Toronto Union Park | 303.26m | 58s | Oxford Properties | Pelli Clarke Pelli

Tapering policy has been thrown out in recent years, I hold no concern over that. But this does get me giddy! I can't wait to see what is coming!
 
In terms of the issue of views of the CN Tower, I think that some important views can be identified and protected through the placement of the new towers on this site and their proportions. One view that I love is that of the CN Tower framed by the towers of the TD Centre from King Street. It's really Modernism at its finest, and it's a striking view. I wouldn't want to see it lost. I also think that the CN Tower deserves the prominence of the Eiffel Tower with its iconic design and world-dominating height for decades. Where it appears in views, it tends to matter.
 
RiverCity1 said:
At the Land & Development Conference held today at the MTCC, the VP of development at Oxford Properties Group told the attendees that the plan is to still go ahead with the redevelopment plans of the convention space, the development of new office & residential towers, a hotel, green space over the train tracks, etc...basically everything included in their plan announced last year minus the casino. He stated that the casino really was minor and that the plan wasn't ever dependent on the casino being approved at this location anyway; it just would have helped to accelerate their plans.

So no need to worry. We will be getting a large project here and it's not dead by any means, but the plan is a little longer term as they continue to seek the funds (without a casino), to deal with some funky engineering to build overtop of the existing convention spaces, and to work to get the approvals they needed anyway (i.e. for the Metrolinx ROW, City of Toronto, etc). Good news.
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Do you remember the VP's name?
 
RiverCity1 said:
At the Land & Development Conference held today at the MTCC, the VP of development at Oxford Properties Group told the attendees that the plan is to still go ahead with the redevelopment plans of the convention space, the development of new office & residential towers, a hotel, green space over the train tracks, etc...basically everything included in their plan announced last year minus the casino. He stated that the casino really was minor and that the plan wasn't ever dependent on the casino being approved at this location anyway; it just would have helped to accelerate their plans.

So no need to worry. We will be getting a large project here and it's not dead by any means, but the plan is a little longer term as they continue to seek the funds (without a casino), to deal with some funky engineering to build overtop of the existing convention spaces, and to work to get the approvals they needed anyway (i.e. for the Metrolinx ROW, City of Toronto, etc). Good news.
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Thanks for that update! Pretty much as I figured all along, despite the froth about the casino and its various implications for the city. Minus the casino, the plan is to press ahead, albeit at a slower initial pace. No big deal. It's a prime chunk of real estate and there still exists dramatic opportunities to further define this city for decades to come.
 
Mithras said:
Do you remember the VP's name?
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It was Johann Schumacher

http://www.realestateforums.com/landconference/en/program.php

Session C1
Densification Of Cities: Mixed-Use Super Projects Are Spurring A New Evolution Of Cities

With an influx of Super Projects on the horizon, this panel will review key developments that could ultimately shape our cities across the GTA in a significant fashion. The conversation will examine what will bring these projects to fruition, how will infrastructure be impacted, what challenges to density will occur, and how developers are accommodating completely different uses within the same site. Could these Super Projects impact construction costs, timelines, and availability of labour? Discussion will also examine financing structures, presale strategies and development thesis.

Moderator:
Michael Brooks, Partner, Aird and Berlis LLP


Panel:
Wayne Barwise, Executive Vice President, Development, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited
John Campbell, President and CEO, Waterfront Toronto
David Gerofsky, President & COO of Great Gulf, and Chief Executive Officer of First Gulf Corporation
Johann Schumacher, Vice President, Development, Oxford Properties Group
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Interesting how CF is on the session too. At the end of the day, I wonder if we can consider this casino outcome strategic loss for CF or a draw. Oxford Place won't happen as quickly as if the casino was at place, but it's questionable whether it would have went to them in the first place (given the Ex seems to be the preferred choice by the city, proximity to OP, etc). In the meantime, you are going to have an emergent retail node by Oxford that might rival with Eaton Centre in scale.

AoD
 
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At the session there was a lot of wink, winks when it came to the Buttonville Airport redevelopment lands. It seems that if Markham votes yes for a casino, then this site is considered a very desirable location outside of Toronto. So CF and MGM would benefit after all.
 
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Okay, haha! I really don't keep track of developments north of Eglinton and I'm not a fan of casinos outside of Vegas and Niagara Falls...so thank you kindly for the update and sorry for the sidetrack :D Now back to MTCC and Oxford Place!
 
Oxford is probably figuring out what it will do now that the casino has been denied, so I would give them a couple of months to work things out and set up the new plan, including how they will fund it.
 
I don't know this for a fact, but I'm pretty sure the casino idea was an after thought. The location of the site in conjunction with hotels restaurants, transit, the convention center etc. is an absolutely excellent site for offices, condos and the balance of what was proposed.

I'm confident this project will proceed in a timely manner - The location is dynamite.
 
Its a greatt spot... but the headaches to come with this project will be bad... not as bad as say just down the street at union station but about as jammed up around there Ill bet.
going to be strange to not to see that convetion centre when it does go.
 
ptbotrmpfn said:
Its a greatt spot... but the headaches to come with this project will be bad... not as bad as say just down the street at union station but about as jammed up around there Ill bet.
going to be strange to not to see that convetion centre when it does go.
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The whiners won. Like usual.
 
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