[sparky212]

Old East Development 24/21s. proposed

[ldoto]

I got this pic from the paper two months a go!!!!!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/000_07812.jpg

[MolsonExport]

any further activity?

[ldoto]

Wrong Thread
Thanks QuantumLeap!!!

[QuantumLeap]

^this belongs in the Terrasan thread. There are two different projects proposed in Old East, Medallion (24s/21s 600 units) and Terrasan (9s 150 units)

[sparky212]

Fire crews battle another blaze

Fri, May 15, 2009
Email Print Write Size: A A A Share:

By KATE DUBINSKI , SUN MEDIA

Fire crews battle a blaze in an abandoned house at 372 Lyle Street tonight.

Fire crews are at at the scene tonight of a house fire that filled the neighbourhood just east of Adelaide with heavy black smoke for the second time in a week.

At about 9:20 p.m., a passerby called 911 after seeing flames shooting from an abandoned house at 372 Lyle Street at King Street, said Sgt. Bruce Charteris.

At 10:45 p.m., firefighters were still trying to tame the blaze.

Heavy smoke filled the area and police kept curious onlookers back as fire crews used aerial trucks to subdue the blaze.

Just a half block away from the police barricade on Lyle Street was the police barricade guarding the scene of the storied Embassy Hotel, which burned on Tuesday.


Earlier today, firefighters were kept busy at an Old South fire from which they had to rescue tenants.

Officials didn't know the cause of the Lyle Street fire, the estimated damages or any injuries

Looks like their at it again only across the street. I think somone dosnt want new development in old east and thinks this will stop development of the site. :(

[ldoto]

:previous: What is going on in the Old East end!!!!:(

[ForestryW]

Squatters.

[LondnPlanr]

Just a quick update:

It appears that the properties involved in this very large development have been 'fenced' off, at least on the King Street side. I drive by every morning on my way to work, and it appears as though the buildings are largely vacant, and that some 'clean-up' work is going on inside the buildings. Mostly salvaging, I suspect.

Progress is being made. Excited to see such large towers in this area of town. I am still VERY hopeful that this stretch of Dundas will one day become trendy again... it's on its way.

[sparky212]

They've started fencing? when this happen? This is GREAT:banana: :banana: That meens that both old east developments are going forword...so far

[sparky212]

hey guys dundas is closed pretty much from hewit to english does anybody got any new on whats happenin? Oh and they ripped downn the old bingo hall on site:banana:

[GreatTallNorth2]

Hopes for a modest turnaround in London's slumping construction market got some support from the city's July building permit report.

The city's building division issued 77 permits for single-family homes in July, just shy of 81 permits in the same month last year.

"We are cautiously optimistic that we are seeing some signs of rebound," said George Kotsifas, London city hall's director of building controls.

The housing sector was also boosted last month by a permit for Tricar's Residences of Hyde Park, a 182-unit apartment condo project.

Kotsifas said he expects other apartment developments before the end of the year.

Medallion Development of Toronto is expected to soon take out a permit for a 600-unit complex in Old East London.

Tricar's $20 million Hyde Park building is by far the largest multi-family project launched this year.

Tricar spokesperson Adam Carapella said the firm has completed two large rental buildings, Richmond Hill in North London and the downtown Renaissance building.

Carapella said the Renaissance has been filling up quickly, with 160 of the 270 units already rented.

"We had phenomenal success with our last two rental buildings but a lot of people were asking if they could buy," he said.

Carapella said the Hyde Park project, just south of Gainsborough Road, will have the same luxury finishes available in the Richmond Hill project.

"We built to the demand we were seeing in the marketplace," he said.

Work has begun on the 14-storey building and it should be completed by the fall of next year.

Despite hopes for a turnaround, the total value of building permits is still far behind the construction boom seen in the last five years.

The value of all building permits to the end of July was $245.5 million, just more than half of the $580 million issued in the first seven months of 2008.

"There is a still a lot of volume in permit but many are renovations and we aren't getting as many high value projects," said Kotsifas

The value of single detached permits from January to July totalled $68.5 million, compared to $120 million for the same period in 2008.

Only $28 million in permits for multi-family housing has been issued so far this year, compared to $103 million last year.

The institutional sector is far below levels set last year. Last year the sector was boosted by a single, $100-million project at the London Health Sciences Centre.

