Location: 241 Richmond Street West, Toronto
Developer: Tridel
Architect: architectsAlliance
Another high-rise development is looking to join the roster of towers springing up across downtown Toronto’s Entertainment District.
Earlier this month, a Zoning By-law Amendment application was submitted to city planners to build an “asymmetrical,” 41-storey mixed-use tower with 470 condo units at 133 John Street and 241 Richmond Street West. The architect, architectsAlliance, has also worked on other high-rise projects in the Entertainment District, including Theatre Park and King Charlotte Condos. Tridel, the developer, is also working on The Well, located slightly southwest of the proposed tower according to information on BuzzBuzzHome.
The development site in question consists of two parcels, located on the southeast corner of Richmond Street West and John Street. The land encomapsses the whole western portion of the city block, and is bordered by Nelson Street to the south and Duncan Street to east, according to the planning rationale by Bousfields Inc.
Spanning approximately 18,696 square feet, the site is currently occupied by two two-storey buildings. The structure at 133 John Street was built between 1875 and 1954, and was home to a now-vacant Jack Astor’s restaurant location. The building at 241 Richmond Street was constructed in 1930 and is currently occupied by The Ballroom restaurant and bowling alley, the planning rationale says. Both buildings are listed as part of the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District.
The proposed tower would rise from the north to the south, with a smaller 36-storey story at the northern part of the site alongside a southern 41-storey building portion. Although there are two vertical components, the building would function as a single tower, the planning rationale explains.
Of the 470 units in the tower — tenured as condos, according to the application’s project data sheet — the breakdown would include 43 studio, 309 one-bedroom, 69 two-bedroom and 49 three-bedroom suites.
The two-tiered podium supporting the tower consists of two separate portions, characterized as Podium A at the north side of the lot and Podium B at the south side. Podium A would incorporate the existing two-storey heritage building into the contemporary tower, while Podium B would feature a modern architectural aesthetic. Retail uses would also be included in the podium, which ranges from two to seven storeys in height. The existing building at 133 John Street would also be removed.
“Through its substantial modification with various uses over the last few decades, the heritage value of the existing building at 133 John Street has diminished, and so, by removing the existing building at 133 John Street, Podium B can be complementary to the existing heritage building at the north end of the site, recognizing and giving prominence to its heritage value,” explains the planning rationale.
The building’s main lobby and entrance would be accessible from John Street, in addition to a semi-enclosed pedestrian walkway that provides access across the site and to a future public park slated immediately east of the tower.
Indoor and outdoor amenity space would be included in the tower, the majority of which would be incorporated on the third floor in the form of an outdoor amenity rooftop terrace and an adjacent indoor facility. Amenities would also be provided on the tower’s second and 37th levels.
A four-level underground parking garage accessible from a laneway on Nelson Street would provide 96 car spaces and 493 long- and short-term bicycle parking spots.
In the neighbourhood, registration is open for 101 Spadina, while sales are underway at 400 King West Condos.
