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Managing partner of Capital Developments Todd Cowan has his own take on the subject. According to Cowan, the 9 to 5 world of our parents and grandparents is a thing of the past. Work schedules are now unpredictable, and people find themselves both working and entertaining more at home. As a result, they want to live in a place that provides both robust technical and lifestyle infrastructure. Cowan believes his company's latest effort - co-developed with Freed and called 150 Redpath - addresses both concerns.

150 Redpath is the second phase of a project begun a few years back with the recently completed 155 Repath. That 34 story tower near the intersection of Yonge and Eglinton proved a substantial success and paved the way for approval of the current project, (which is nearing completion itself), directly across the street. The two towers form a kind of gateway to Midtown with well over 1,000 luxury units between them. But what about those standout amenities?

From an aesthetic point of view, 150 Redpath has all the modernist bases covered. The design by Peter Clewes of the architectsAlliance is tastefully minimalist with tall glass windows in the lobby that tie in the surrounding area. There’s an enclosed courtyard with water feature and a compelling yet subdued lobby ambiance created by Johnson Chou. The overall goal is to tie the two projects together into a low key but very real social hub that, as Cowan puts it, “will really feel like a global, jet-set community.”

Cowan is confident his "we never close" approach to contemporary life will provide the traction his projects need to stand apart from the growing number of cookie-cutter condos and make 150 Redpath the place to be.

Freed Developments also developed Grand Park Village condos. For more information, see our homepage.

Recently, Toronto Council gave its affirmation and has decided to provide a heritage designation to Mimico House, under the influence of the Ontario Heritage Act.

It was last month that the Etobicoke York Community Council's vote of 3-1 against the demolition permit of the Mimico House requested by the owner. The owner wanted to demolish the existing property to rebuild it for rental income. 

On March 19, the permit was denied, and the century-old property that is detached from the rest of the spaces in the locality was given a heritage designation as well as protection.

Diana Compton, Mimico House's owner, was denied the permit. Thus, turning the whole situation that seemed like a battle or war between the rights of the private house owners and the heritage preservation interests of the community.

Diana Compton appealed that she wished to rebuild the house to fetch incomes as rent from the property. Diana had become a single mother after her husband’s death in the year 2016 and hence, wanted an extra source of income for her financial ease.

She expressed disappointment in the community's decision and felt that her circumstances and rights as a house owner were given no consideration. She showed so in the form of an email after the Community Council decided against her appeal.

Etobicoke is quite a populated region of Toronto with significant residential developments occurring at regular intervals. The most recent development which is gaining great popularity in the area is- Grand Park Village.

It is a mixed-use community by Freed Developments that is going to include residential, commercial as well as office spaces. See the development in this page. While there are newer developments like these coming up in the region, the old ones such as Mimico House are being retained as heritage designation as well.

The house was declared under the city’s heritage inventory in the year 1998 and thus, was included on the City of Toronto’s heritage properties, also known as the heritage register.

As per the claims made by Dina, she says that she as well as her husband were completely unaware that the house was listed as a heritage property when they bought it in the year 2008.

The City heritage staff confirmed that the property owned by Diana is amongst the first residential properties that were constructed on 58 Wheatfield Rd.

After the permit was denied for Diana Compton, there were around 30 residents who addressed the issue to the clerk of the Etobicoke York Community Council. Mixed opinions were received on the problems. Some wrote in support of Diana Compton and the rights of the private house owners. And, there were a few in favour of the heritage designation as well.

Mark Grimes, the Etobicoke-Lakeshore Coun. Moved the final verdict in favour of the heritage designation. And, he also expressed that heritage is one of the hottest topics in Mimico and that it is a work which is still in progress. He believes that till the time the Community doesn’t start preserving the properties, they are never going to have any!

Reimagine Galleria is a project proposal between Freed Developments and Elad Canada. The neighborhood that is to be revamped was used as a mixed community and was established in the1970's. Since then, it grew to be forgotten, but Elad and Freed chose to focus on its potential, which is leading to is redevelopment.

Their brand new vision is to build a master-planned community in place of the Galleria Shopping Centre. The community will be all inclusive of residential space, office space, rental, and retail space as well. The most intriguing part of the entire development is that a customer survey was taken before is redesign began. This way, Elad and Freed created their design plans based on the requirements of the consumers.

The location of this project couldn't be in a better place. It is perfectly situated in an area that makes transit and the downtown core extremely accessible. One of their main objectives to achieve is building a community on its own. The Wallace Emerson Park is to be expanded and rebuilt to twice its size. The most attractive features about the community center are the childcare center and the artificial outdoors skating rink. The Galleria On The Park Master Plan had the TTC approve a busy bay to increase the flow of traffic. Pedestrian and cycling access throughout the entire is being given top priority as well.

