General – Page 2 – CentreCourt

It has been nearly two-and-a-half years since developers CentreCourt and Bazis held the virtual launch of 8 Wellesley Residences at Yonge. The 55-storey building is set to stand 182.15m by the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Wellesley Street West in Downtown Toronto. The design by Arcadis — the Amsterdam-based global firm that acquired Toronto-based IBI Group in Fall 2022 — retains and restores the heritage facade at 10 through 16 Wellesley Street West in order to be used for retail and lobby space.

Since the virtual launch, the site has been under continuous construction in this bustling area. The structure is now climbing upward on its way to punctuate the city skyline, but that journey started back at ground level in Fall 2021.

In September 2021, an image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Red Mars looking west offers a glimpse of a large yellow and black shoring rig preparing the site, signalling the onset of crews commencing excavation. Aided by heavy machinery and diligent crew members, the site transitions into a construction zone, hinting at the transformation to come. Meanwhile, the recently completed Wellesley on the Park stands over the site in the background, awaiting its new neighbour.

By March 3 2022, UrbanToronto Forum contributor Benito’s northeast-facing image reveals excavation is in full swing, with a yellow excavator working on the site. Blue fencing lays strewn with with wires and pylons against protective fencing at the forefront. Construction is steadily progressing and paving the way for the coming vertical growth.

Fast-forward to this year on March 18, and UrbanToronto Forum contributor Northern Light’s north-facing snapshot presents a starkly different scene from Wellesley Street. A striking white and red crane, displaying the CentreCourt logo, presides over the emerging skeletal steel structure of the building, signifying the project’s transition from groundwork to vertical ascent.

In May, UrbanToronto Forum contributor Rascacielo shares a northwest-facing image, revealing the project reaching four storeys in height. The rising concrete structure now casts a shadow over the retained heritage facades, marking the juxtaposition of the city’s architectural history and its future. We see yellow and grey steel shoring poles stretch from one slab to the next as the concrete cures, in preparation for further vertical expansion.

A little over a month later, on June 24, Rascacielo offers another perspective looking north from Dr. Lillian McGregor Park. The space from which Wellesley on the Park gets its namesake, it features unique artwork in the form of a family of cranes made of bent aluminum. Framed by one of the park’s crane art sculptures, the building’s increasing height and the construction crane in the background paint a vivid picture of the project’s vertical progress. The image captures a synergy between art, architecture, and urban development.

A day later, UrbanToronto Forum contributor drum118 captures the rapid pace of construction looking east and upward. We see the complete transformation of the site in the area once home to the Segovia restaurant. Each floor is sporting grey metal fencing, a safety measure highlighting the work still in progress.

Finally, we head out to Yonge Street on July 11 for a westward perspective, another image from Rascacielo. Our eyes gaze upward as the photograph showcases the white concrete structure rising prominently from the east side of the building. The site continues to buzz with activity, with the crane overhead, and steel scaffolding with wooden coverings cloaking the heritage elements, encapsulating a dynamic dance of construction progress.

Upon completion, the development will add 600 residential units to this vibrant area. Residents will be just steps from Wellesley subway station, as well as short walks to an eclectic mix of neighbourhoods such as Yorkville and The Village.

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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Published by Zakiya Kassam

CentreCourt and Dream have entered into a JV partnership to bring the first two towers in a master-planned community to fruition.

As an ambitious master-planned community slated for Scarborough’s Golden Mile edges closer to breaking ground, Greater Toronto Area real estate developer CentreCourt has confirmed to STOREYS that they have entered into a JV partnership with lead developer Dream to bring the first phase of the project to fruition.

“We have been monitoring the City’s Golden Mile planning process for several years now,” says Gavin Cheung, Managing Partner and President for CentreCourt. “Over the next 10 years, we believe the new transit infrastructure in this area is going to be a major catalyst — one that drives significant growth.”

As for the choice to join forces with Dream for the first phase of the project — this will involve the creation of the first 32- and 48-storey towers at 2200 Eglinton Avenue East — Cheung cites CentreCourt’s proclivity for projects with “compelling transit connectivity.” As well, he says, CentreCourt is especially attracted to locations that are “undervalued today but poised for significant growth over time.”

“When we realized there was an opportunity to work with a partner like Dream, who has a long-term outlook on this area and a fantastic vision for their master-planned community, we immediately jumped on it,” Cheung goes on to say. “We have a track record of executing and delivering housing quickly and efficiently, which is a key ingredient for the success of a master plan — the momentum must be built and then sustained from the very first phase of development onwards.”

It’s been nearly five years since real estate development powerhouse Dream unveiled plans for Scarborough’s Golden Mile neighbourhood. Dream’s first proposal dates back to 2018, and since that time, the proposal has snowballed into a mixed-use community that will sprawl five blocks at 2200-2206 Eglinton Avenue East, 75 Thermos Road, and 1020-1030 Birchmount Road.

