Queen + Portland
Toronto, Ontario
Client
RioCan and Tribute Communities
Size
7 storey residential, 90 units, 101,000 sf retail
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto’s Queen Street West and King Street historic district, one of the most vibrant and eclectic parts of the city, this former parking lot was transformed into a true mixed-use development.
Initial plans for the traditional implementation of a big box retailer were met with resistance by the community. A vision had to be created – one that fit into the scale of the neighbourhood while responding to the developer’s investment. Turner Fleischer collaborated with Fournier Gersovitz Moss Drolet et Associés Architectes to design a complex mixed-use commercial/residential development with three retail floors and a five-storey residential condominium.
By staying within the neighbourhood zoning controls, the Toronto 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 vision 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.
