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Demolition activity is underway at Natasha Residences in Toronto’s Entertainment District, marking a restart after a prolonged pause, with teardown work previously planned to begin in January, 2025. The site on the south side of Adelaide Street West just to the east of John Street is now seeing phased deconstruction of the five-storey Purman Building ahead of a proposed 47-storey mixed-use condominium and rental tower designed by BDP Quadrangle for Lanterra Developments.
Looking east along Adelaide Street West in early December, 2025, the existing building is mid-block between John and Duncan streets. Completed in 1915, the brick-clad commercial structure is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and forms a contributing property within the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District, with its Chicago School warehouse proportions, regularly spaced punched window openings, and stone base along the streetwall. Temporary metal fencing and sidewalk hoarding have been installed at grade.
An image of the rear of the site shows interior demolition underway, with openings cut through the masonry to facilitate debris removal. Piles of brick and concrete rubble cover the ground, with a waste bin positioned directly in front of a former loading opening. Sections of the building have been taken down to its shell, with exposed structural frame and stripped wall assemblies.
From above, demolition is advancing on the roof level, with sections of the roof now removed to expose the uppermost floor plate below. Workers are operating on the remaining roof deck, support below marked by orange safety pylons. Orange tarp has been draped across multiple storeys where the walls have been removed, sheltering stripped floors to mitigate wind and control debris and dust during interior demolition.
Along the Adelaide Street West frontage with two workers visible at the second-storey, facade deconstruction progresses upward. Window assemblies are removed across the first four storeys, with portions of glazing still in place at the fifth floor. The exposed punched openings reveal stripped interiors and bare ceilings. At grade, the original stone base and the carved “Purman Building” lettering remain intact behind temporary fencing.
Captured a few days later, this view shows window assemblies have now been removed across all five floors, leaving a grid of punched openings that expose stripped interiors. On the roof, multiple workers are visible operating as sections of the roof membrane and slab continue to be removed.
Take in January, the north elevation presents a clear view of the retained heritage facade as deconstruction awaits behind it. The elevation is composed of red blended brick masonry at the upper storeys, which will ultimately be complemented by a combination of salvaged and new brick selected to match the existing masonry. Stone spandrel and lintel elements remain in place between the punched openings, while the ground floor is defined by a light granite base.
Once complete, Natasha Residences will rise 156.9m and deliver 420 condominium units alongside 12 rental replacement units.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, 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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