The most recent iteration of the proposal, submitted to the city in 2021, calls for a gross site area of 63,624 sq. m, tower heights ranging from 20 to 48 storeys, and a total gross floor area (GFA) of 284,438 sq. m. The total GFA is expected to accommodate a 2,582-sq.-m retail component, a 16,012-sq.-m office component, and 3,391 new residential dwelling units over 265,844 sq. m.

In accordance with the Golden Mile Secondary Plan, two new public streets are also proposed, including a 27-metre east-west street and a 20-metre north-south street. As well, the development will encompass 6,185 sq. m of new public parkland.

The community is expected to eventually add around 1,380 new jobs to the Golden Mile area.

Michael Cooper, Founder of the Dream Group of Companies, tells STOREYS that the newly minted partnership with CentreCourt is motivated by “a shared vision for the future of the Eglinton Avenue East area” and is an opportunity to enhance what Dream already has in store for the project.

“The partnership combines Dream’s experience in large-scale projects with CentreCourt’s expertise in high-rise residential developments,” he says. “Together, we aim to create a vibrant community and exceed expectations for our project.”

Cooper also alludes to a long-standing and mutual respect between Dream and CentreCourt, driven, in large part, by the shared prerogative of bringing these types of transit-oriented, mixed-use developments to market.

He says that it’s not out of the question for CentreCourt to be involved with the subsequent phases of the larger master-planned project as Dream continues to explore and evaluate potential partnerships that align with the vision.

“While it’s premature to confirm CentreCourt’s involvement in future aspects, we value our partnership and foresee possible collaboration as the project progresses,” says Cooper. “Our priority is to make decisions that contribute to the community’s success and foster a cohesive neighbourhood for residents.”

The two buildings will contain approx. 1,000 units and 8,000 square feet of retail space.

Steve McLean – Business Writer

CentreCourt has entered into a 50-50 joint venture with Dream Office REIT to build two condominium towers as the first phase of an approximately 2.5-million-square-foot master-planned community at 2200 Eglinton Ave. E. in Scarborough.

“We have a strong relationship with Dream that predates this deal by decades,” CentreCourt partner and senior vice-president of acquisitions Bader Elkhatib told RENX.

“We haven’t worked together on anything previously, but we’ve been on the same block for land assemblies; we obviously know one another in the industry. I think there’s a strong admiration for the way each of the groups operate and I think what’s most important is we have a set of shared principles.”

Dream (D-UN-T) was seeking a partner for the first phase of the Scarborough development and Elkhatib said CentreCourt’s “track record, recent activity and outcomes gave them (Dream) the confidence that they needed” to do the deal to build 32- and 48-storey towers totalling more than 650,000 square feet of gross floor area.

While zoning is in place, the project is still in the design phase and more details are being worked out. A site-plan approval application has been made.

Development’s first two towers

There will be approximately 1,000 residential units in the two buildings, with 39 affordable units accounting for approximately 30,000 square feet.

Approximately 8,000 square feet of retail space will be included at ground level along Eglinton and the partners will also deliver some park space to the project.

Elkhatib is hopeful of launching sales next year. Both towers will be built simultaneously and Elkhatib expects construction to take about four years.

“At this scale of development, we could really do some neat out-of-the-box amenities which are typically harder to deliver on,” Elkhatib said.

Possible future co-operation for site

There’s a chance CentreCourt could also become involved with future phases of the development.

“We believe in the node, we believe in the partnership and we’d love to be a part of it, but we typically don’t want to think too far ahead,” Elkhatib said.

He likens what CentreCourt has done with SmartLiving for its Transit City (TC) condos in Vaughan to what could happen at the Eglinton site.

“It started off with a tower that turned very quickly to three, and right now we’re up to five towers, with two-and-a-half-million square feet delivered. I’m hopeful that this will be a very similar experience.”

Recent CentreCourt acquisitions

CentreCourt is very active in the Toronto area beyond the 2200 Eglinton Ave. E. project.

The Toronto-based company has acquired three properties in the Dundas Street West and Kipling Avenue area of Etobicoke where it will develop approximately one million square feet of condos.

Sales launched on May 8 for Kipling Station Condos, a 50-storey, 544-unit tower at 5251 Dundas St. W., and Elkhatib is satisfied with the early results.

“I think it’s the first major launch in that Bloor and Kipling sub-market in a very long time and it’s a big success after five weeks relative to the marketplace in general,” he said.

CentreCourt has also been active along the Church Street corridor in downtown Toronto and has plans to launch a partnership with Spotlight Development on a 60-storey, 701-unit condo at the corner of Church and Queen Street East.

CentreCourt’s current developments

The high-rise developer has nine projects with approximately 5,000 housing units under construction at the moment.

The 45-storey, 495-unit TC4 was recently delivered in Vaughan and the neighbouring 50-storey, 526-unit TC5 will follow later this year. SmartLiving is the partner for both buildings, which total about 800,000 square feet.

The 14-storey, 350-unit The Forest Hill Condominiums, at 859 Eglinton Ave. W. at the corner of Bathurst Street in midtown Toronto, should be ready for move-in before the end of the year.

