Downtown Update

[davidcapizzano]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

Does Core Development Group have anything that's been completed? On their website they only have projects proposed or selling.

Their Clonmore and Birchcliffe Towns projects in Scarborough are currently under construction. The Front & Sherbourne and Filmores Hotel project on their site is being developed in collaboration with Menkes. Front and Sherbourne is being marketed as The Whitfield and is currently under construction and Filmores is being marketed as Elektra condos which is in presales. The Manderlay is being built by Nova Ridge.

They usually take on the rezoning of a property then partner or sell to another developer to complete sales and construction.

[Innsertnamehere]

They have some townhouse projects completed, and a few larger apartment buildings under construction.

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/manderley-condominiums

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/whitfield

They also appear to be partnering with Emblem on one project in Leaside:

https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/126-and-134-laird

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

November permit data is out. rolling 12-month permit value continues to be above $2 billion, but is now slightly lower than 2021.

$293 million in total permit value issued this month, a very large number.

Notable permits include:

• $23 million - 554 Golf Links Rd, Retirement Home
• $3.9 million - 363 Progreston Rd, new single family dwelling
• $3.1 million - 230 Concession 6 E, New single family dwelling
• $2 million - 50 Violet Drive, apartment alteration
• $5.1 million - 825 North Service Road, new stores
• $3 million - 591 Albertson Rd, Single Family addition
• $5 million - 15 Ambitious Court, warehouses
• $2.5 million - 150 Main St W, tenant improvements (Finally a tenant for the retail spaces at 150 Main!)
• $1.8 million - 880 Hwy 5, Offices addition
• $2.2 million - 1240 Osprey Dr, Plant for manufacturing
• $27 million - 270 Longwood Rd S, plant for manufacturing (appears to be another permit for the McMaster Innovation Park!)
• $2 million - 165 James St S, Foundation for Apartment
• $4 million - 165 Longwood Rd S, Office alterations
• $1.2 million, 106 Bay St N, Apartment foundation
• $100 million (!!!) - 191 King St W, Colleges, Residential (primary permit for McMaster Graduate Res)
• $1.4 million, 225 Nebo Rd, cold storage plant fire retrofit
• $1.1 million - 1430 6th Concession, Labratories Industrial
• $9 million - 25 High St, Secondary School alteration
• $3.5 million - 131 Wellington St N, Apartments new construction
• $3 million - 253 King William St, Multiple dwelling foundation
• $2 million - 700 Woodward Avenue, chemical manufacturing or processing plant
• $1 million - 455 Arvin Avenue, Plant for manufacturing

Another couple of $3+ million SFHs, always interesting to see those.

131 Wellington has permits now, though still no site activity as of this morning when I went by. Looking forward to that one starting.

Surprised to see 165 James only getting it's foundation permit now, as it's currently topped out..

Seems like I was right to guess that something was happening at the old Federal Building. Curious what it is, a restaurant would seem to make the most sense, or a huge retail tenant.

Sidenote, this was a space for sale, I'm assuming they sold the unit? Is the for sale sign gone?

Edit: reviewed the building permit page, and it looks like it's for "Abundance Healthcare": https://abundancehealthcare.ca/

No idea what that could be. Kind of lame as it's a huge space and could easily have been a resto or brewery or something.

[craftbeerdad]

I posted a photo maybe a year ago in this thread about 73 Hughson N when they were doing some core drill sampling behind Dr. Disc.

I hope whoever who owns 75 John - Lot #2 holds out for big bucks and sells to a real impressive developer and builder that emphasizes great design because that lot is the real star of downtown and could host a massive development.

[Innsertnamehere]

While the 150 main space is large, it's not very visible. Honestly, a medical office sort of makes sense for it, for better or for worse. Ultimately they are very important services in a city, even if not particularly exciting.

Restaurants were always going to focus around other core areas like James, Augusta, and Hess. I'd be more interested in Core Urban finally getting a tenant for 53 King St E first.

I imagine if Vrancor ever manages to lease out the space in the Marquee it'll be similar fairly unexciting retail - nail salons, convenience stores, that sort of thing.

[matt602]

I kinda agree, I don't think a restaurant or bar/pub would do very well there. Better to have that kind of thing over in Hess or on George. I'm just happy to see that space finally occupied.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

A rexall or shoppers (express) maybe would also be great here

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by HamiltonBoyInToronto

A rexall or shoppers (express) maybe would also be great here

There's already a Shopper's across the street. I don't think a Brewpub would do bad here at all. There's a lack of large spaces to use for that type of retailer, and if breweries can open up in industrial areas or on James St N, and do excellent, then one would do well here too.

I also have no idea what Abundance Health is about. Maybe they're a scam artist like a chiropractor or homeopathy, in which case I sure as shit wish it were literally anything else.

At least the space will be used, and will be fixed up enough for a future tenant to take the space if this ever leaves.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

I realize that there's already a shoppers but it's probably one of the worst shoppers in Ontario... it should move and improve !

[davidcapizzano]

Yeah the Shoppers in the base of 181 Main is tiny and old, closing at 7pm most nights. A larger store with better hours (the dundurn and cannon stores close at 10) would be ideal.

[SteelTown]

Probably the saddest-looking Shoppers


Source: https://twitter.com/urbanicityHAM

[craftbeerdad]

And it's not even open on Sundays. What the heck is that? This ties the one on Herkimer for ugliest Shoppers.