Kotsifas said the numbers aren't as dismal as they appear because the city is coming off a prolonged building boom that saw records tumble year-after-year.

hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca

[MolsonExport]

This is good news, but with all the unemployment in London, the city might be shrinking in size (certainly, economically-wise). The question begs, who will buy?

[ldoto]

Sat, August 22, 2009

With as much as $200 million in investment from business -- large and small -- and government, a long-troubled London neighbourhood is finally on the road to recovery.

By this time next year, London's Old East Village will look a lot different.

The large rubble-filled craters you see today where crumbling buildings once stood will be replaced by the foundations and skeletons of what will be major condominium and apartment building developments -- expected to bring up to 1,500 new residents to the area -- when they're completed.

Nearby, Queen's Park, the inconspicuous piece of green space by the Western Fair grounds, will have more trees, more shrubs and the beginnings of a pavilion, walkways and entranceways.

Across the street from the park, two old red-brick duplexes will be buffed, polished, refurbished into upscale loft apartments.

What's going on is a blend of investment, development and personal touch from large corporations, small businesses and the city that, by one estimate, will pump as much as $200 million in investment into the area along Dundas St. east of Adelaide St. to Quebec St.



Already, cheap rent in the traditionally rough neighbourhood has meant artists' co-operatives, shops and studios are springing up among the more established stores and in between the dilapidated empty storefronts, giving the area a new buzz.

"As soon as you can get past the stigma of Old East London, you see that there's a lot of character but it's much more affordable than Old South or Old North," says Jamie Tedesco, who invests in properties with his friend Leo Parra, who renovates and restores them to their former glory.

The two, with their families, live in Old East -- Tedesco says they have a "vested interest" to upgrade the area -- and have just bought the two red brick duplexes they plan to make into eight upscale lofts after gutting the insides and renovating the outside.

"By next spring, the exterior should be done and they'll look renovated," Tedesco says.

The lofts will also feature two ground-floor residential office apartments, adding to the curb appeal of the area.

Just east of the duplexes, Queen's Park, already in the first stages of redevelopment, will offer much needed green space to the Old East Village, says Julie Michaud, the city's parks project co-ordinator.

When it's finished, the city will have put $3.2 million into the park over several years. This year, there's $400,000 set aside for the first phase of upgrades, from putting up more trees, flowers and shrubs to building walkways. There are already new benches, flags and a sign to let people know the space is a city park.

"There's only a little piece of green space left as a public park, and a couple of years ago people didn't even know that's what it was. It is public land," Michaud says.

"The park is a priority because this project is really at the heart of the Old East Village, and what we have done so far is only the beginning."

With the farmer's market at the Western Fair right next to the park, the area has already attracted more people.

Vafiades Landscape Architects and Stantec Consulting are "looking to capture the Dundas Street frontage so people driving and walking by are seeing the park," says Jim Vafiades, who is now working on drawings of the park so the work can be tendered.

Eventually, the park will have an entrance at Quebec street with an entry feature similar to the one in Victoria Park, with a seating wall and perhaps an art installation. The finished product will include a reconfigured parking lot close beside Ontario Street, a water feature, and a main entrance plaza.

It's an essential part of what will soon be the new Old East Village, with an eight-storey condo building, built by Toronto-based Terrasan Development on the site of the burned-down Embassy Hotel and adjacent buildings. There will be 150 residential units.

That development will change Dundas and English streets and will include retail and business space at street level.

Across the street, two apartment towers -- one 24 storeys and the other 21 storeys -- with access from King and Hewitt streets will pop up, with foundations being laid as early as this fall and the buildings taking shape around this time next year. The towers are being built by Medallion Development, also from Toronto.

"This was my father's vision, to introduce a property that could revitalize the area and would be good for the residents and businesses," says Aaron Bleeman of Medallion.

Neither the Medallion or Terrasan developers have applied for building permits yet.

Terrasan will open a sales office this fall or in the spring, depending on the condo market, says Jeff Usher, the company's vice-president of land development.

"We understand the Old East Village community is eagerly anticipating our development and others in the community and they will come. We believe in the village as an emerging, revitalized part of London's future and an important part of London's history," he said.

The buildings could add as many as 1,500 residents to the Old East Village -- it'll add up to about $200 million worth of development -- and foot traffic that will be welcomed by shop owners lured to the area by cheap rents and promises of revitalization.

"Hopefully it'll become more family oriented in this neighbourhood," says Brenda Hoing, who in March moved her ceramic business into a building that will face the Terrasan condos, at English and Dundas streets. DJR Ceramic Studio officially opened in June.

