Toronto 646 Yonge | 254m | 75s | KingSett Capital | AS + GG

Northern Light

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Well, we have a big one here UT.

New to the AIC is this rezoning App for the above noted properties running north, along the west side of Yonge, from Irwin.

It also includes the properties at 2-4 Irwin.

Note that the developer here is Kingsett, but I have used the name as described on the Planning Report.

Site as is:

Yonge frontage: From the lights (Irwin) to the Boil Bar, inclusive:

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(from the south)

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Irwin frontage:


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The App:

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Should we stop here? Or would @3Dementia be irked if I left out the Renders? LOL

From the Docs:

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Large tower on the slightly right of centre in the above image. Seems to play well with the one to its immediate left across Yonge, by the same developer and the same arch. firm!

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Ground Level Site Plan:


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Elevation Drawings, Heritage and other discussions to follow as this post is full!
 
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I wonder if they're JVing with someone on this.

Elevation Drawings, Heritage and other discussions to follow as this post is full!
Tick tock, it's been hours already. I'll cut you just a bit of slack knowing you were probably catching up on sleep. But your penalty is unearthing another dozen megatalls tonight.
 
As promised, Elevation Drawings, heritage, and discussion:

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Now a look at heritage, starting with what the strip looked like in the past:


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Now a look at the description of what is to become of what is there (heritage retention/reconstruction)

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Discussion:

In terms of buildability, I think its there; which is to say, given the height asks in the area, should other proponents get something close to what they are asking for, there is little reason to believe this tower would not.
Having said that the City is balking at some of the other height requests and the resulting shadows on the parallel to Yonge parks, so we'll have to see where the dust settles.

The Good: A great deal of heritage retention and/or reconstruction, most of what is proposed to be demolished was either never of any great value or has been molested beyond recognition.

Zero Residential Parking

The Tower: Meh, I think its ok, but much like its sister proposal across the street I'm not blown away by its beauty. But its fine.

The Problems: Kingsett would like its proposed public plaza on Irwin (which is a strata-POPS) to count as its parkland contribution. I have thoughts. But I'll tone them down and simply say 'uh uh'.

Also, where the molested heritage on Yonge is proposed to be replaced with new, I am totally not-taken with 'the new' at-grade at all. In fact, I would call it entirely off-putting and in need of a complete re-think.

Why not just reconstruct a heritage facade here, which either resembled the unmolested version of these buildings or alternatively, extend the facade of the heritage to the north or south across those two store fronts, with what modification maybe necessary. Though I would strongly prefer that any lobby and any set-back be reserved to the Irwin side, rather than the Yonge frontage where it really breaks up the rhythm of the street.
 
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Chicago and Copenhagen are taking over Toronto! I for one welcome our new overlords... <3
 
Attractive image but how long till they start erasing the attractive elements? The rendering looks to have silver metallic bands enveloping each floor but I doubt we'll get anything as nice.
 
Attractive image but how long till they start erasing the attractive elements? The rendering looks to have silver metallic bands enveloping each floor but I doubt we'll get anything as nice.
It's basically a simple but affective looking tower right lol! The worst-case scenario would be that they square off the rounded corners and flatten the top this building. Then add balconies all around it yuck!!
 
It's basically a simple but affective looking tower right lol! The worst-case scenario would be that they square off the rounded corners and flatten the top this building. Then add balconies all around it yuck!!
The worst-case scenario is also the most likely scenario, unfortunately ...
 
Nice renders but what has KingSett actually developed—and not sold off—in the last decade?
700 Bay. Construction is not what they do. They entitle and sell. It's frustrating to some when what is eventually built by others doesn't match the initial renderings, but that's more on the lack of ambition on the part of the purchaser and the City than anyone else. Once it's vended, it's not KingSett's problem anymore.
 
KingSett manages billion dollar real estate growth funds. Their income funds are comparably small. They did develop the 700 Bay addition and awful vertical addition on the existing complex.One way to grow a growth fund is to buy up a whole block and propose something really tall on it.

i think it's a tad optimistic to say the worst case scenario is this tower gets box-i-fied. Nothing comes of this ... the most likely scenario ... isn't the worst case scenario either. The worst case scenario is this being sold off entirely or as a joint venture and a new, 75 storey ,Toronto window wall special is designed and built
 

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