Photos: James Bombales
Project: Empire Maverick Condos
Builder(s): Empire Communities
Architect(s): IBI Group
Situated in the heart of the Entertainment District, along King Street West, Toronto’s Restaurant Row has been the site of significant residential development planning for years. With a location dotted with amenities that include some of the city’s top attractions, it was inevitable that this stretch of King Street West would be part of the city’s condo boom.
Empire Communities is the first on the block with the 310-unit Empire Maverick Condos planned for 321 to 333 King Street West. Although it sits adjacent to the recently completed King Blue Condos to the west, Maverick is the first development that will incorporate some of the buildings on Restaurant Row into its design. The 49-storey tower features modern architecture by IBI Group, characterized by a geometric two-tone façade and sophisticated interiors by U31.
At the base of the building, the project will restore and preserve the brick frontage of the heritage-designated Hughes Terrace, while a new structure at 327 King Street West will be constructed as the main residential entrance. Built in the mid-1800s, the three-storey Hughes Terrace was designed in the Georgian style of architecture that was popular in Toronto during that time. When completed, it will become part of Maverick’s retail frontage and new restaurants are expected to be introduced to the row.
Construction at the Maverick site began in the fall of 2019 with the demolition of two buildings, including the project’s presentation centre at 333 King Street West. Hughes Terrace is next on the demolition list as crews have already started taking the building apart. The view from King Street West shows that the top third of the facade has been removed, exposing the interior’s top floor. However, the rear portion of the structure remains fairly intact as seen from the nearby alleyway.
Sales at Maverick were launched in 2018 and the development is now over 80 percent sold. Residential suites boast functional, open-concept layouts with nine-foot ceilings, laminate wood floors, and composite stone countertops and backsplashes in the kitchens. The development’s onsite amenities are plentiful and offer everything from a fitness centre with a TRX System and a personal trainer consultation area to a rooftop lounge complete with an outdoor kitchen and private dining space.
