http://thetorontoblog.com/2011/04/19/condo-highrise-expected-for-former-gas-station-and-donut-shop-site-at-wellesley-sherbourne-corner/

Photos of the Wellesley/Sherbourne site available on the article page.

A condo highrise project is apparently in the works for an oddly-shaped parcel of land formerly occupied by a gas station and donut shop at the southwest corner of Sherbourne and Wellesley Streets.

The signs came down a few months ago, and word on the street was that the land recently sold for more than $2 million. Today, a small work crew was busy demolishing the donut shop.

I do know that a developer has discussed potential plans for the site with City planning staff; however, no formal development proposals have been filed yet. Nevertheless, area residents fully expect that the developer will apply sometime this year for rezoning approval to build a condo tower.

Five more residential towers have been proposed for the area, including a rental tower one block north on Sherbourne, and four condo skyscrapers for a North St James Town location between Sherbourne and Parliament Streets, at Bloor Street.

That site would benefit from a streetwall. It'd like to see a substantial podium to complement those buildings beside.

That is where the old Beaver Gas place was, correct?

That is where the old Beaver Gas place was, correct?

Yup.

http://thetorontoblog.com/2011/04/19/condo-highrise-expected-for-former-gas-station-and-donut-shop-site-at-wellesley-sherbourne-corner/

That's the link to The Toronto Blog, with tons of pics like these, showing the gas station being dismantled and in its context:

http://thetorontoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Former-Beaver-Gas-Bar-at-159-Wellesley-Street-East-viewed-from-corner-of-Sherbourne-and-Wellesley-March-22-2011-IMG_3361.jpg

http://thetorontoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Northwest-view-toward-159-Wellesley-Street-East-site-from-Sherbourne-Street-March-22-2011-IMG_3349.jpg

"Beaver Works Hard for Your Money"

:lol:

Hopefully the future proposal can take advantage of the odd parcel of land, and incorporate some interesting angles on the tower or possible curve. This intersection sure has cleaned up well within the last decade. Some decent architecture here will surely put some finishing touches to possibly one of the most improved intersections in the city. Some retail amenities in the podium like Metro or LCBO would be good too.

Posted by urbandreamer on UT:

159 WELLESLEY ST E
OPA / Rezoning 11 184584 STE 27 OZ Ward 27
- Tor & E.York Apr 29, 2011 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Rezoning application to permit the re-development of the lands for the purposes of a new 38 storey mixed use building complete with retail at grade and 327 residential units above.

I've always wondered where all those downtown cars go to get gas..

I think this project should definitely called The Big Beaver.

That corner has no soul. I hope this helps it a bit. I also hope this building looks much better then these two beasts. Something with red brick would be nice.

http://thetorontoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Northwest-view-toward-159-Wellesley-Street-East-site-from-Sherbourne-Street-March-22-2011-IMG_3349.jpg

I've always wondered where all those downtown cars go to get gas..

There's actually a couple more fringe downtown gas stations that I hope get redeveloped. I understand the need to have them, but I hope Toronto can adopt the concept of incorporating gas stations into the base of buildings in the future.

Example from Hong Kong:

http://jamminwithjay.com/images/060518_hongkong/China%20068%20(Medium).jpg

That corner has no soul. I hope this helps it a bit. I also hope this building looks much better then these two beasts. Something with red brick would be nice.




Soulless or not, this intersection has definitely been cleaned up well in the past decade or so. This went from one of eastside downtown's most sleaziest to quite decent. The health centre on NW corner, and the rec centre/library on NE corner aren't architecturally bad, and have added some much needed amenities for the community. The new condos have added some higher income population to the area, changing the overall desirability of living in this area. A decent design for this proposal with strong podium with some retail amenities like LCBO, and supermarket will complete this intersection quite well.

Gas stations under tall building = UGLY!

I've got to agree on that one; it would really lower the tone of the building, be it office or condo. I hate to bring up the awful spectre, but aren't gas stations normally single storey buildings in the event of major explosion? I am not sure I would want to live in a condo built above a gas station.

Unfortunately Tableau Condos podium looks a lot like a gas station.