Five more projects should all be completed in 2024 or 2025:

• the 39-storey, 484-unit 199 Church Condominiums, a partnership with Parallax;
• the 52-storey, 679-unit 252 Church;
• the 46-storey, 595-unit Prime Condos at 319 Jarvis St., a partnership with Centrestone Urban Developments Inc.;
• the 55-storey, 599-unit 8 Wellesley Residences, a partnership with BAZIS;
• and the 14-storey, 424-unit WestLine Condos at 1100 Sheppard Ave. W.

“I lead our acquisition efforts so I obviously love taking the deal and making it happen, but it’s very rewarding when you see a building completed,” Elkhatib said. “That’s the exciting time that we’re in right now.”

Elkhatib said CentreCourt could launch sales for one more project this year.

“Despite the headwinds in the marketplace and the world, we believe in the Toronto real estate market and believe that well-priced, well-located, transit-oriented, high-rise living is in demand.”

Jenny Febbraro, Special to National Post

Published May 31, 2023

As the name suggests, the developer behind Kipling Station Condos knows transit access is a selling point. Rising 50 storeys, the residential tower coming to Etobicoke will redefine the area’s skyline, bringing high-density living to a rapidly transitioning neighbourhood, in a pocket where transit access points converge.

“The great thing about this development is that it will overlook the new Kipling Transit Hub,” says Gavin Cheung, president of CentreCourt, referring to the upcoming Metrolinx project that will connect the TTC, Go Train and MiWay Mississauga in one spot, next to Kipling Station Condos. According to Cheung, another 35 residential towers are expected to rise in the area within the next few years.

For Kipling Station Condos, B+H Architects designed sculptural features that create the illusion of movement on the tower’s façade. “With such a tall building, we didn’t want a static, monolithic look,” says Stephanie Maignan, senior design architect at B+H. “We created a pattern with a shift in the windows, solid paneling and cantilever balconies. So from levels 5 to 12, there is one series of windows and then that shifts again from floors 13 to 21 and so on.”

B+H used the classic “golden ratio” to divide the building into different design segments. “We took the proportion of the podium, and then the next section is double that height,” explains Maignan. “It sort of stretches the building and accentuates the height while introducing a sense of movement and rotation.”

Currently in the preconstruction phase, the stylized 552-unit tower brings contrast to the neighbourhood. “It’s a really contemporary yet minimalist look,” says Maignan. “We’ve got these black metal patterns with a bit of texture, but then that alternates with a copper rose metal. It’s almost like the building has copper fins that accentuate (its) movement.”

Located at the corner of Dundas Street West and Aukland Road, the condo provides first-time homeowners a reasonable edge to enter the market. Suites range from 343 to 935 square feet; studio units begin in the $400,000s. The largest unit is a three-bedroom, starting in the $900,000s.

Interior designers Figure3 took inspiration from vintage European trains to inform the overall aesthetic. “From its earliest stages, this development was really a story about transit, the ease of transportation and travel,” says Dominic De Freitas, principal at Figure3. “So we took that idea of movement as inspiration and were really attracted to the train interiors of the 1930s and 1940s,” which were outfitted in more luxurious materials – leathers, metals, woods – than trains today, De Freitas says.

In the lobby, vertical gold and brass accents embedded in wooden panels are paired with modern materials, such as concrete, that reflect Etobicoke’s industrial history.

“We also rotated the reception desk to the side so that the fireplace would be the most prominent feature when you first walk in,” he notes.

On the same floor, residents have access to a satellite Cleveland Clinic, a for-profit virtual medical service with a dedicated diagnostics room.

Beyond, the building has 22,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities that include barbecues, dining areas, firepits and an outdoor dog run, a fitness centre, private boardrooms and zoom/social media rooms, as well as a lounge area, garden area and party room.

Suites feature full-sized kitchens with paneled appliances. Bathroom finishes include a mix of wood and stone selected by Figure3 in warm and darker shades, depending on residents’ choice.

Units start in the $400,000s for 343 square feet. For more information, visit https://kiplingstation.com

Three things

Experience authentic Spanish cuisine at LaVinia, a hidden gem with a modern take on traditional plates like piquillo stuffed peppers and slow-cooked paella. 2350 Lake Shore Blvd W.

The eight-kilometre Mimico Creek Trail is popular among mountain bikers, hikers and dog walkers. The easiest access point is through Echo Valley park.

Freebird Market is a popular gourmet grab-and-go for cannoli, fresh pasta and sandwiches made from a daily rotating roast. 232 Norseman St.

Published May 24, 2023 by Anthony Teles

Developer CentreCourt has submitted Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Approval applications for a development poised on the doorstep of the Kipling Transit Hub, which provides direct transit connections to much of western Toronto, Union Station, Pearson Airport, Mississauga, and beyond. The proposal at 5359 Dundas West would lead to a mixed-use condominium in Etobicoke’s Six Points area.

The site is an irregular shape of about 3,489m² in area found at the southwest corner of Dundas Street West and Subway Crescent. At this time, the site is home to a 4-storey commercial building along with surface parking. There is a retaining wall along the east edge of the parking lot due to the downward slope to the south.