Since then, there have been some problems with prostitution and drug deals in front of her store, but Hoing is bullish on the neighbourhood's future.

"There's a lot of nice people around here, and we've had a lot of positive feedback, but I think there's a lot of young families around here and the new buildings are going to add to that and be a big improvement," Hoing says.

She's also excited about the London Potters Guild moving in down the street in September.

Buildings coming down and development taking place is exactly what the Old East Village business improvement association has been hoping for.

"It's very exciting," says executive director Sarah Merritt.

"We've gone from talking about it to planning it, to mobilizing the community, to it actually happening now. It's great."

---

Medallion Development 600 units

Two towers: 21 and 24 storeys

Accessed from King Stre et or Hewitt Street

Also working on two businesses that face Dundas Street, just west of the two towers

Terrasan Development

150 units

8 storeys

13,000 square feet of retail or business space

Accessed from Dundas or English streets

Queen's Park improvements

(first phase)

New trees, flowers, greenery.

Will try to capture beauty and park improvements so pedestrians and drivers can see them.

Egerton Street and Ontario Street parts of the park to be improved, including new pedestrian walkways.

[GreatTallNorth2]

I saw a high quality rendering of this development on TV tonight and I must say that it looks fantastic for London. Rogers TV did a segment on Old East and a person they interviewed said there is interest from yet another Toronto developer to build another large condo tower (not the Terrassan developer). Do we finally have some momentum in London and something to cheer about with some nice, quality towers going up and Old East turning from dump to chic?

[sparky212]

any idea who the other T.O develeper is? Is it Tridel?

[GreatTallNorth2]

any idea who the other T.O develeper is? Is it Tridel?

No clue..they just said a major Toronto developer looking to build a large apartment tower.

[QuantumLeap]

"Interest" from investors is one of those murky words that is hard to decipher. Investors, such as developers, are in the business of poking their heads around looking for opportunities, and they look at many more opportunities than they invest in. Recall that, apart from a small local development (about 15 units), funded by affordable housing money, that just got a building permit, there has been no other actual development in the Old East. There are still 750 units outstanding from Medallion and Terrasan, it is unclear if/when they will be built. Lets not get ahead of ourselves.

[MolsonExport]

great news, but with the current climate...why would anybody want to live in a new tower in Old East, when so much is available (or going up) on the cheap (e.g., Hyde park tower) elsewhere?

[GreatTallNorth2]

great news, but with the current climate...why would anybody want to live in a new tower in Old East, when so much is available (or going up) on the cheap (e.g., Hyde park tower) elsewhere?

Probably for the same reason someone would rather live in an up and coming area of Midtown Toronto vs. living in Brampton. If people see potential that Old East will turn into a Queen West type of area, they will invest there. Hyde Park is just suburbia with no soul.

[sparky212]

I wonder where u-needa cab's office is cause the old one on dundas has been LEVELED:banana: :banana:
EDIT:the building beside it withe the black siding sorry for the mistake u-needa is still standing:(

[sparky212]

some photos by me. Site prep well under way. posting pics wont work for me so heres the url. http://www.flickr.com/photos/42366848@N07/3979847377/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42366848@N07/3980602622/in/photostream/

[ldoto]

:previous: That will be a great project when it is complete!!!!:D

[sparky212]

they have stopped work for the winter and will resume in the spring

[sparky212]

excavator on site today:cheers:

[ldoto]

:previous: Sounds Good to me!!!!! I will try to get new pics of projects in the city some time soon!!!!:tup:

[sparky212]

well i took the bus past the site today and there looked to be some major dirt piles on site now. Looks like they were diggen:cheers:

[FazDeH]

Does anyone know the progress of this development? Haven't seen anything about it in awhile.

[sparky212]

well there has been quite a bit of digging going on but when ever i am near there i never have my came

[MolsonExport]

News London
Centretown proposal unveiled
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: Seniors and shoppers would fill the space in the 72-unit apartment building complex
Monday, February 22, 2010, London Free Press


http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/02/02/12716696.html#email

found while researching the horrid centretown pawnbrokers.

