Description

use: mixed use Church, office space, residential condos
# storeys:
height: 103.85 m
developer: United Church of Canada
architect: KPMB
ARA engagement: Site is owned and occupied by Bloor Street United Church which has, over the years, tried to partner with developers to build very highrise condos to pay for new headquarters office space for United Church of Canada as part of the development. The most recent proposal has been by the Church together with two development firms: Northrup, and CollecDev. The initial proposal was for a 38-storey condo tower (127.5 m) on the north half of the site, with medium-rise offices and a major renovation of the church building. ARA strongly opposed this proposal and invited the "Church Team" to form a working group with ARA and other RAs to revise the proposal. Councillor Cressy agreed to chair the WG and expanded its membership to include City staff. Councillor Layton took over the chair after his election to the new Ward 11 in late 2018. The WG met five times in early 2018 and agreed in late April that a revised proposal for a 27-storey (96.5 m) project could be reviewed at a City-sponsored public meeting in December, 2018 (after the Oct municipal election). In the meantime, the City's advisory Design Review Panel reviewed the project in September 2018 and recommended changes that increased the building height. Revisions were reviewed with the Church Team by ARA's P+Z Committee, and reps from HVRA and HSRO, on 5 February 2019. Further height reductions of the condo tower and office podium were requested. The developer re-applied on 11 February without further consultation with the Working Group for a scheme that now calls for a tower height of 103.85 m (P+Z had requested 98 m). P+Z will not contest this application as it is 19% less than the original application and reflects significant compromises by the developer on re-location of the condo tower towards Bloor, elimination of above-grade parking, reduction of height, and considerable strengthening of the public realm at grade level. A 7th meeting of the Working Group was held on 15 April in which ARA and other RAs acknowledged that the final design is a reasonable consensus on massing and height; the meeting also addressed affordable housing and community benefits that might be included in Section 37 contributions by the developer to the City and the community. An 8th meeting of the Working Group might be held at the Site Control application stage to examine proposed materials and detailed elevations and streetscape designs.
link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NozWCzg8nkfDr7MTL7uTnuw7746_6gD8/view?usp=sharing