A proposal to redevelop a disused heritage building in Toronto's Distillery District has resurfaced with an entirely reimagined plan. Rack House D, at 60 Mill Street, is located at the northeast corner of Trinity and Mill streets. The site was once the proposed location of the never-built 34-storey Gansevoort Hotel & Condos development. More recently, the site was subject to an OMB appeal, resulting in zoning approval for a 12-storey, mixed-use building rising 40 metres, that was to be developed by Cityscape and DREAM with a design by Saucier + Perrotte Architects. Despite the approval, the proposal has changed hands yet again, with Gupta Group now re-envisioning the plan for the site, and once again seeking approval for a tall building with hotel uses.

Aerial view facing north over 60 Mill (centre), image via submission to City of Toronto

The new plan, designed by IBI Group, was submitted to the City seeking Zoning Bylaw Amendments and Site Plan Approval at the end of 2019. Plans call for a 31-storey building consisting of a three-storey podium—incorporating the heritage facades of Rack House D—with 28 tower floors above, rising 115.1 metres and having a total gross floor area of 26,994 m², to be entirely dedicated to hotel space, with 392 hotel suites.

Looking west to 60 Mill, image via submission to City of Toronto

A heritage impact assessment prepared by ERA Architects details plans for the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of Rack House D as a base building for the new tower. This includes the in-situ retention of the east, south, and west elevations, with modifications such as new and altered door and window openings, and the dismantling of the north elevation to make space for construction, with the facade to be reconstructed with modifications, using both salvaged and new materials. This site is the last of the original Gooderham & Worts distillery buildings not yet adapted to new uses.

Modified heritage building at base of 60 Mill, image via submission to City of Toronto

Above the heritage podium, a two-storey clear glass 'reveal' would create a visual separation between the heritage podium and the modern tower above. The tower would feature a heavily articulated pattern of textured frames made up of dark grey metal panels and manufactured stone panels, surrounding silvery reflective glazing. 

A rendering offers a glimpse of a bar and restaurant space at the top of the hotel that would include an outdoor patio with sweeping views of the city skyline.

Cross-section of bar/restaurant at 60 Mill, image via submission to City of Toronto

The hotel would be served by five underground levels containing hotel service areas on the B1 level and 80 parking spaces on the four lowest levels. The City doesn't include bicycle requirements for hotel properties, though eight short-term and eight long-term bicycle parking spaces are proposed.