Over 16 months since the last vestiges of the iconic "Honest Ed's" signage was removed from the now-demolished landmark, Toronto's Bathurst and Bloor intersection is looking very different to how most remember it. The mixed-use Mirvish Village development from Westbank Corp is replacing much more than the former landmark retailer, spanning multiple blocks with several buildings featuring design work by Henriquez Partners Architects and Diamond Schmitt Architects, with heritage elements overseen by ERA Architects.

Looking southwest to Mirvish Village, image by Forum contributor ProjectEnd

Since the demolitions began, construction of the complex—set to contain a mix of retail and restaurant space as well as rental towers as tall as 26 storeys—has involved shoring and a deep excavation several metres below the surface. The most recent milestone was the installation of a trio of tower cranes at the base of the pit at the site's northeast corner, below the former footprint of Honest Ed's.

Looking east across the site of Mirvish Village, image by Forum contributor ProjectEnd

Adding to the collection of renderings seen during the planning stages, a newly released one offers a detailed look at the project's exterior expression as seen across from the northeast corner of Bathurst and Bloor. The rendering also includes a prominent illuminated "MV" sign representing the project's branding, and once again making large lettered signage a prominent part of the Bathurst and Bloor intersection.

Looking southwest to Mirvish Village, image via twitter.com/DiamondSchmitt

Once complete, the complex will be home to a collection of towers with heights of 26, 25, 24, 19, and 13 storeys on the east side of the development site, housing hundreds of new rental apartments. To the west, a pedestrianized Markham Street will host new retail and public spaces with low-rise built form that tie the taller tower elements in with the surrounding community.

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

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