[Crapht]

Originally Posted by craftbeerdad

And it's not even open on Sundays. What the heck is that? This ties the one on Herkimer for ugliest Shoppers.

At be least the Herkimer location is a neighbourhood service and mostly non offensive. This Main st location, while servicing the direct apartments right there, says more about how unapproachable Main st is. That’ll be changing over the next decade?

[StEC]

Just a few shots I took last night. Man that view in the first shot down King St West is starting to look amazing like a true big city downtown!

[TheRitsman]

Some interesting additions to the FC list:

- 325 James St N: To consolidate properties into a single development parcel. Existing building to be retained and renovated to facilitate mixed use with at grade commercial and residential units above. Balance of property to be developed into a 12 storey mixed use building

- 450 James St N: To redevelop the subject lands with a 6-storey multiple dwelling having 102 units of affordable housing.

- 121 King St E: To develop a mixed use building with 40 residential units, 1 commercial unit and 46 storage locker units.

The last one is odd to me since this is the Gore Lofts and is almost complete.

[Chronamut]

Found this render that hasn't been uploaded here yet:





"215-217 King Street West (Hamilton): a proposed 14-storey mixed-use residential & retail building designed by Saplys Architects for Lavish Design Build (Suzi Kaloti) on the southwest corner of King Street West and Caroline Street South in Downtown Hamilton."

That diagonal entrance feels very awkward- like they shouldn't have made it white all the way down..

also it's giving me bad vibes of the motel one block up from it on main st with those jutouts.. although I don't think I would have minded them if the front entrance had been consistent in that look..

the diagonal balconies is an interesting touch though..

Speaking of ugly, new renders for the giant parking lot one block up across from said god awful motel:



like seriously what are they thinking putting the main entrance off main, do they realize what a nightmare that's gonna be with 5 lanes of traffic?

Looks like there's an elevation dip between the first two buildings too with that "road" in between them, interesting...

I'm gonna nickname the two on the right "the subwoofers"

Moving west along this street, a new proposal beside those nice old 2 story buildings they renovated:



"231 Main Street West (Hamilton)
215-231 Main Street West, 67 & 69 Queen Street South, 62 & 64 Hess Street South: a 30-storey residential tower developed by Brown Wharf Development on the southeast corner of Main Street West and Queen Street South in Hamilton's Durand neighbourhood."

Oh dear god what are they going to be doing to those beautiful buildings?? It looks like just their facades will be kept and the rest will be swallowed into this building.. a shame, this area looked real professional..

Also looks like these two buildings won't make it - god what is with our city's determination to destroy everything that is old and beautiful?? This is one of the last heritage strips along main st.. consistent in its restored designs too, and lack of gaps.. destroyed for.. parking garage doors it seems like..





"499 Mohawk Road East (Hamilton)
499 Mohawk Road East: a proposed 25, 25, 20, 15, 15, 13, 8 & 8-storey condo & retail buildings and 7 x 3-storey stacked townhouse blocks designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects for New Horizon Development Group on the northwest corner of Mohawk Road East and Upper Sherman Avenue in Hamilton's Burkholme neighbourhood."

Aside from the stupid uneven windows on some of the smaller buildings this actually looks pretty cool! Everything feels fresh and harmonious. I really like the diagonal creeping wraparound of the signature building on the corner there. And I know everyone is all "but this is taking over the old wal-mart area, where will there be anywhere to shop or get groceries?" Well at least it looks pretty lol. I do love the self contained community feel though with the townhouses wrapping around the big buildings in the middle.

Also I wish they'd stop putting trees on the rooftops to make it look more "organic" - there ain't gonna be trees up there..





Lime Ridge Mall Intensification (Phase 1): a proposed 12 & 12-storey residential building and expansion of the existing commercial building designed by Zeidler and WZMH for Cadillac Fairview on the northeast corner of Upper Wentworth Street and the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway in Hamilton's Thorner neighbourhood.

A new Hamilton HSR Bus Transit Hub is proposed along with the development."

THIS one is interesting - looks like urban behaviour would be completely demolished and then this appended with the apartments above.. loving the oval entrance and staircase and almost miami-like vibe of the design..

I wish we would do more traditional stuff combined with modern, like the harbour club in port dalhousie:



"The Harbour Club (St. Catharines)
The Harbour Club: a proposed 9 & 6-storey mixed-use condo and retail development involving a 2-storey addition and restoration to the Lincoln Fabrics Building, designed by Onespace Unlimited for SDR Group and Valour Capital on the east side of Lakeport Road on Lockhart Point in the Port Dalhousie area of St. Catharines."

Consistent arched windows with sash glass and lintels look FAR better than punching in weird windows of odd shapes just to look "weird".


You can find more HERE. Black is proposed red is being built blue is built.

[Hawrylyshyn]

Great post summarizing some of the ones we haven't seen for a bit (unfortunately none of them are new and are floating around the forum)

[TheRitsman]

Yea, these have all been shared:

215-217 King Street West: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252631&page=2

Limeridge: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204517&page=6

[Crapht]

I count 33 storeys on that tower tucked in behind the houses at Main and Queen.

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

This is one of the last heritage strips along main st.. consistent in its restored designs too, and lack of gaps.. destroyed for.. parking garage doors it seems like..

Can't remember where I saw it, but I believe they actually changed the design to preserve those two buildings. The parking garage entrance will simply go between those two, and the main block. I think it was at the city's request or something.