Located in the heart of Toronto’s Queen Street West historic district, the parking lot at Queen, Portland and Richmond Streets was purchased for development. Initial plans for a traditional big box retailer were met with community resistance. In response, Turner Fleischer designed a complex mixed-use commercial/residential development with three retail floors and a five-storey residential condominium. By staying within the neighborhood zoning controls, the simple Committee of Adjustment approvals process was used, thus saving significant time and money. To inspire and inform all parties, the design was presented as a 3D visualization in which the playful nature of the development was apparent – from the use of brick and glass exterior up to the green roof terrace and treed sidewalks. With key tenants Loblaws, Joe Fresh and Winners, this development offers a dynamic complement to the area with a total of seven stories, 90 residential units and 101,000 sf. of retail.