The site is within the Etobicoke Centre Secondary Plan area, for which the proposal notes 50 projects to improve the public realm and streetscape. These include parks, mobility infrastructure improvements, gardening, and more.

CentreCourt has proposed a redevelopment of the site, citing its transit accessibility and the planned growth of the neighbourhood. The mixed-use condominium would be 182.95m tall, standing 55 storeys in the architectural plans by Arcadis — the Amsterdam-based global firm that acquired Toronto-based IBI Group in Fall 2022. The building would have 668 residential units. While the initial plans filed with the City indicate four elevators, CentreCourt tells us that that number is preliminary and likely to change, while the final suite count may vary as well.

The design calls for a 4-storey base building massed to address all of the street frontages, giving it a somewhat irregular shape featuring staggered setbacks, whereas the tower element would have a rectangular floor-plate of about 781m², above the 750m² floor-plates that the City looks for to minimize shadow size. The design features projecting balconies in a sawtooth pattern on the east and west sides.

There would be 2,004m² of amenity space on levels 2 and 5, of which 668m² would be outdoors. The two levels of underground parking would provide 76 parking spaces, of which 8 would be for visitors. There would be a further 46 parking spaces on the retained surface parking lot to the south of the building. For cyclists, the plans include 511 bicycle parking spots, including 47 short-term spaces.

Integral to the complete community intended by the proposal is the expanded and enhanced public realm at ground level. There would be a minimum of 8.8m and 6m sidewalk zones along Dundas Street West and Subway Crescent respectively. A POPS (Privately-Owned Publicly accessible Space) of 346m² in area would be at the north corner, featuring decorative unit paving and planting areas.

The site is merely 20m northwest of the Kipling Bus Terminal part of the Kipling Transit Hub serving MiWay and GO buses. Residents would slightly longer walks to the TTC buses and subway, and the GO Train that are also part of the Hub. The neighbourhood also features robust cycling infrastructure, with dedicated tracks about 330m northeast of the site through the Six Points area, and which are planned to be extended further west along Dundas.

The application includes a Block Context Plan along Dundas Street West. It notes projects such as the Six Points Plaza redevelopment poised to increase density for the area as well as building heights to up to 50 storeys. The proposal at 5359 Dundas Street West is one part of grander plans by several developers to create communities in this west-end area.

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

Published by Matias Bessai

On May 8th, CentreCourt hosted a unique launch event for their Kipling Station Condos project, under the historic roof of Toronto’s revered Massey Hall. The launch marked the official start of sales for the 50-storey tower designed by B+H Architects, situated next to the Kipling Station transit hub, in the centre of the high growth area of Downtown Etobicoke.

In the moments before doors opened for the event, the lineup for the launch snaked west on Shuter to Yonge Street, before continuing down Yonge for multiple blocks, and creating a stir on social media in the process. All told, nearly 2,000 brokers attended the event, making it one of the highest profile condo launches in recent memory.

“In today’s market, we knew that the type of launch that would create waves would need to have a clear and compelling value message that would resonate with purchasers. With suites starting in the $400’s, Kipling Station Condos is the most attractively priced project in the market today”, said Jason Lam, Partner and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at CentreCourt. In addition to conveying the project’s value message, Lam said that CentreCourt wanted to highlight the project’s locational attributes. “The other key selling point of this launch is that this is an unbeatable location – the site is located just steps from the Kipling Transit hub and is in the heart of Downtown Etobicoke.”

The packed house was welcomed by an MC and an upbeat soundtrack, followed by speeches about the project from Shalini Karthigesan, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager at CentreCoutrt and Jason Lam. The event concluded with a motivational pep talk by former-NBA player and hall of fame motivational speaker, Walter Bond.

“In today’s market, CentreCourt believes it is critical to provide purchasers with a project like Kipling Station Condos – a project that is priced attractively today while also being located in a neighbourhood that has the key ingredients for significant growth – growth that we think will outpace the broader GTA market materially.“ says Lam. “This mindset and approach has been central to the success we’ve had in identifying locations that drive the long term success of our purchasers, and in turn, our own business. The traction we’ve had right out of the gates with Kipling Station Condos shows us this recipe is resonating as strongly as ever, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring a fantastic, transit-centric project to downtown Etobicoke and do our part to contribute to this rapidly growing neighbourhood”

Sales for Kipling Station Condos have been strong, according to CentreCourt, with the event doing a tremendous job to generate buzz for the launch. Interest in the project is high, with prospective buyers moving quickly on the opportunity to be a part of the next era of Etobicoke. With a total of 552 units available, starting in the 400s, the project has been a success out of the gate.

Published by Matias Bessai

Back in 2021, pedestrians leaving the Rogers Centre or the CN Tower and walking north on Spadina Avenue or Blue Jays Way could peer through gaps in the grid of buildings to take in views spanning as far as they could see; but in a City that sees new buildings start construction every week, a period of less than 24 months was all it took to seal those sightlines with a fresh crop of towers. One of the front lines of this quick intensification process is on Mercer Street, where the both 55 Mercer and Nobu Residences have sprouted up to form a dramatic canyon above the once quiet Downtown sidestreet. The former project, from CentreCourt, has enjoyed a particularly efficient construction process, and is well positioned to top off in the coming months.

