delivering a development that services the broader community. An engagement process to help members of the Indigenous community share their thoughts on how design choices, landscaping and common spaces can be harnessed to foster Indigenous acknowledgment and place at the site.
Very interesting that the housing here is aimed not just at regular, boring old students, but at students in family situations, plus at faculty and staff. I assume this is an acknowledgement that the UofT is hearing from faculty and other staff members about how hard it is for them to find housing at price points they can afford. (I wonder how long until Couche-Tard starts building housing for all of its Circle K store employees? I'm joking… but I'm not; I just wonder if we'll have anywhere close to enough housing for those who we expect to work in low-paying store clerk type jobs, etc.) There's just no way it makes sense to travel long distances for such jobs, and even the UofT is seeing that if it wants quality employees, it needs to help with better housing options for them now. Could the city end up with a number of vertical company towns over the coming decades? Hmm…
Anyway, also great to see that they intend to install a geothermal system here. (Click on that FAQ link above and read more.)
42
My long term bet: build this, then move everyone out of UofT family housing on Charles, then redevelop the two sites on Charles. That’s probably 10-12 years away though.
I've never been in the apartments in that building, but I can imagine that they are not inspiring; run down, needing technology retrofits?
42
greenleaf
Senior Member
They are designed to be affordable on a graduate students stipend, so in that sense they work (and the location is great near the university; playgrounds are deficient here though). I think they have been maintained well enough on the interiors considering the thousands of kids here over decades, but would not be considered luxury.
Northern Light
Superstar
I think the Yonge/Charles building might be a challenge in terms of the numbers. Obviously, in theory, they can go much taller there, but the currently floor plate is something north of 2000m2. They would never be allowed to build that again. Zero chance.
When I model the footprint out, there is enough room to support two towers of 750m2 each, with adequate separation distance, and a 2M widening of the sidewalk on Charles. But, I'm assuming almost zero setbacks from Yonge/Balmuto which would be tough to get.
At any rate, that gets you only about 60% to maybe 70% at a push of the current floor area; so you're now looking at having to build something in the mid 30s just to hold your unit total constant.
Assuming setbacks and a requirement for additional sidewalk space on Balmuto and maybe even 3M on Charles, you might need 42s+ to break even on unit totals; before someone suggests just selling it off, I'm fairly sure it would be subject to the rental replacement rules; though perhaps its institutional owner might impact that.
***
Replacing the building further west, on the south side of Charles is actually much more interesting economically, because of the ample (dead) plaza space on the Charles frontage, and quite a bit of open space (excluding the park area) on the south side as well.
The Yonge-facing building lacks that.
A quick glance as the exterior suggests both buildings have had full window replacement in the last 15 years, not sure about other maintenance off hand.
***
Now that I'm glancing at Permits, new tenant pending for 25 Charles:
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