[rbt]

Shangri-La (http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/shangri_la/) groundbreaking photographed by UrbanDB (http://www.urbandb.com) - Toronto Real-Estate Database (http://www.urbandb.com).

Making sure valet parking is ready for the crowd.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_2948.jpg

Fair sized crowd.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_4007.jpg

Everybody gets a gold helmet but the shovels weren't for general distribution.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_3467.jpg


Speeches with a backhoe digging away in the background.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_5629.jpg

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_6729.jpg

Official photo-op.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_8219.jpg

Congratulations all around.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_4641.jpg

Workers playing in a very dirty trench.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_8425.jpg

Workers trying to figure out how to accomplish something very quietly so as not to disturb the ceremony.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_6003.jpg

[Brandon716]

Finally, we have lift-off for Shangri-La!

[HAMRetrofit]

Awesome I am looking forward to this project.

[icescraper]

This one's going to make a huge impact on University avenue. Kind of like having MARS center on one end of the street and Shangi la anchoring the other... - ice

[WhipperSnapper]

Hard to believe but we will finally have a fully built arterial in downtown Toronto ... say goodbye to the last surface lot on Uni. Pier 27(?), Aura, Go Transit Tower, and the 1 Yonge Street redevelopment (no news in a while) should complete Yonge

[Maldive]

^ can you share any (even old) news about 1 Yonge? Are we talking about about a makeover for the Star, elimination of the old press building and development of the parking lot?

[WhipperSnapper]

From what I recall, The Star building remains as is minus the press building. A new street divides the site in two with four or five Page and Steele type towers on podiums (concrete and green glass) filling in the parking lot and press building. I can't remember exactly the developer but it's someone familar with the area (i.e. Pinnacle, H&R/Lanterra, Conservatory Group, etc.)

[Phil McAvity]

Official photo-op.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_8219.jpg

Congratulations all around.
http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/photograph_living_shangri_la_2008_04_08_4641.jpg


Why do people still participate in such ridiculous poses, especially when the project is obviously underway? If I were one of the people in these pictures, I would be embarassed.

[icescraper]

Hard to believe but we will finally have a fully built arterial in downtown Toronto ... say goodbye to the last surface lot on Uni. Pier 27(?), Aura, Go Transit Tower, and the 1 Yonge Street redevelopment (no news in a while) should complete Yonge

Not to mention the railroad lands filling in and Bay Street below Bloor. Two big urban waste lands on the up and up. Lets hope they don't screw up whats left of the water front. Pier 27 looks like a step in the right direction. - ice

[M II A II R II K]

kool