[sparky212]

walked by today and there is a big pit a the corner of hewitt and king and also ther was a front-end loader flattening a area on dundas hopefully for a sale centre

[sparky212]

walked by today and saw 2 workers putting marking stakes in the ground on the hewitt st side

[sparky212]

my camera is busted but i wish it wasnt. Loads of work being done today theve got 1 mobile crane 3 escavators 3-4 bulldozers and about 50 workers on site today:cheers: :cheers: :banana: :banana:

[sparky212]

Hewitte @ king corner foundations poured

[WhipperSnapper]

Both buildings? How deep is the foundation?

[sparky212]

it looks to be 2 floors down

[sparky212]

so angery that my camera's busted:hell: caus the base fo the tower crane was put in place today:cheers:

[sparky212]

its gonna be a white crane second peice on site today:) still no cam. sorry guys:(

[sparky212]

crane is almost complet on site. boy its tall its taller then when the reniassance's first started.:banana:

[sparky212]

Guess what guys. got a new camera:banana: here are the site pics i promised
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4619105223_08d66ab0a9.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/4619722458_1e0b388e22.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/4619111903_0c09b22d06.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3307/4619115487_4956981f72.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/4619732490_caeaf20e78.jpg
i had to lay down to take this one:previous:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/4619741642_df27454960.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/4619744828_16430c2bde.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4619134301_282cf287db.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4619137261_cf1e99911e.jpg
thats it for now more to come:)

[bolognium]

Here are a couple pictures of the the development as of July 02, 2010.

Looking at the site from a back alley on Dundas street.
http://i46.tinypic.com/vosp53.jpg

Looking at the site from the fence at Lyle street.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2s5z6mx.jpg

Again from Lyle street. I believe the houses off in the background are on Hewitt street.
http://i45.tinypic.com/2a4u3hv.jpg

[FazDeH]

Anyone drive by the site lately? I'm curious how things are developing.

[Simpseatles]

Anyone drive by the site lately? I'm curious how things are developing.

I caught a glimpse of it the other day, and I would estimate that it's about 4 or 5 floors up. It's gonna be so awesome to watch this thing rise all summer!.:D

[MrSlippery519]

I caught a glimpse of it the other day, and I would estimate that it's about 4 or 5 floors up. It's gonna be so awesome to watch this thing rise all summer!.:D

I think it's at 5, I might try and swing by next week and grab some pictures for everyone.

Excited to see this built it's going to drastically change the look of that area.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Here's some photos I took on Wednesday.

http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/oldeast1.jpg
Looking north on Hewitt.

http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/oldeast2.jpg
Corner of Hewitt and King

http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/oldeast3.jpg
Corner of King and Rectory

[Simpseatles]

With the nice weather, I got the chance to take some shots today! After reading some of the cruel April Fools jokes on here, I thought I'd post some concrete evidence of a great project happening in the forest city!:)

From Dundas
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P4010400.jpg?t=1301700030

From King
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P4010397.jpg?t=1301700107

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P4010398.jpg?t=1301700151

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P4010399.jpg?t=1301700212

http://s1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/

[Kokkei Mizu]

It's amazing how fast they're building this. You can compare my shots, posted half a month ago... I wonder how far they'll get by the end of this year?

[Simpseatles]

I predict that the first tower will top out, and cladding will begin. It'll also be great to see how far the 2nd tower gets. I like that it's not the same height, like the Renaissance. This will be an AWESOME summer for construction!:D
You know things are going pretty good in London when a nicely designed 21 story tower is the second tallest under construction to a 29 story condo!

On a side note, I was surprised by the buildings lack of presence on Dundas. I thought that's where the main entrance was going to be, but it seems like it will all be on King. Will any of it touch Dundas street?

[Snark]

On a side note, I was surprised by the buildings lack of presence on Dundas. I thought that's where the main entrance was going to be, but it seems like it will all be on King. Will any of it touch Dundas street?

A small commercial building and a pedestrian entrance to the residential portion on King. That's it.

[Simpseatles]

A small commercial building and a pedestrian entrance to the residential portion on King. That's it.

Well that's better than nothing I suppose. But I was really hoping this would help to improve Dundas Street, because I could care less about King. It's not our "main street".

[Kokkei Mizu]

It's a 21 story building... It's going to improve the streetscape Dundas even though it's not directly on Dundas. And more importantly, it will spur more development in Old East... And I think having it on King is better. For one thing it will be better for traffic flow.

[ForestryW]

Agreed. Best keep a ~4 story height limit on Dundas to maintain the character of that historic stretch.