Designed by IBI Group, 55 Mercer is currently in the process of climbing towards a final count of 47 storeys on the site previously home to Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant and Second City. Looking back at how the construction of the project has progressed, work picked up in January of 2021, beginning with the demolition of the existing three-storey building. Working quickly to remove the structure from the site, the crew moved onto shoring by mid-March, and followed up shortly after with excavation a month later. By July of 2021, the pit was bottomed out and a crane was installed, demonstrating the speed and efficiency which CentreCourt has earned a reputation for.

With the crane installed, work transitioned into the forming process, bringing the project to life steadily from below grade, on its way to a completed height of 156 metres. Returning to the site a year later, we can see that by July of 2022 the project had not only emerged above grade, but the forming of the entire podium section had been completed, with the process of forming the repeating residential levels of the tower just beginning.

As the forming of the tower set into a consistent rhythm, focus also came to the application of the exterior finishes to the podium. The image below pictures the project’s primary (west) elevation in November of last year, with the cladding mostly complete, aside from the grade level space. The red brick treatment coupled with the area’s warehouse heritage-inspired windows have been well received thus far, giving the building a simple and contextually appropriate streetwall condition to the increasingly densely built-up area.

Jumping ahead to the most recent updates on the project, forming work remains ongoing, with the tower now standing at roughly 90% of its final height. What is most impressive though is the progress of the tower’s exterior envelope, which was pictured in late April only seven floors shy of covering the entirety of the current tower. The effect of the contrasting cladding materials can now be fully experienced, with the white frame treatment of the southeast and northwest corners adding a welcome deviation to what would otherwise be four undifferentiated elevations (possibly best seen in the first image in this story).

he project is in the home stretch of its forming process, and with cladding following closely behind, interior finishing work is already underway to bring 55 Mercer to completion, delivering 534 new units in the Downtown Core.

Published by Matias Bessai

Advancing their reputation for anticipating the next community primed for intensification, developer CentreCourt is establishing a presence in the emerging heart of Downtown Etobicoke with a new high-rise development dubbed Kipling Station Condos. Designed by B+H Architects, the proposal contemplates the construction of a 50-storey tower located directly adjacent to the Kipling Transit Hub. The transit-oriented development will deliver a total of 552 new units to the Etobicoke community, and is expected to launch on May 8th.

Located at 5251 Dundas Street West, the site benefits from a unique concentration of transit options converging at the Kipling Transit Hub. Expanded in mid-2021, the transit hub transforms the existing Kipling TTC and GO stations into the major regional transit node it was meant to be, adding GO Transit and Mi-Way buses to the and GO trains and TTC buses and subway trains that have met here for decades. Among the host of transit services offered at the hub, riders can enjoy 30 minute connections to Union Station and Downtown Toronto, and 15 minute service to Pearson Airport.

Additionally, the Kipling Transit Hub is slated to be the eastern terminus for a new east-west express bus service, the Dundas Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Scheduled to begin construction in 2025, the project will see the creation of a 48-kilometre transit corridor that connects Etobicoke directly to the western GTA, serving Mississauga, Oakville, and Burlington before terminating in Hamilton, with more than 20 kilometres of clear sailing on dedicated bus lanes that separate the BRT service from commuter traffic.

Also located within the immediate vicinity of CentreCourt’s development is the planned Etobicoke Civic Centre, a mixed-use project from CreateTO that promises to bring a new anchor to Etobicoke’s Downtown. Offering extensive municipal office and cultural uses, the complex is slated to deliver over 700,000ft² of total floorspace, and will also include a new community centre component featuring fitness studios, aquatic facilities, and outdoor gathering spaces making up about 10% of that total.

Zooming out to the wider area, shopping destinations like Sherway Gardens and Cloverdale Mall are a short transit trip away, as are a number of education and employment opportunities including Humber College and U of T Mississauga Campus. Recognizing the local features that add value to the site was a big part of CentreCourt’s decision to invest in the area, and reflects the company’s drive to be involved in the process of establishing new urban hubs in emerging communities.

Digging into some of the details of the project’s design, the building breaks down into two volumes, a four-storey podium topped by a 46-storey tower. The massing of the tower remains mostly unchanged for the majority of its height, but features an interesting shift in its middle third that adds some visual interest. Beginning at the 15th floor, the tower’s floorplate rotates slightly, breaking up the continuous condition of the elevations; after another 12 floors, the floorplate is restored to its original position, and continues unchanged for the remainder of the tower’s vertical climb.

Also of interest in the massing is the chamfered corner, which helps to emphasize the shift in the floorplate, and is expressed further in the podium as well. Meanwhile, the building’s dark material palette is accented with flashes of gold that appear in the soffits as well as in narrow vertical fins on the tower elevations.

