After a lull in construction following the 2015 Pan Am Games, the next wave of development is coming to the Canary District that will fill in the remaining empty lots in the south and west portions of the neighbourhood. One such development coming through the pipeline is the Indigenous Hub, a first for Toronto, planned for the West Don Lands 'Block 10', bordered by Cherry Street to the west, Front Street to the north, Cooperage Street to the east, and Mill Street to the south. New documents submitted to the City of Toronto for site plan application have revealed further details on the mix of uses that will comprise the Indigenous Hub.

Massing model of proposed Indigenous Hub (health centre in yellow), image via submission to the City of Toronto.

The Block 10 lands are owned by Anishnawbe Health Toronto, and together with the development team of Dream Unlimited, Kilmer Group, and Tricon Capital, they will be developed into a mixed-use complex containing an Indigenous health and childcare centre; Indigenous education and training facility; condominium and rental residential units; and office and retail spaces.

Rendering of the Indigenous Hub in Block 10, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

Phase A involves the construction of the 4-storey Indigenous Community Health Centre, situated along Cherry Street at the west edge of the site. Designed by Stantec in consultation with Two Row Architect, the 3,848 m² facility contains doctor's offices, counselling and social worker services, and a cedar-clad outdoor community courtyard with a sweat lodge for gatherings, among other uses.

Rendering of the Indigenous Community Health Centre, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

The curving building features a perforated aluminum panel facade imprinted with an Indigenous-inspired pattern created by variations in the size of the perforations. Punched windows will be accented by corten steel fins, while the main entrance is accented by a cylindrical volume clad in corten steel. The ground floor is largely transparent with a mix of curtain wall glazing and corten accents.

Rendering of the main entrance, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

A multi-storey atrium greets visitors at the main entrance that is designed with an Indigenous motif, featuring material patterns evoking Indigenous designs and animal imagery.

Rendering of the lobby and atrium, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

Phase B involves all buildings slated for the remainder of the site, each designed by Quadrangle. To the north of the health centre will be a 4-storey glass-clad 3,137 m² building housing a variety of Indigenous organizations: Miziwe Biik, an Indigenous employment and training organization, will occupy the ground floor; the second floor will be home to an Indigenous childcare centre; the Indigenous Child and Family Centre will occupy the third floor; and the fourth floor will provide spaces for Indspire, an Indigenous charity that invests in education, which will include classrooms and offices for the organization.

Rendering look southeast toward the Indigenous Hub, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

To the north of the education and training centre, on the corner of Cherry and Front Streets, sits a designated heritage building that was formerly home to the Canary Restaurant. The heritage building will be restored and incorporated within the new development, with the western portion being fully restored and the facades of the eastern portion retained. While the documents submitted for SPA do not specifically mention a future use for the heritage building, it is believed that it will house retail on the ground floor and office spaces on the upper floors. The heritage work is being overseen by ERA Architects.

Rendering look southeast toward the Indigenous Hub, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

The entire eastern and southern portions of the site will be occupied by a residential building designed by Quadrangle, comprised of a continuous 8-storey mid-rise atop which two towers rise to 11 and 13 storeys.

The northern half of the residential component, which includes the 13-storey tower, will be a 206-unit condo building with ground-level retail facing onto Front Street. The condo units will have a mix of 128 one-bedrooms (62%), 51 two-bedrooms (24%), and 27 three-bedrooms (13%).

The southern half of the residential component includes the 11-storey tower and will contain 238 rental units. The unit mix features 149 one-bedrooms (63%), 62 two-bedrooms (26%), and 27 three-bedrooms (11%). There will be no visual distinction between the condo and rental portions of the building in the continuous mid-rise.

Rendering looking southwest, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

The residential podium will be faced with yellow brick on its lower floors, which will feature a distinct pattern of alternating coursing and colouration that will vary the orientation and shade of the bricks. The patchwork pattern is meant to invoke weaving, and will give a unique look to the mid-rise podium.

Close-up of the residential podium elevation showing brick patterns, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

The upper portions of residential building will be finished with standard glazing, while the 13-storey condo tower will feature wrap-around balconies that curve to match the massing of the health centre. The two residential towers also feature rounded corners that soften the massing and echo the curves of the Indigenous buildings.

Rendering looking northeast toward the Indigenous Hub, image via submission to the City of Toronto.

We will keep you updated as the project continues to work its way through the planning process. In the meantime, you can learn more from our Database file for the project, and tell us what you think by checking out the associated Forum thread, or by leaving a comment in the space provided on this page.

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