[Simpseatles]

Yet another update, because I think Kokkei Mizu just did one yesterday!:haha:

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P4150402.jpg?t=1302920403

[Kokkei Mizu]

Four more stories of the base... Then it's just the tower :)

[Simpseatles]

Somebody should change the title of this thread, from being proposed to U/C.

[FazDeH]

I love this development, but I am still concerned that the neighborhood won't transition all that quickly. I've had my eye on a loft on Dundas and Adelaide, but the neighbors are... uhmm... quirky?
I know this sort of transitional development happens in Toronto, but we're still going to have meth clinics etc in the area, playing devils advocate here... I'm worried this won't have the positive effect we're all hoping for for several years.
Has the city discussed any plans for revitalization in the area?

[manny_santos]

I love this development, but I am still concerned that the neighborhood won't transition all that quickly. I've had my eye on a loft on Dundas and Adelaide, but the neighbors are... uhmm... quirky?

Are they Scream 'N' Swears from D&R, or quirky in another way?

[bolognium]

I love this development, but I am still concerned that the neighborhood won't transition all that quickly. I've had my eye on a loft on Dundas and Adelaide, but the neighbors are... uhmm... quirky?
I know this sort of transitional development happens in Toronto, but we're still going to have meth clinics etc in the area, playing devils advocate here... I'm worried this won't have the positive effect we're all hoping for for several years.
Has the city discussed any plans for revitalization in the area?

The loft you were looking at, was it in the big yellow brick building with the green awnings? I was actually considering setting up a viewing in that apartment, but my brother and I finally settled on a loft near Dundas and Clarence.

I really wouldn't worry about the characters in that neighbourhood. I've lived in the area basically all my life and went to school at Beal. It really is a neat place, and next to downtown, it's definitely one of the most interesting parts of London.

My only advice: lock your bike up damn well if you're a frequent cyclist.

[Simpseatles]

. I've lived in the area basically all my life and went to school at Beal.

Ya, go Raiders! :)

Certainly better than the Central Golden Ghosts!:haha:

[Simpseatles]

Stopped by today, as I like to every couple of weeks.

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P5050469.jpg?t=1304634822

It's starting to make an impact on the currently nonexistent Old East skyline!
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P5050473.jpg?t=1304635066

http://s1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/

[sparky212]

great pics man:tup: oh and you got it wrong man its crusaders all the way:cool:

[manny_santos]

It's starting to make an impact on the currently nonexistent Old East skyline!
http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P5050473.jpg?t=1304635066

You just had to get The Beef Baron in that photo ;)

[Simpseatles]

You just had to get The Beef Baron in that photo ;)

Hell ya! Classiest joint in town.:tup:

[sparky212]

well walked by the site we now have a name its called THE CROWN ON KING and i grabbed a pic with my cell ill upload soon but big news They have started the cladding process.:cheers:

[sparky212]

Edit. and here it is the first signs of cladding:cheers::cheers::cheers:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/5704502789_5af05e5539_t.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42366848@N07/5704502789/)

[Simpseatles]

Yes! The first piece of cladding on the first modern, non concrete monolith, residential tower in London! And there's FINALLY a DAMN NAME!! Well Worthy of a dancing banana:banana:...or two!:banana:

[sparky212]

I wonder what colour the glass and spandrel are going to be. I hope its more blue than green:banana:

[ForestryW]

I wonder what colour the glass and spandrel are going to be. I hope its more blue than green:banana:

Agreed. Green glass is not as bad as concrete but it's pretty bad. Too '90s.

[MrSlippery519]

Agreed. Green glass is not as bad as concrete but it's pretty bad. Too '90s.

It's blue in the original renders however that may or may not be accurate. I cannot see them doing it green as you said kinda old school.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Went by today. Looks like the seventh floor is pretty much completed and they're working on the eighth floor now. Two more floors of the "base" and then 17 stories of the tower! It's already looking massive, can't wait until it's done! :D

Also, I don't see any cladding... What you caught in that picture might be something else?

[Snark]

It's blue in the original renders however that may or may not be accurate. I cannot see them doing it green as you said kinda old school.

Don't place too much faith in renderings. They are sales tools intended to assist in getting municipal approvals and selling units.

Remember the Harriston? On the right was what was rendered before construction. On the left is what was actually built.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/5740600810_1f6b8b224c_b.jpg

[Simpseatles]

Don't place too much faith in renderings. They are sales tools intended to assist in getting municipal approvals and selling units.

Remember the Harriston? On the right was what was rendered before construction. On the left is what was actually built.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/5740600810_1f6b8b224c_b.jpg

What are you trying to prove, they are both hideous!