Where are you filling up? Must be a nice gas station. I don't see it.

http://www.tableaucondos.info/images/Tableau_Podium.jpg

A gas station in a building podium is a great idea, especially having parking under the gas station. This will prevent underground tank leaks into groundwater, as it will be so much easier to monitor their condition. Likewise, I have trouble believing a gas station 'explosion' is a real concern. First, gasoline is less combustible than movies make it out to be. Second, try and think back to the last time you read or heard about a gas station 'exploding'. It must be rare, as I can't think of one. Vapours would be the big issue as I see it, and it would be important to keep it well ventilated and sealed off from the rest of the building, as gasoline vapours are potent and buildup in small areas are dangerous. This is relatively easy to do.

How many times did you hear about tsunamis smashing nuclear plants in Japan?
One explosion would be too much for me; so I cannot see myself living above, or parking below gasoline tanks.

159 Wellesley Street East, 38 storeys

Just walked by and noticed they have a development proposal sign up... I wish I'd taken a close-up of the rendering, but I assumed I'd be able to find it on the city web site. Alas, I cannot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loozrboy/5737808841/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/5737808841_a1e81245c7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/loozrboy/5737808841/)

Closeup shot that I got from that development board.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/5738410482_0abd2c5a8d_b.jpg

Damn, that render looks promising. That area could use a splash of colour.

Colour and curves! Count me in!

Could be nice! This area desperately needs more condos to bring it up a notch. Verve and a few around the corner are helping, but it is still a bit of a depressed area.

159 Sherbourne Street East, 38 storeys



Closeup shot that I got from that development board.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/5738410482_0abd2c5a8d_b.jpg



HURRAY to Colour!

So often the colour winds up looking far less noticeable in the finished product than in the rendering. Sometimes it turns out the "colour" was practically imaginary, or just interior vertical blinds for the windows, etc... I hope not in this case, and that we get some nice bright colours happening.

159 Sherbourne Street East, 38 storeys


Not a big deal, but your post says "Sherbourne" instead of "Wellesley". I'm assuming the typo happened because it's Wellesley East at Sherbourne. Actually, I think 159 is about halfway between Jarvis and Sherbourne, but whatever.

^ Yes, that's what I meant. Thanks for catching that mistake.

No 159 is right at the corner of Sherbourne and Wellesley, not halfway b/t.
This will be a great addition to the neighborhood that has been and is continuing to change for the better. St. Jamestown is on the East side of Sherbourne, North of Wellesley to Bloor and West of Parliament. If you want to call it that fine, but then parts of Cabbagetown can be called Regent Park and St. Jamestown also. And Rosedale which is linked to Glen Rd by a bridge can also qualify as St. Jamestown too. Get real. People that make these comments don't even go into the neighborhood. They still think it's like it was 15 years ago. It's not. It is very safe and most of the people living in St. Jamestown are not on welfare and living in Toronto Housing, the majority of the buildings are simply lower rent apartments which many immigrants live in because of the size and location. We will see in a few more years what this area evolves into, but a sure bet that the property values will just keep climbing. Otherwise you wouldn't be seeing Tridel and other builders wasting their time and money.

No 159 is right at the corner of Sherbourne and Wellesley, not halfway b/t.

Yep, you're right. When I quickly looked at its location on Google Maps, I mistook Parliament for Sherbourne because the yellow highlighted streets are what stood out for me (Sherbourne isn't considered enough of a main street to warrant highlighting I guess). So, it's about halfway between Jarvis and Parliament, although closer to Jarvis... and obviously very close to Sherbourne! LOL.

Sherbourne would only he considered a main street by people looking for a quick fix...

Higher quality rendering posted by TheTorontoBlog, tipped by Urbanation:


http://thetorontoblog.com/2011/06/08/38-storey-condo-tower-will-bring-colour-curves-to-former-gas-bar-site-at-wellesley-sherbourne/

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8451/welles.jpg

Corner condo: Another condo tower has been proposed for the northeast downtown residential neighbourhood at Wellesley & Sherbourne Streets. This latest development proposal — a 326-unit, 38 -storey building with street-level retail space and four levels of underground parking — would rise on the southwest corner of Wellesley and Sherbourne, the former site of a Beaver gas station and Baker’s Dozen donut shop. It would be similar in height to two recently-constructed condo towers right across the street: Verve, just one block west at the corner of Wellesley Street and Homewood Avenue, and 500 Sherbourne, one block north at the corner of Sherbourne Street and Lourdes Lane. The site sits kitty-corner to St James Town, a densely-populated neighbourhood with nearly 20 rental apartment highrise buildings, and is just two blocks west of the popular Cabbagetown residential district.

