A large mixed-use complex from Lanterra Developments will soon rise from just southwest of St. Patrick subway station in Downtown Toronto. The early stages of construction are moving along at the site of Artists' Alley, a mixed-use three-tower development, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, being built on a block of land between St. Patrick and Simcoe Streets, just south of Dundas.  

Looking southwest across site of Artists' Alley, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

The project has been under construction since site clearing wrapped up in late February, 2019 allowing heavy machinery to begin work on the site's shoring. Excavation was able to begin in June, 2019, and digging bottomed out four storeys below street level earlier this year. The first underground forming was recorded in March when crews began pouring footings for the site's first tower crane, the crane in place by the final week of March. The arrival of COVID-19 in Toronto suspended construction of some projects sites in early April, and the pit and partially-built foundations sat mostly idle until earlier in May. The relaxing of restrictions has since brought new activity to the site with new distancing protocols in place.

Much of the complex's foundation is now in place, with concrete pumps working away on the lowest P4 parking level atop the foundation slab. The base for a second tower crane is now visible at the northeast corner of the pit, expected to be installed in the coming days. Once the second crane is active, work on the four-level underground garage levels will move ahead full steam. They will be home to a total of 322 parking spaces, with 200 long-term resident spaces, 38 non-resident spaces, four car-share spaces, and 82 paid parking spaces for the Toronto Parking Authority.

Looking east across site of Artists' Alley, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

As below-grade construction continues, the project is still seeking final planning approvals for the above-ground portion of the site with a recently-submitted application for Site Plan Approval (SPA). This early April submission addresses comments from City Staff regarding minor details in the previous June, 2019 SPA application.

Looking southwest across site of Artists' Alley, image by Forum contributor AlbertC

Once complete, the complex will bring towers of 17, 35, and 39 storeys to the area, with almost 900 new homes along with retail and office space respectively measuring 1,368 m² and 5,858 m². A new 1,000 m² City park and a pedestrian-friendly public realm designed by NAK Design Strategies will animate the base of the new complex.

Artists' Alley, image via submission to City of Toronto

You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like to, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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