Update for 50 bloor west (from UT)
Developer Morguard has put forth for a large rooftop public garden above the Holt Renfrew portion of the site. The developer would see an increase in height of the western half of the site up to 8 storeys, which would include an expanded mixed-use facility of retail and commercial office space. The rooftop of that portion would then be earmarked for public space, while privately maintained and being accessible through the concourse level of the expanded shopping plaza bellow. Sitting at about a half acre in size, there are few private properties in the immediate area that one can think of which have nearly as much rooftop space, while also being close enough to ground level to allow reasonable access.
While the condo amenity space is proposed to be on the same level as the garden space, the private amenities are entirely internalized within the floor plate of the tower itself. What's proposed for the rest of the area are a series of smaller programmed spaces including landscaped gardens, a running track, a tennis court, and the ability to convert part of the space into a skating rink during the cold months.
he project also proposes to make some improvements to the laneway in behind the complex, specifically by internalizing all loading functions, in conjunction with the Cumberland Terrace proposal to the north, helping to improve vehicular flow. The proposal also sees loading access happening exclusively from Bay Street, to avoid trucks having to navigate the increasingly congested Bloor Street.
Looks pretty good but these small improvements look like they were made in order to woo Councillors.