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After initially having been tabled with the City at the end of 2015, a plan to redevelop a surface parking lot on Queen between Dalhousie and Mutual streets in Downtown Toronto by St Thomas Developments has evolved again. While construction is closing in on completion for the community's first phase—called 88 North—at the north end of the lot fronting on Shuter Street, new plans for the three remaining buildings in the four-tower complex feature a more traditional design by Hariri Pontarini Architects, replacing the previous stacked and staggered boxes of the IBI Group design. Developer Fitzrovia is now a partner on the project, specifically for the two rental towers planned mid-block.
This latest plan for 88 Queen Street East was filed as two separate submissions for Site Plan Approval, two mid-block rental towers of 27 and 28 storeys known as Phase 2A, and a 51-storey tower along Queen Street known as Phase 2B.
Now being co-developed by St Thomas and Fitzrovia, this pair of rental towers are designed by Hariri Pontarini working alongside Architects of Record Turner Fleischer. Both Phase 2A towers incorporate the curved corners that have become a signature of some other Hariri Pontarini residential towers in the city.
While the 28-storey east tower of Phase 2A stands alone, the 27-storey west tower is connected to the podium levels of the taller Phase 2B. The Phase 2A buildings bring a combined 1,444 m² of retail to the area along with 558 rental units, planned in a mix of 3 studio units, 224 one-bedroom units, 210 two-bedroom units, and 91 three-bedroom units.
Initially proposed at 58 storeys, the south tower on Queen was resubmitted in 2016 at 57 storeys, then at 49 storeys in 2017 and 2018, and now most recently with the new Hariri Pontarini design at 51 storeys. The project's height of 163 metres remains unchanged.
The podium levels are finished in a grid of bronze-toned frames and mullions around curtainwall glazing. The tower above is finished in a punched window wall system with clear glazing and opaque spandrel panels framed in white metal frames. Balconies are finished in a mix of clear and fritted glass guards.
The podium levels contain 801 m² of retail space topped by 9,559 m² of office space. Above, the plan calls for 534 condominium units, in a mix of 266 one-bedrooms, 211 two-bedrooms, and 57 three-bedrooms. The podium facing Queen Street is bisected by a recessed section which at ground level leads to a sheltered pedestrian access to a mid-block walkway that continues north between the Phase 2A rental towers. The walkway accesses two new public spaces and adjacent retail.
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 below.
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