Sherbourne would only he considered a main street by people looking for a quick fix...

Sherbourne is not a main street? Of course, it is. Church, Jarvis, Sherbourne and Parliament are all main streets.

So often the colour winds up looking far less noticeable in the finished product than in the rendering. Sometimes it turns out the "colour" was practically imaginary, or just interior vertical blinds for the windows, etc... I hope not in this case, and that we get some nice bright colours happening.

very true. remember west side lofts?

Sherbourne is not a main street? Of course, it is. Church, Jarvis, Sherbourne and Parliament are all main streets.

Its a joke....

That Ava woman (with the "monster" comment) sounds like the prototypical NIMBY bitch. lol

http://thetorontoblog.com/2011/10/18/wellesleysherbourne-condo-tower-proposal-gets-rough-ride-at-city-meeting-with-area-residents/

Wellesley/Sherbourne condo tower proposal gets rough ride at city meeting with area residents

18 Oct 2011

Photos are the article link

Strong opposition: A proposal for a 38-storey condo tower at the intersection of Wellesley and Sherbourne Streets has drawn fire from area residents who think the project is too tall, sorely lacks green space, family-sized units and adequate parking facilities, and will seriously worsen congestion in what is already one of the world’s most densely-populated downtown neighbourhoods.

Diamondcorp has proposed a 38-storey tower with 326 condos, of which 216 would be 1-bedroom and the rest 2-bedroom units. There would be no 3-bedroom suites. The building would have a 4-storey podium with 2,300 square feet of street-level retail space and three residential floors, topped by a 34-storey point tower. A gym, party room, lounge and outdoor amenity space would be situated atop the podium on the fifth floor.

Designed by Quadrangle Architects Limited of Toronto, the 116-meter highrise would feature gentle curves, a masonry-clad podium, and distinctive coloured glass panels on its corner windows. The tower would be set back 3 meters from Sherbourne Street, 4 metres from Wellesley Street, 5 meters from the laneway to its west, and 3.5 metres from the 3-storey retail and apartment building to its south.

Les Klein, a principal of Quadrangle Architects, described the project’s architectural elements. He said he was “very excited” by 159 Wellesley East, which he called a “classic City of Toronto infill development project” featuring “high quality urban design.”

“We have taken the incredible challenges of the unique shape of the site,” he said, and designed a tower that is “very different from the typical glass boxes” seen throughout the City. Quadrangle’s tower design features “gentler curves” instead of “sharp edges,” and wherever the building curves, “we’ve introduced a series of coloured panels,” Mr. Klein said. He added that the four-storey podium is “in keeping” with the height of the elementary school just south of the site, as well as the Wellesley Central Place/Rekai Centre for long-term care on the north side of Wellesley Street.

Many in the audience objected to the fact the condo building will extend right to the edge of the property line, against the Wellesley and Sherbourne Street sidewalks, offering absolutely no landscaping or greenery of any kind at street level. Only the fifth-floor amenity space would have landscaping.

Other speakers echoed those sentiments, pointing out that the neighbourhood lacks green space and public amenities, while those that do exist — including the relatively new community centre and the St James Town branch of the Toronto public library — are already being used to full capacity.

LMAO!

However, the woman from 200 Wellesley replied that the tower “is probably the very worst thing that we could have in that area. That highrise will be filled with drugs, pimps and prostitutes.”

Talk about suburban nimbys. if anything, this highrise will reduce crime rates.

However, the woman from 200 Wellesley replied that the tower “is probably the very worst thing that we could have in that area. That highrise will be filled with drugs, pimps and prostitutes.”

Ya, a park in that area won't be full of those type of people.

Maybe better drugs, pimps and prostitutes than self righteous women from 200 Wellesley! :yes:

Maybe she's against added competition in the area?

Didnt know 38 stories was considered tall in downtown Toronto.

Stupid. :|