199 Richmond St W
(image available in PDF version of newsletter)
Les Klein of Quadrangle Architects presented Aspen Ridge Homes' revised proposal for 199 Richmond St W at Councillor Vaughan's King-Spadina Development meeting January 20. The original plan was for a 35 storey tower at the south-west corner of the site, along with an 18 storey S-shaped building.
Based on concerns about the mass of the building on the street and feedback from Planning staff that the warehouse character of the district should be reinforced, the proposal has been revised to include two 47-storey point towers with very small floorplates (535 sq m).
The towers will sit on an 8 storey podium and a 5 storey building on the north side of Nelson. The design of the building is aimed to be as light a structure as possible, with glass corners for lightness.
The project would be mixed use, with office space, retail and community space at the lower levels, and residential use above. The loading for the building will be done internally, with a 2nd storey landscaped courtyard above the loading zone. The north-south laneway separating the new building from 140 Simcoe St to the east would be widened to ensure that vehicles could easily enter the loading zone within the building.
Fifteen per cent of the units would be either 3 or 2 bedroom units plus den, to accommodate families. The proponents may also consider constructing the building in two phases, with one tower at a time. The project would also try to support the city's initiative to upgrade the pedestrian environment on Nelson Street with wide sidewalks and a double row of tree plantings.