Moving on to the programming of the building, the proposal details a total of 22,000ft² of total amenity area, split evenly between indoor and outdoor spaces designed by Figure3 and Land Art Design Landscape Architects Inc respectively. Indoor offerings will include lifestyle spaces like a fitness centre, hosting lounge, and party rooms, as well as a number of work spaces like private boardrooms, zoom/social media rooms, and co-working spaces. Outdoor spaces are highlighted by a lounge with cabanas and daybeds, a barbecue and dining area, a fire pit lounge, a garden, and even a dog run area.

For all the amenities included within the project itself and the surrounding community, affordability is a pillar of CentreCourt’s development approach, and is a key aspect of their mission to urbanize Downtown Etobicoke. According to the developers, the project is expected to hit the market with an accessible entry point in the 400’s, a price point which is made possible by a number of factors. At the base of all their projects, CentreCourt strives to acquire land at attractive price points, keeping upfront costs down by not overpaying for development sites. The company also prides itself on the ability to adhere to a stringent construction budget and timeline, minimizing additional costs in the development process.

With a project launch just around the corner, Kipling Station Condos will soon enter the market, kickstarting CentreCourt’s long-term vision for Downtown Etobicoke.

Published by Steve McLean

Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (CAPREIT) has proposed a phased seven-tower redevelopment of its Tangreen Court property near Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue West in Toronto.

The 5.9-acre property immediately west of Centerpoint Mall was acquired by CAPREIT (CAR-UN-T) in 2012 and is home to two purpose-built rental apartments at 5 and 15 Tangreen Ct. that were constructed in 1969.

The intensification of the site would provide:

3,325 new residential units;
close to 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities;
a 20,000-square-foot-plus public park;
a 9,200-square-foot retail component fronting Steeles;
underground parking for 617 motorized vehicles;
2,497 bicycle storage spaces;
a children’s play area; and
landscaped spaces designed by Land Art Design Landscape Architects Inc. and pedestrian paths.

This would be developed over 10 to 15 years.

Julian Schonfeldt became CAPREIT’s chief investment officer last summer, joining the trust after serving as managing director of RBC Capital Markets Real Estate Group.

One of his priorities has been to comb through the portfolio to find where land values can be maximized and housing can be added because it’s in desperately short supply in the Greater Toronto Area.

“We identified a number of sites, but we thought that this site in particular was very attractive so we moved quickly on getting a development application in place,” Schonfeldt told RENX.

“Given the amount of land that we own there, and the planned subway extension, we thought that this one was the site that should move to the top of the priority list.”

CentreCourt is development manager

CentreCourt Developments is being paid a fee as the development manager for the IBI Group-designed project and will team up with CAPREIT through the entitlement process.

The real estate investment trust will maintain the flexibility to move forward as it wishes after that.

“CentreCourt was selected based on its deep expertise across the entire development cycle and its track record of delivering successful projects that enhance communities across the GTA,” Schonfeldt said.

“CentreCourt will be working jointly with CAPREIT on the municipal approvals process and CAPREIT is going to continue operating the existing buildings on the site.”

The proposal is in the early stages of seeking a go-ahead for official plan and zoning bylaw amendments as well as site plan approval.

The development will offer both rental and condominium units, with the majority currently proposed to be condos.

Schonfeldt said the final determination on the rental and condo mix, as well as for the unit mix and size range, will be based on market demand.

There are plans, however, for 30 townhouse-style units and for three-bedroom units to comprise about 10 per cent of the total.

The 18-storey, 214-unit apartment at 15 Tangreen would be retained, while the 18-storey apartment at 5 Tangreen would be demolished and 214 replacement units for existing tenants would be incorporated into one of the new buildings on the site.

Development to be done in four phases

Four phases are planned for the ambitious project. The first would include 55- and 40-storey towers atop eight-storey podiums as well as a large portion of an east-west public road.

Phase 2 would include two 25-storey towers sharing a six-storey podium, one of which would house relocated tenants from 5 Tangreen before it’s demolished.

“The proposal purposely contemplates a phased approach to minimize disruption to the residents at both 5 and 15 Tangreen,” Schonfeldt said.

“We feel pretty excited to be offering eligible tenants at 5 Tangreen new housing stock in the master-planned development with very limited disruption to their day-to-day.

“They don’t need to move off-site during the construction period or prior to completion of the rental replacement units. When Phase 2 is complete, our hope is that the residents will be able to move one time into another unit on-site.

“To the best of our knowledge, that’s unprecedented to be done at any meaningful scale. The typical scenario is that these folks are moved off-site and it’s disruptive to their lives.

“They have to potentially change schools for their children and they end up having to do two moves. While that may end up being economically favourable for developers, we’re an apartment provider first and development is more of an ancillary business.

“We really wanted to have the treatment of our residents be at the forefront of our decision and that’s what we did here. We feel very proud about that.”

Additional market rental units are being contemplated for the tower with the replacement units.

The third phase would include: the demolition of 5 Tangreen; the construction of 55-, 45- and 35-storey towers on eight-storey podiums; and the conveyance of the park to the City of Toronto.

The final phase would see the east-west road completed and connected to a road on the eastern border and the Centerpoint Mall site.