Na, but I get what you're saying. I've also heard that City Place looked decent in it's renders. Don't know about Renaissance, but I quite like how the render I've seen for tower 2 is at night! Can't really tell how it looks, can you?:haha:

However I am so excited for this project based on the renders, that I wish to basque in it's glassy awesomeness as long as I can! Perhaps I will be let down by it soon, but for now I wish to be optimistic!:D

[sparky212]

Also, I don't see any cladding... What you caught in that picture might be something else?

It is the framing in which the glass will be mounted, they moved that one over about a foot and put in a seconed piece beside it about a week ago.:)

[Kokkei Mizu]

It is the framing in which the glass will be mounted, they moved that one over about a foot and put in a seconed piece beside it about a week ago.:)

Yeah, my mistake. I thought that was looking at a different part of the building. I took some photos last night of the building. Here is what I got:

(Click thumbnail for larger photos)

http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med8-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med8.jpg) http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med9-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med9.jpg) http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med10-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med10.jpg) http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med11-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med11.jpg)

[Simpseatles]

^Great updates! Just one more floor of the base, and then the tower will rise, if I'm not mistaken.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Well 2 more floors. The base is 3 stories + 6 stories. And right now it's 3 stories + 4 stories.

[FazDeH]

The loft you were looking at, was it in the big yellow brick building with the green awnings? I was actually considering setting up a viewing in that apartment, but my brother and I finally settled on a loft near Dundas and Clarence.

I really wouldn't worry about the characters in that neighbourhood. I've lived in the area basically all my life and went to school at Beal. It really is a neat place, and next to downtown, it's definitely one of the most interesting parts of London.

My only advice: lock your bike up damn well if you're a frequent cyclist.


Yes it is that building. It's actually really nice inside, but the "quirky neighbors" - by which I mean, individuals who make give THAT part of London its reputation for being scuzzy, do worry me a bit. My car being parked there overnight definitely worries me.

[Simpseatles]

Well 2 more floors. The base is 3 stories + 6 stories. And right now it's 3 stories + 4 stories.

Man, to think that this is still just the base! :slob:

[Kokkei Mizu]

The second story is getting windows. :) Photos coming soon.

[sparky212]

windows are now up to the 6th floor and there is brick work startin on the corner in the middle of hewitte its yellow brick. it works well with the glass sorry no pics just drove by

[Kokkei Mizu]

Posting a small update here as I went by today. I will be doing one of my big construction updates in early- to mid-September.

Nice to see the brick! :)
11 stories to go!! :D

http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med21-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med21.jpg) http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med22-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med22.jpg) http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med23-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med23.jpg) http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med24-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med24.jpg) http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med25-sm.jpg (http://www.commutebyrail.org/stuff/london/med25.jpg)

[Simpseatles]

^Thanks for the update! I'm liking things so far.

[Simpseatles]

From Today:

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P9011282.jpg

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P9011283.jpg

http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/P9011284.jpg

http://s1141.photobucket.com/albums/n596/Simpseatles/

[bolognium]

http://i.imgur.com/RjFSw.jpg

[sparky212]

looks like they are starting the 16th floor so 9 and a half floors to go

[Simpseatles]

The scale of this building is beginning to take shape. You can see it sticking out on York now, near the Beal football field. It also looks impressive from the Adelaide overpass. Plus, seeing 2 busy cranes in Old East is a welcome sight.

I'm still unsettled about the design though. I'm warming up to the brick, but I'm upset that the glass looks nothing like the renders.:(
Will we ever get some decent looking glass on residential buildings in this city?

[MrSlippery519]

I am going to reserve judgement on the glass until a bit more has went up...it's hard to tell how it's going to look until they really start to fill in the gaps.

Certainly as of right now the render looks like it has a lot more glass. Either way still going to be a great tower and much needed for the area.

Really hoping to see someone step up soon and build a 30+ all glass residential...question is who will do it first.

[bolognium]

Definitely agree with the scale being pretty sweet. You can see it from Colborne/King and Dundas/Wellington as well.

And it's true that we probably shouldn't be judging the building when so little of the cladding has been installed. It does kind of suck that we lost the blue glass to black glass, but the towers might end up looking great with the black for all we know. Has anyone taken a close enough look at the current construction to see if they are following the same design as the renders? Did they just decide to change the glass?

