Toronto's One Yonge Street: Skyscrapers vs. Community

Developers at One Young Street in Toronto, where the city's iconic road hits Lake Ontario,

are switching up their plans big time.

Instead of two mid-rise office towers, they're now pushing for two massive residential

skyscrapers, one 80 stories tall, the other 85 plus, a podium from three to 14 stories.

The old 25 story brutalist building, former Toronto star headquarters for 51 years, gets

turned into a temporary hotel, with two, 135 suites, before eventual demolition.

This shift comes from slumping off as the man posed COVID, and the desperate need for more

housing near transit hubs.

The sights just a 10 minute walk from Union Station, though it's through a gritty stretch

under the Garner Expressway.

Earlier this week, funding dropped for an LRT line from there to Queensquay and beyond,

but no construction date yet.

Nables aren't thrilled, calling the proposed public plaza, 14,500 square feet, with trees,

benches, art, and some shops, way too.

Basic for such a historic spot.

Neighborhood leaders worry it'll amp up congestion, without enough schools, clinics or shops

for new residents, and when from those towers might make.

It unusable.

They see the creeping density approvals as a slow boil, nobody notices till it's too late.

The design team says they've tweaked the plans over 100 times since 2012, factoring

in resident feedback, city planners, and wind.

Studies to make it solid, units could be condos or rentals depending on the market, and

they're handing over land for that open space to attract big public art, like maybe.

Borrowing Chicago's famous mirrored bean.

Right now, the rezoning applications in city review, aiming to boost waterfront density,

while balancing community gripes could reshape Toronto's.

Skyline if it sticks, that's the story for today.

Canada News Today, Driven by AI, I'm Corey with The Story.