As the demo company continues to bring own of the many buildings on the site, the new view is about to occur as this last large building facing St Clair Ave. comes down. Interestingly they have decided to break the building apart with the tanks inside dismantling them in time with the demo of the structure. The new Avenue mall designed for the site will not rise as tall as the existing building.
For a short while between demo and construction phases of this site a vast northerly view will be available that has not been visible since the settlement of the Junction.
As the demo company continues to bring down one of the many buildings on the site, the new view is about to occur as this last large building facing St Clair Ave. comes down. Interestingly they have decided to break the building apart with the tanks inside dismantling them in time with the demo of the structure. The new Avenue mall designed for the site will not rise as tall as the existing building.
For a short while between demo and construction phases of this site a vast northerly view will be available that has not been visible since the settlement of the Junction.
Is there an online version of the new mall anywhere, it would be cool to see what they have in store for the site...
ReplyDeleteNo online version of the mall, someone had artist drawings at a community meeting, but was not allowed to have them posted.
ReplyDeleteHow big and what kind of mall are we talking about? Something like Dufferin Mall or something like a Vaughan Mills?
ReplyDeletethink Vaughan Mills with added streetscape.
ReplyDeleteTraffic is going to get interesting, when is it due to open?
ReplyDeleteFound some links
ReplyDeleteTrinity Properties - http://www.trinity-group.com/?q=node/432, and here's the architect's page - http://www.greenbergfarrow.com/expPlan-30WestonRoad.html
I'm not sure how old these are, but the site doesn't look too bad, as long as the stores front St Clair and Weston Rd, if the backs face the roads it will be a big concrete wall, think Saples or Home Depot.
Is a Costco still slated to be built on the site?
ReplyDeleteHello JV, I have a copy of the plans which I will bring to the next JRA meeting in September if you want to see them. The first link you sent is out of date, the second correct.
ReplyDeleteThe stores front St.Clair and Weston as well as the centre of the site which has 3 levels parking and several pedestrian walkways. Its not your typical big block around the parking lot design and this type of shopping centre is popular in Australia and warmer US towns..
RL, the developers didn't mention what the anchor store is at the stakeholders meetings but looking at the drawings its big. Costco or even Ikea big. They did say the majority of the stores are retail clothing, a small grocer, fitness centre and possible medical centre were also suggested.
Rodger, at the last stakeholders meeting the developer said the site will fully open in spring 2011.
Staples and Home Depot were not good. The big walls facing major streets are not attractive, don't contribute much to the streetscape, and more importantly, the layout discourages transit use and pedestrian activity. This new retail development will at least actually have retail with entrances fronting St. Clair and many connections for pedestrians and vehicles around the site. However, Weston Road will be walled, which isn't positive.
ReplyDeleteAlso, disregard that first link, because that was a very preliminary plan and has been modified extensively. There isn't any residential planned now, unlike what is shown. Also, the attachments of this document will prove to be interesting:
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-17785.pdf
Cool! Thanks Martin, I'll certainly try and make that meeting.
ReplyDeleteConstruction of the development was said to start Spring 2010. Two roads (in these preliminary plans) will cut the property North/south and east/west...which I suppose might relieve traffic at St. Clair/Keele. No residential buildings will be built on the site.
ReplyDelete