Many other proposed developments in area

The Newtonbrook West area should see plenty of new multiresidential construction in addition to CAPREIT’s proposal, in large part due to Metrolinx‘s plan to extend the Toronto Transit Commission’s Line 1 subway northward and include a new station at Yonge and Steeles.

Morguard-owned Revenue Properties Company Ltd.’s planned mixed-use redevelopment of the 1960s-built, 594,655-square-foot, enclosed Centerpoint Mall would see the construction of 22 new buildings with 8,325 residential units and a large public park.

Osmington Gerofsky Development Corporation has proposed a 50-storey mixed-use tower at 6355 Yonge St., a site currently occupied by a Starbucks restaurant and surface parking.

There are also redevelopment proposals for low-density properties immediately north of Steeles in Vaughan and Markham.

Schonfeldt compared this area to what’s already taking place farther south at Yonge and Eglinton Avenue, with the forthcoming arrival of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

“There’s a lot of development activity along Steeles in anticipation of the planned subway station there, which we think will unlock some pretty material benefits to our residents in the community,” Schonfeldt said.

Published by Laura Hanrahan

Toronto’s Newtonbrook West neighbourhood may soon be in store for yet another transformative development as Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (CAPREIT) looks to build seven high-rise towers immediately west of Centerpoint Mall.

CAPREIT, one of Canada’s largest residential REITs, submitted an application to the City of Toronto late last month outlining plans to develop the towers as infill housing on the site of two of its existing rental buildings at 5 and 15 Tangreen Court. If approved, the development would bring 3,325 new residential units to the area.

To deliver the project, CAPREIT is partnering with CentreCourt Developments. Julian Schonfeldt, Chief Investment Officer for CAPREIT, tells STOREYS that CentreCourt was selected “based on their deep expertise across the entire development cycle, and their track record of delivering successful projects which enhance communities across the GTA.”

Construction of the towers, which range from 25 to 55 storeys in height, would require the rental building at 5 Tangreen to be demolished, with 214 replacement units going in the new development. The 18-storey rental at 15 Tangreen, on the other hand, would be retained and incorporated into the new development. Of the seven new towers, there would be two 55-storeys, one 45-storey, one 40-storey, one 35-storey, and two 25-storeys.

Toronto’s Newtonbrook West neighbourhood may soon be in store for yet another transformative development as Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (CAPREIT) looks to build seven high-rise towers immediately west of Centerpoint Mall.

CAPREIT, one of Canada’s largest residential REITs, submitted an application to the City of Toronto late last month outlining plans to develop the towers as infill housing on the site of two of its existing rental buildings at 5 and 15 Tangreen Court. If approved, the development would bring 3,325 new residential units to the area.

To deliver the project, CAPREIT is partnering with CentreCourt Developments. Julian Schonfeldt, Chief Investment Officer for CAPREIT, tells STOREYS that CentreCourt was selected “based on their deep expertise across the entire development cycle, and their track record of delivering successful projects which enhance communities across the GTA.”

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2879.874974117317!2d-79.4253336!3d43.7962073!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x882b2cfff60be821%3A0xbdd62413fc57da85!2s5%20Tangreen%20Ct%2C%20North%20York%2C%20ON%20M2M%203Z1!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1681236912078!5m2!1sen!2sca

Construction of the towers, which range from 25 to 55 storeys in height, would require the rental building at 5 Tangreen to be demolished, with 214 replacement units going in the new development. The 18-storey rental at 15 Tangreen, on the other hand, would be retained and incorporated into the new development. Of the seven new towers, there would be two 55-storeys, one 45-storey, one 40-storey, one 35-storey, and two 25-storeys.

The towers were designed as “point towers” — a compact, slender building form — which planning documents say will “ensure adequate access to sky view, light, and privacy.” All sit atop eight-storey podiums, except for the 25-storey towers, which will share a six-storey podium.

“We are proud and excited about the design,” Schonfeldt said. “It tackles a number of important priorities that incorporates considerations for rental and condo development, while bringing much needed density and amenities to the larger community.”

Newtonbrook West is no stranger to transformative development proposals as of late. In fact, CAPREIT and CentreCourt’s development is one of several proposed for the immediately surrounding Yonge and Steels area over the past year or two. Just last month, Osmington Gerofsky Development Corporation proposed a 50-storey mixed-use tower on the neighbouring 6355 Yonge Street. But the most notable project is undoubtedly the proposed 22-building redevelopment of Centerpoint Mall that would add 8,325 residential units and a large public park.

“These Tangreen properties, they’re really at the heart of an area that we think is witnessing a pretty incredible transformation,” Schonfeldt said. “We’re an apartment business first, not a developer per se, but we own an incredible site that could be so much more for the community. As a proud Canadian business that is deeply invested in providing housing, it was somewhere between an opportunity and a responsibility to A. treat our residents with as much care as possible and then B. add to the housing stock that is so desperately needed across the city.”

The towers, totalling 230,078 sq. m with 852 sq. m of that being used for retail space, would be arranged with the taller buildings located on the northern side of the site, and heights gradually decreasing to the south. A new east-west public street would divide the development site in two, with a new 1,910-sq.-m public park going on the southwest corner. The park, planning documents say, is still in a conceptual design stage, but current ideas include a mix of open and planted green areas with pathways and seating, as well as various recreational spaces.

