Canada's 50 Tallest Proposals

[Ramako]

I'm thrilled to see that the office component will eventually block Maple Leaf Square from the classic harbourfront view of the skyline. A simple but classy office tower contributes more to the skyline than those banal, green-glassed condos by Page + Steele.

[Ramako]

It looks to me, based on Section 12 of Attachment 10 of the final report, that the final height of the office tower will in fact be only 165 metres as per Map 2 on page 59. Am I reading this right?

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Way to perdict, Caltrane!


90 Harbour Revisions

East Residence - 233 metres - 66 storeys (-13 metres)
West Residence - 222 metres - 62 storeys (-24 metres)

Office - 173.5 (+23 metres)

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-50454.pdf

Eh, I'm doing this for a living now. No joke.

[Dwils01]

The reduction in height doesn't bother me. At least they are over 200m. I really like the increase in height for the office building. Will almost be as tall as Royal Bank Plaza.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by Ramako

It looks to me, based on Section 12 of Attachment 10 of the final report, that the final height of the office tower will in fact be only 165 metres as per Map 2 on page 59. Am I reading this right?

The chart on page 13 shows it at 173.5 meters. I can't tell you how happy I am to see these have different hieghts in the two towers. Such a large improvement design wise.

[DrNest]

Originally Posted by Dwils01

The reduction in height doesn't bother me. At least they are over 200m. I really like the increase in height for the office building. Will almost be as tall as Royal Bank Plaza.

I'm saddened by the reduction in height of the condo towers, but equally like the idea of the office tower being given some extra floors. Maybe if sales go well the additional height will be put back onto one or both of the condo towers. Maybe...

[DrNest]

Originally Posted by Gresto

WhipperSnapper doesn't speak for all Torontonians. Whether it replicates older styles (faux-____) or not, at least it's a deviation from the garden variety green box.

Seems like you have similar tastes to me. I agree with your sentiments here.

[Innsertnamehere]

Looking at the document more it seems it will be funding the relocation of the gardener off ramp.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

The chart on page 13 shows it at 173.5 meters. I can't tell you how happy I am to see these have different hieghts in the two towers. Such a large improvement design wise.

I think that chart just shows the proposed heights each time the application was (re)submitted, and not necessarily what was ultimately recommended by planning staff. The planning staff's official recommendation is on page 2, being that: "City Council amend former City of Toronto Zoning By-law 438-86, as amended for the lands at 90 Harbour Street and 1 York Street substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment No. 10 to the report"

Section 12 of Attachment No. 10 (on page 54) explicitly states that the maximum heights are as indicated on Map 2 (page 59).

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Ramako

I think that chart just shows the proposed heights each time the application was (re)submitted, and not necessarily what was ultimately recommended by planning staff. The planning staff's official recommendation is on page 2, being that: "City Council amend former City of Toronto Zoning By-law 438-86, as amended for the lands at 90 Harbour Street and 1 York Street substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment No. 10 to the report"

Section 12 of Attachment No. 10 (on page 54) explicitly states that the maximum heights are as indicated on Map 2 (page 59).

Section 13

The preceding section of this By-law does not apply to prevent the erection or use above the said height limits of:

(b)

a mechanical penthouse extending no more than 10.0 metres above the applicable height limit shown on Map 2 for On Tower 1;



175 metres is the maximum allowed by the by-law.

[Gresto]

Originally Posted by DrNest

Seems like you have similar tastes to me. I agree with your sentiments here.

Yes, along with AndrewJMD (sp?). We tend to voice the same views. I'm not a student of architecture like some here, but 88 Scott doesn't look like a cheap knockoff to me. NY Towers in North York. Now that's the personification of a cheap (and ghastly) knockoff.

Thanks for the update on 90 harbour, WhipperSnapper. I'm delighted to hear that the condo towers haven't been dramatically reduced.

[Ramako]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

Section 13

The preceding section of this By-law does not apply to prevent the erection or use above the said height limits of:

(b)

a mechanical penthouse extending no more than 10.0 metres above the applicable height limit shown on Map 2 for On Tower 1;



175 metres is the maximum allowed by the by-law.

Nice catch. That's why it's important to actually read the whole by-law.

[urbandreamer]

Frank Gehry & David Mirvish with renderings via Montana Steele presents...3 monster towers for King & Simcoe area/Theatre Row (beside Theatre Park) Toronto:

http://vimeo.com/50398397

Fantasy or reality, we will find out no doubt!

[isaidso]

These look to be in the 90-100 floor range. I counted about 92 floors on one of the shorter ones.

[Fatality]

The Frank Gehry & David Mirvish renderings is driving everyone crazy!

But they are in the Entertainment District so I have no idea how they're going to get such heights....
Also, considering Toronto's boom is slowing down considerably (the reasons for taking off floors on harbour residences) I don't know if such heights is reasonable. Thirdly, the towers are going to piss a lot of people in the core out because that's what Torontonians do. Anything that feels big and they suddenly pick up their pre-made picket signs and go straight down to council. I don't think this would please people just cause of sheer height, and the fact that it may dominaate over everything, and that it may block some views.

HOWEVER, this is a grand vision so these guys aren't dumb. These may not be entirely condo towers at all...considering the video talks a lot about art and how it affected these two guys.

So in the end who knows? Toronto just might get lucky...Also, considering the casino proposal for downtown, these two projects may help each other get off the ground

[yyzer]

screencaps of the Gehry proposal, courtesy of CanadianNational over at UT...if real, this is big news for Toronto...

[DrNest]

Fatality makes a lot of good points. I would love to see something of this scale be built, and where proposed is good with me. However, I too, anticipate a lot of NIMBYism and am pondering the slow down in the condo boom.

[Nouvellecosse]

If they are serious, then they are crazy. You don't start a huge project like that at the end of the boom when prices are falling.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

If they are serious, then they are crazy. You don't start a huge project like that at the end of the boom when prices are falling.

Mirvish has deep pockets and a long lifespan ahead of him.

Get all the zoning, designs, etc. in place now and he can be one of the first out of the gate when the next round begins; whether that is in 2 years or 10 years.

The few developers that backed off in 2008 were behind the pack in 2010.


Also worth keeping in mind is that Toronto could lose 75% of the new condo sales activity and still outsell Chicago at it's peak. At 5000 units per year, a reasonably priced ($600/sqft) high-quality building in that area would still sell in a couple of years; 3 of 'em might take a decade.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by yyzer

screencaps of the Gehry proposal, courtesy of CanadianNational over at UT...if real, this is big news for Toronto...

My f**King God!

Wow!

100 Storeys Baby!! Finally. It was bound to happen. yay!

So busy with my blog, didn't even know this was even going on... lol!

Well, at least I have something to write about now..