If the upper floors retain the same amount of glass as the renders I think they'll end up looking very sharp in black. Here's a quickie Photoshop I just did. If the glass is the only difference, maybe the towers will end up looking something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/ZLWdh.jpg

[Simpseatles]

If the upper floors retain the same amount of glass as the renders I think they'll end up looking very sharp in black. Here's a quickie Photoshop I just did. If the glass is the only difference, maybe the towers will end up looking something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/ZLWdh.jpg

Nice job on the Photoshop render! That certainly helps me to visualize what the end result will be. Of course it is too early to judge, but it's never too early to start worrying!:haha:

With the black glass, it will remind me of these sort of towers.

http://garyobrien.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DSC06521m800.jpg
http://garyobrien.ca/?p=6896

When I want something more like this.

http://torontocondoinfo.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/c1401935.jpg
http://torontocondoinfo.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/231-fort-york-blvd-new-toronto-condo-for-sale/

[haljackey]

This aired on CTV2 news yesterday. Talk about the new development opening this year as well as the ongoing transformation of Old East Village.

sFBMDtJSR5I

[Simpseatles]

^Thanks for posting that story, I wanted to see it but missed it last night. Glad to see the local media starting to take note of all the positive stuff happening around this area. The Crown on King towers should really get peoples attention, and get them to think about the area in a new way.

[That_Chris]

Just took a Google Street View spin of Old east. My goodness things have changed since the Google Van last pulled through that part of town. I can't imagine what it'll look like in the next few years after the mega developments are complete.

Any word on just when phase two of the Crown will get built? or if it's even guaranteed?

[haljackey]

Just took a Google Street View spin of Old east. My goodness things have changed since the Google Van last pulled through that part of town. I can't imagine what it'll look like in the next few years after the mega developments are complete.

Any word on just when phase two of the Crown will get built? or if it's even guaranteed?

Yes in just over two years Old East has changed (Streetview was in 2009). I shared the story to some of my folks, and they still cringe about Old East, thinking it's still a ghetto / crime area and will continue to stay away from it for years to come.

I've talked with one of the Old East BIA officials on multiple occasions and he seems to be quite pleased with how things are going, especially with the sluggish economy.

The Crown on King I will be topped out soon, set to open later this year. The Crown on King II has the site work nearly complete, and I expect construction to begin once the other building is done.

[MolsonExport]

This aired on CTV2 news yesterday. Talk about the new development opening this year as well as the ongoing transformation of Old East Village.

sFBMDtJSR5I

Really quite amazing. I am still trying to understand how this is happening (if I was to build towers, this might be one of the last places I would consider). Either way, great news for this part of town. CTP gets more TV exposure!

I drove down Dundas East the other day, and the changes were palpable. Still a long way to go, but a massive step in the right direction seems to have been accomplished.

[MolsonExport]

http://i.imgur.com/rjfsw.jpg

ahhhh!! My eyes!!!

[haljackey]

Really quite amazing. I am still trying to understand how this is happening (if I was to build towers, this might be one of the last places I would consider). Either way, great news for this part of town. CTP gets more TV exposure!

I drove down Dundas East the other day, and the changes were palpable. Still a long way to go, but a massive step in the right direction seems to have been accomplished.

Probably because the building costs are heavily subsidized to promote growth in the area. Downtown has a similar thing, but the Old East BIA is really pushing to fill the gaps and get things to change.

[bolognium]

Great video there. The Dundas strip is seen as the face of Old East, so it's been easy for people to say the area hasn't been positively changing over the years. However, if you spend some time walking through the neighbourhood to the north I think most people would be genuinely surprised. The majority of the houses have seen substantial renovations and would be right at home in Old South or Woodfield. The families that own property in Old East have spent years really trying to improve the area and the rest of London is finally taking notice.

I lived one block west of Adelaide for the first 18 years of my life, and also went to school at Beal. I'm very familiar with Old East and have watched it progress from basically one of the darkest areas of the city to a diamond in the rough. Once more people move into the neighbourhood and we start to see these yawning storefronts fill up, it'll only be a matter of time until Old East is virtually unrecognizable.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Has anybody passed by here recently. I'm wondering if they've started to add balcony glass yet....

[bolognium]

No balcony glass yet. Anyone know what's going on with the building in the foreground of this first pic?

http://i.imgur.com/qiNBI.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/NwCR2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Q797q.jpg

[Symz]

Nice photos! I like how you can see the reflection of the sun setting.