A 238-sq.-m children’s play area would go between towers F (45 storeys) and G (35 storeys), with the rest of the property featuring tree-lined public boulevards, landscaped “rooms,” entrance plazas, and common amenity spaces.

Inside the towers, the majority of units will be condos, but the final mix, Schonfeldt says, will be based on future market demand. The rental replacement units will be located in tower D (25 storeys) and CAPREIT is currently considering additional market rental units in that building. Unit sizes, however, have been decided upon, with 2,371 one-bedrooms, 615 two-bedrooms, and 339 three-bedrooms planned.

Toronto’s Newtonbrook West neighbourhood may soon be in store for yet another transformative development as Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (CAPREIT) looks to build seven high-rise towers immediately west of Centerpoint Mall.

CAPREIT, one of Canada’s largest residential REITs, submitted an application to the City of Toronto late last month outlining plans to develop the towers as infill housing on the site of two of its existing rental buildings at 5 and 15 Tangreen Court. If approved, the development would bring 3,325 new residential units to the area.

To deliver the project, CAPREIT is partnering with CentreCourt Developments. Julian Schonfeldt, Chief Investment Officer for CAPREIT, tells STOREYS that CentreCourt was selected “based on their deep expertise across the entire development cycle, and their track record of delivering successful projects which enhance communities across the GTA.”

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2879.874974117317!2d-79.4253336!3d43.7962073!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x882b2cfff60be821%3A0xbdd62413fc57da85!2s5%20Tangreen%20Ct%2C%20North%20York%2C%20ON%20M2M%203Z1!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1681236912078!5m2!1sen!2sca

Construction of the towers, which range from 25 to 55 storeys in height, would require the rental building at 5 Tangreen to be demolished, with 214 replacement units going in the new development. The 18-storey rental at 15 Tangreen, on the other hand, would be retained and incorporated into the new development. Of the seven new towers, there would be two 55-storeys, one 45-storey, one 40-storey, one 35-storey, and two 25-storeys.

The towers were designed as “point towers” — a compact, slender building form — which planning documents say will “ensure adequate access to sky view, light, and privacy.” All sit atop eight-storey podiums, except for the 25-storey towers, which will share a six-storey podium.

“We are proud and excited about the design,” Schonfeldt said. “It tackles a number of important priorities that incorporates considerations for rental and condo development, while bringing much needed density and amenities to the larger community.”

Newtonbrook West is no stranger to transformative development proposals as of late. In fact, CAPREIT and CentreCourt’s development is one of several proposed for the immediately surrounding Yonge and Steels area over the past year or two. Just last month, Osmington Gerofsky Development Corporation proposed a 50-storey mixed-use tower on the neighbouring 6355 Yonge Street. But the most notable project is undoubtedly the proposed 22-building redevelopment of Centerpoint Mall that would add 8,325 residential units and a large public park.

“These Tangreen properties, they’re really at the heart of an area that we think is witnessing a pretty incredible transformation,” Schonfeldt said. “We’re an apartment business first, not a developer per se, but we own an incredible site that could be so much more for the community. As a proud Canadian business that is deeply invested in providing housing, it was somewhere between an opportunity and a responsibility to A. treat our residents with as much care as possible and then B. add to the housing stock that is so desperately needed across the city.”

The towers, totalling 230,078 sq. m with 852 sq. m of that being used for retail space, would be arranged with the taller buildings located on the northern side of the site, and heights gradually decreasing to the south. A new east-west public street would divide the development site in two, with a new 1,910-sq.-m public park going on the southwest corner. The park, planning documents say, is still in a conceptual design stage, but current ideas include a mix of open and planted green areas with pathways and seating, as well as various recreational spaces.

A 238-sq.-m children’s play area would go between towers F (45 storeys) and G (35 storeys), with the rest of the property featuring tree-lined public boulevards, landscaped “rooms,” entrance plazas, and common amenity spaces.

Inside the towers, the majority of units will be condos, but the final mix, Schonfeldt says, will be based on future market demand. The rental replacement units will be located in tower D (25 storeys) and CAPREIT is currently considering additional market rental units in that building. Unit sizes, however, have been decided upon, with 2,371 one-bedrooms, 615 two-bedrooms, and 339 three-bedrooms planned.

Development is expected to take place in four phases. The first phase would see the construction of a large portion of the east-west public road, as well as towers A (55 storeys) and B (40 storeys). In phase 2, towers C and D would be built, after which tenants would be relocated to the rental replacement units in tower D — a move that will keep tenants on the property and stop them from having to move into temporary accommodations during construction.

“That was by design, and a duty of care to our residents. We didn’t take the easy way, from a financial point of view, but just being a responsible provider of rental housing, it was one of the most important considerations,” Schonfeldt said. “Our residents and their families get to stay in the same schools, they get to stay in the same neighbourhood. I think it’s going to be well received and we hope we’re setting a good precedent in Toronto about how to do it in a responsible way that considers residents first.”