After the pandemic, developers are focusing more on adding homes instead of offices. This trend can be seen in the updated plans for 310 and 330 Front Street West by H&R REIT. The site, located in Toronto’s Entertainment District, will be transformed into a vibrant space with lots of new homes. Below, we explain the details of the new buildings and what they mean for the neighborhood.
Overview of the Project
The site at 310, 320, and 330 Front Street West covers about 8,114 square meters at the northeast corner of Front Street West and Blue Jays Way. It is just a short walk from St. Andrew and Union stations. Currently, there are three buildings: an 8-story building at 310 Front Street, a 12-story building at 330 Front Street, and a 16-story building at 320 Front Street. These buildings are connected by an enclosed atrium. As part of the new project, some of these structures will be redeveloped.
Revised Plans: New High-Rise Buildings
In 2023, the original redevelopment plan proposed a 65-story tower with 578 homes and office space. The new plan has changed a lot:
- Two Mixed-Use Towers: The updated plan has a 65-story West Tower (210.7 meters) and a 70-story East Tower (225.4 meters). Together, they will include 1,782 homes. This is a big increase compared to the 578 homes in the previous plan.
- More Space for Homes: The Gross Floor Area (GFA) for homes has also grown a lot, going from 39,003 square meters in 2023 to 109,555 square meters now.
- Retail Space: On the ground level, there will be 743 square meters of retail space. This will be split between the East Tower (440 square meters) and the West Tower (303 square meters), helping make the area lively and active.
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Office Space Changes: Originally, the plan was to keep some office space, but now the 8 and 12-story office towers will be demolished. Only the 16-story building at 320 Front Street will remain, keeping 27,062 square meters of office space.
Public Spaces and Resident Amenities
The new plans also focus on improving the public area. The enclosed atrium will be replaced with a landscaped public plaza, which will include:
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Pedestrian Pathways: A new pathway will connect Blue Jays Way and Front Street West, making it easier to walk around and access nearby attractions like the CN Tower and Rogers Centre.
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Public Art and Shelter: The plaza will also have possible public art installations and sheltered areas to make it inviting for both residents and visitors.
Urban Toronto reports that the towers will offer many amenities for residents, including:
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Indoor and Outdoor Spaces: There will be 2,650 square meters of indoor amenities and 1,205 square meters of outdoor space for recreation, gatherings, and more.
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Rooftop Features: The towers will have landscaped terraces where residents can relax and enjoy city views.
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Elevator Access: Each tower will have seven elevators, which means there is one elevator for about 127 units. This may mean longer wait times for residents during busy periods.
Parking and Transportation
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Underground Parking: The existing three-level underground garage will stay, with 399 parking spaces available:
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178 spaces for residents.
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219 spaces for visitors and commercial use.
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2 spaces for car-share vehicles.
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The earlier 2021 plan had 459 parking spaces, so the new plan reduces parking.
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Bicycle Parking: The new plan includes 725 bicycle parking spaces, which is up from 599 in the 2021 plan. These include 537 long-term and 188 short-term spaces, encouraging biking as a form of transportation.
Impact of the Revised Plan
The revised plan for 310 and 330 Front Street West will bring several positive changes to Toronto's Entertainment District:
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More Housing: Increasing the number of homes to 1,782 helps meet Toronto's growing need for housing, especially in popular areas like downtown. This move from office space to housing makes the community more vibrant.
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Better Public Space: Replacing the atrium with a landscaped public plaza will create a better space for people to walk, relax, and connect. The new plaza will make it easier for people to move between streets and give them a nice outdoor area.
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Less Office Space: The decision to remove two office buildings shows a big change in how the site will be used. This follows the trend of turning office space into homes, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the demand for office spaces.
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Community-Friendly Design: Adding retail spaces, pathways for pedestrians, and amenities will help make the area more welcoming and exciting for both residents and visitors.
The redevelopment at 310 and 330 Front Street West is part of Toronto’s shift towards more high-rise housing. With two new mixed-use towers, more homes, and better public space, this project brings a new vision for living in the Entertainment District. It matches the post-pandemic trend of building more homes instead of office spaces, while also improving the neighborhood with better amenities, transit options, and a public plaza. For people in the construction field, this redevelopment shows how urban priorities are changing and offers an example of how to build projects that balance new housing with community needs.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - 310 Front Street West Mixed Use Tower - Toronto (0082041421)
