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The month of July, 2023 brought heat waves to Toronto along with waves of construction of large-scale developments. While the need for more housing sees developers rework mall sites to bring greater density, the increased value of industrial land throughout the Greater Toronto Area saw one development pivot away from residential. Of course, vertical growth is still making more than just ripples within the city, but also beyond into the Greater Toronto Area's other municipalities. Here is the latest roundup of the hottest news stories, Database files, and Forum threads on UrbanToronto from the month of July.
Our Top 10 Most Read News Stories:
Our Most Read News Stories list starts off with QuadReal Property Group's plans to "gently" urbanize Cloverdale Mall. Aaron Knight of QuadReal spoke with Urban Toronto about the redevelopment and the design by Giannone Petricone Associates (GPA). The project, once around a retail High Street, has evolved in its resubmission towards a "village in the park" concept. QuadReal aims to create dense urban spaces while maintaining a sense of openness and connection to nature.
14. QuadReal Aims to 'Gently' Urbanize Cloverdale Mall Site
Moving up through July's Top 10 News Stories list, another mall redevelopment takes the top spot. Cadillac Fairview is proposing a 14-building plan for Markham's Markville Mall, ranging from six to 45 storeys and approximately 4,340 units new units. Meanwhile, the Buttonville Airport Redevelopment has pivoted from mixed-use residential to industrial, underscoring the increasing value of industrial land in the GTA in recent years. Amidst these plans, vertical growth is still making its mark on skylines, seen with the 69-storey tower proposed at 135 Isabella Street, and the 50 storeys of 10 Abitibi Avenue. This growth extends even beyond the GTA, with a 30-storey mixed-use condominium proposed in St Catharines that would stand as the city's tallest tower popping into our most-read stories list too.
10. Yonge and Steeles Racks Up Another 50-Storey Side Street Proposal
9. 30-Storey Proposal Looks to Elevate St Catharines Skyline with Record Breaking Tower
8. Major Mixed-Use Development Proposed in Scarborough City Centre
7. Settlement Proposal for Two-Tower Development in Yorkville Includes a 'Sky Garden'
6. 69 Storeys Proposed Within Walking Distance of Sherbourne Subway
5. Hurontario LRT Advances with New Underpass Beneath GO Tracks
4. 6 Tower Proposal by GO Station in Markham's Evolving Unionville
3. Buttonville Airport Redevelopment Shifts from Mixed-Use to Industrial
2. Dream Unlimited and Great Gulf Advance Ambitious Plan for Quayside
Our Top 10 Most Searched Database Files:
Returning to Toronto's downtown core, the 55-storey 8 Wellesley | Residences at Yonge sits at #15 in our Top 10 Database File rankings this month. We recently looked at the past two years of construction progress on the building and its retained heritage facades.
15. 8 Wellesley | Residences at Yonge
The One takes the top spot yet again with the Top 10 Most Searched Database Files, while the Pinnacle One Yonge continues as runner up. The redevelopments of Cloverdale Mall and the Lower Don Lands also made the Top 10. The latter is currently under construction to bring a mixed-use community while re-routing the Don River through the middle of the 125-hectare site.
10. Lower Don Lands Redevelopment
8. CIBC SQUARE
5. Cloverdale Mall Redevelopment
4. The Well
3. Sugar Wharf Condominiums (Phase 2)
1. The One
Our Top 10 Busiest Threads:
Taking a look at our Busiest Threads for July, 2023, we go from what is going up to what is coming down; before the second phase of the Sugar Wharf Condominiums can go up, the removal of most of the LCBO's former headquarters and warehouse is paving way for the future redevelopment where buildings will range up to 90 storeys high.
16. Sugar Wharf Condominiums (Phase 2)
The One claims the top spot once more in our Top 10 Busiest Forum Threads, with Pinnacle One Yonge yet again in second. The redevelopment of the Lower Don Lands made this list as well. Meanwhile, Forum contributors discussed ongoing construction to upgrade Toronto's transit infrastructure, including the new Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown LRT and Ontario Line 3, as well as the continuing work on the Union Station Revitalization.
10. Ontario Line
9. Concord Sky
8. Lower Don Lands Redevelopment
7. Union Station Revitalization
6. The Well
3. CIBC SQUARE
1. The One
We will be back at the beginning of September for a recap of August's top news stories, Database files, and Forum threads!
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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
