Queen & Portland Condos & Lofts (585 Queen St W & 156 Portland St) | T/O | 9 st | ??? m | Downtown / Queen West

[The 'Sauga]

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/n...4-7ab0a0968450

Will Home Depot head to Queen Street?
'It's Acceptable'

Chris Wattie
National Post

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Home Depot may move an outlet into a building proposed for the corner of Queen and Portland streets.

City hall will be asked next month to approve a development that is expected to bring a Home Depot to artsy Queen Street West.

The building proposed for the corner of Queen and Portland streets would include a four-storey condominium in the rear of the property and three floors of stores along the front, but those familiar with the project say it will be a home-improvement outlet unlike any other in Canada.

Home Depot, believed to be the main tenant of the 99,000-square-foot development, would base this store on a highly successful "storefront Home Depot" in Manhattan rather than the usual massive, aircraft-hangar-sized store.

Councillor Adam Vaughan, who represents the area, said residents were able to squeeze concessions from RioCan including a proposed public gallery space in the development, thanks in part to a city-owned laneway that cuts the property in two.

"It's not the greatest development in the world, but it's acceptable now, I think. We're going to keep pressing Home Depot to make it the greatest development it can."

Jordan Robins, the vice-president of development for builder RioCan Real Estate, said a modified site plan for the project has been submitted to the city and will be up before the city's committee of adjustment in November.

If the city approves the developer's plan, including what Mr. Robins called "minor variances" to city zoning bylaws, then RioCan hopes to begin construction on the site next year.

The property that is now a fairly undistinguished parking lot will become a four-storey building combining condominiums and shopping, apparently including an "urban Home Depot" outlet.

The prospect of a big box store wedging itself into the relatively crowded confines Queen Street West alarmed many neighbours, particularly the owners of small shops and hardware stores in the area, but Mr. Robins said those concerns were unfounded.

"People were concerned that we were building some 60-storey building on that site; others heard Home Depot was coming and they think it's a big, one-storey box store with a huge parking lot in front," he said. "There were all sorts of rumours."

But the developer insists it has gone out of its way to ensure the new building blends in with the neighbourhood, hiring architects that specialize in heritage projects.

Mr. Robins could not confirm Home Depot will be the main tenant, but said his company is in negotiations with "a major national retail chain."

"We've been approached by every major retailer in the country on this [and] we're pretty far along in discussions with one of them," he said.

Mr. Vaughan said many local businesses were worried a Home Depot would drive them out of business.

But the proposed store would not resemble the chain's huge suburban outlets, but would instead be a storefront operation aimed at supplying smaller renovation projects or minor home improvements undertaken by condo owners or apartment tenants.

Spokespeople for Home Depot Canada did not return phone calls seeking comment on the development. RioCan, however, is confident that it has won over most local residents who opposed their project.

"I think it's fair to say that people just don't like change," Mr. Robins said of the opposition to the project.

"I think we've addressed the concerns ... We're inordinately proud of this development. We've gone to great lengths to design it so it will fit in with the Queen Street West neighbourhood."

[valantino]

very exciting

[yyzhyd]

Mods may want to merge this with the existing thread.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=479067&page=2

[noob(but not really)]

Originally Posted by yyzhyd

Mods may want to merge this with the existing thread.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=479067&page=2

ARRGH they never listen. I recently pointed out that there are TWO OTHER threads on One Saint Thomas, and they didn't merge them.

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by noob(but not really)

ARRGH they never listen. I recently pointed out that there are TWO OTHER threads on One Saint Thomas, and they didn't merge them.

Hmmmm.... I'm getting déjà vu...

[Taller, Better]

I've never been to a Home Despot.

[metroboi_nay]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I've never been to a Home Despot.

Concrete floors, wide aisles, from building to home lving, that's Home Depot, lol

[DrT]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I've never been to a Home Despot.

T,B, no one caught your freudian slip there! That was sneaky.

des·pot
–noun 1. a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat.
2. any tyrant or oppressor




I'd love to be a home DESPOT myself.

[bigcityboy]

i was in the one in nyc in august. it's located midtown and it's all underground - except for the entrance. it had a different feel than other home depots. aisles were narrower and the product was more condo oriented. obviously no garden section - there's no sunlight. and it did fit into the fabric of the city quite nicely.

it's nice to see them at least try and fit into the city core in a respectful way. i just worry for the great mom-and-pop hardware store nearby. they've been there for years and are always really helpful.

[Taller, Better]

I'm glad someone caught it! This is the 2000's... we don't squander and waste wit the way we used to!

[current]

March 28

From Richmond St. looking north to Queen West. www.tributecommunities.com
image hosted on flickr

[Skybean]

renderings?

[Biudo]

image hosted on flickr

[vancouverite/to'er]

Are those seperate developments? Or are they just the hodge podge result of a Canadian architecture firm?

[thryve]

If you're trying to insult Canadian architecture firms I don't really understand your generalization because Canada has some incredible, amaaazing firms.



It looks like one development the way it's rendered.

[current]

April 29

Future site of their sales office on Queen West just east of Bathurst.
image hosted on flickr

[Mollywood]

That's not bad at all. Well, from what you can see in that rendering.

[kettal]

I'm not seeing Home Depot in the rendering??

[CrazyCanuck]

It will be in the building closest in the rendering. No signs are up for it. It's the best looking HD i've ever seen. Why can't they all look like that?

[Tuscani01]

Originally Posted by CrazyCanuck

It will be in the building closest in the rendering. No signs are up for it. It's the best looking HD i've ever seen. Why can't they all look like that?

Im wondering the same thing. Sure it might cost a bit more to build it that way, but condos (instead of a parking lot) can help offset the cost and give you a good, solid customer base.