A commercial plaza and former McDonald's location at the southwest corner of King and Dufferin in Toronto's West End is coming down to make way for a new condominium building from Lifetime Developments and Pinedale Properties. Following interior gutting, the first visible activity for XO Condos got underway on Monday afternoon when excavators began to tear into the single-storey building, which will free up space for the start of the project's upcoming shoring phase.

Demolition at site of XO Condos, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Work commenced around the noon hour, and in just a few short hours, much of the old McDonald’s had been reduced to rubble. Demolition is moving from west to east, with the three retailers to the east of the partially-demolished McDonald’s now awaiting the same fate. Once the buildings are fully demolished and the site is cleared of all the rubble and debris, drilling rigs can commence shoring work.

Retail spaces about to come down for XO Condos, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

To be spared from the demolition is the 1906-built Bank of British North America at 1211 King West, which is being retained into the base of the development at the corner of Dufferin. Currently in use as the project's sales centre, the two-storey building is technically a separate property and was not addressed in the planning process, though Lifetime has stated their intention to maintain its important corner presence.

Heritage building at King and Dufferin, image via Google Street View

XO Condos will bring a pair of Core Architects and Turner Fleischer Architects-designed buildings to King and Dufferin. The initial sales run focused on the 14-storey building, now beginning the construction cycle at the intersection's southwest corner. The second building is planned for the northeast corner, to rise 17 storeys and replace another single-storey retail plaza. The McDonald's has now reopened in the Kings Club complex a block east on King Street.

XO Condos, image courtesy of Lifetime Developments

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for XO Condos, linked below, and you can get involved in the discussion in our associated Forum thread.

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