The Condos will be luxurious and include a total of 2,891 residential units. From which, 150 will be affordable rental units as well. The units will include one bedroom to three bedrooms. The complex will also feature 20,000 square feet of office space, which will be beneficial for the investors. The whole idea is to create a live, eat, play, and work type of location and community.

The occupancy date, which is projected, is for 2021 as per the recent reports on the subject. This project is also to increase community engagement in the city of Toronto. The aim is to focus on not just the redevelopment but also the building memories and experience for the residents. This community is said to be perfect for both families and bachelors. This is also adding to the versatility of age and culture to the community. Lastly, the project will be exactly between Dufferin Street and Dupont Street and will stretch out to Emerson Avenue and Lappin Avenue.

Freed Developments and Elad Canada are extremely well-known developers in and around Canada, which assures consumers that the redesigning and revamping of this project is in good hands. Peter Freed the President of Freed Developments is a man with an obsession of detail and design. His mission and vision are to craft community-centric building each with their own unique attitude. Grand Park Village is one of the Freed’s recent projects (​​learn more here). True to his work, Grand Park village is a mixed-used condominium that is community-centric. Elad Canada, on the other hand, is reputed for their creative thinking and investments in untapped development opportunities. This exactly why this partnership and project works perfectly.

When the Galleria Mall opened in 1972 it was one of only three entirely enclosed shopping centres in the Old City of Toronto. Located at Dufferin and Dupont streets its 50 shops served the needs of the local community faithfully for more than three decades. Just after the turn of the 21st century, the mall was designated a “greyfield”, meaning it was considered ripe for redevelopment. Shortly afterward it was acquired by Freed Developments and ELAD Canada.

Recently, the Toronto Design Review Panel held a marathon session during which components of Phase One of the project were discussed. These include the new park and community centre which will serve as a backdrop for the forthcoming Grand Park Village Condos.

Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects the master plan for the site received city approval in early 2019 and Phase One of the development process has already commenced. Just south of the planned residential blocks the aforementioned park is now taking shape along with the soon-to-be-opened Wallace Emerson Community Centre.

As construction progresses some portions of the old Galleria will be demolished while other portions - including the bank, grocery store, pharmacy and more - will remain open, providing important services to residents of the area.

The new park will have 3 distinct but fully integrated areas. At its eastern end will be the “Nature Heart”. A forested area with walking paths extending from Dufferin Street into the centre of the park where the “Play Heart” will take the baton.

The Play Heart will include a multi-use sports field and an artificially created hill. Continuing on through the park will take one to the “Community Heart” at the far western end, with its winter skating trail, public gathering areas and a BMX/skateboard area.

The Community Centre with its distinctive terracotta facade will echo the curvilinear nature of the street at this end of the park. Inside will be a gymnasium, fitness centre, running track, pool, childcare center and more. Atop the centre will be a landscaped roof terrace that will provide a refuge from the street and commanding views of the cityscape on all sides.

One of the most important aspects of the park will be the integration and activation of the laneway on the western park border. During the presentation of Phase One plans a lively discussion took place regarding the exact nature of development along the laneway.

Some members of the TDRP suggested the current plan for integrating the laneway might be a bit utilitarian and not entirely up to the lofty standards set by the rest of the project. Although reaction to the project as a whole was extremely positive with various DRP members calling it “spectacular” or otherwise lauding its concept and vision.

The development of the new park and community centre will create a solid, generative foundation for the Grand Park Village Condos. And, because these important components of the master plan will be completed prior to the erection of GPV the neighbourhood will retain its vitality throughout the construction process. Freed Developments and ELAD Canada are proud to be associated with this forward-looking project. You can read more about it here.

In an authentic way, the intersection of Yonge and Eglinton represents the beating heart of Toronto. Equidistant from the glittering towers of downtown and the cultural center of North Toronto and with the eastern and western ends of the city just a short stroll down Eglinton, it’s the perfect location for the new Art Shoppe Condos.

Designed by the architects Alliance the Art Shoppe Condos feature 12 and 28 storey components that will bring a total of 623 new homes to market when completed in early 2020.

The project, with its interior design by Cecconi Simone, has been making steady progress since concrete reached grade in 2017.

Since the beginning of 2019 other important milestones have been reached, including the forming of the podium and pouring of the tower’s 24 residential floors. With its final height of 99 meters in sight, the developers are on schedule to open in late 2019.

A recent visit to the site revealed that cladding was well underway and that window installation continues apace and should be approaching the 15th storey as of press time for this article.

Freed Developments, the developers of Grand Park Village (more info here), and their partners Capital Developments have already announced that the project is completely sold out, which makes this the latest chapter in a remarkable run of success for both companies.

The condo will also play host to some of the trendiest boutiques in Toronto spread out over tens of thousands of square feet of retail space sprinkled throughout podium. And there are plans in the works for both a major supermarket and a rooftop restaurant.

As cladding continues its relentless rise up the building exterior work continues within to finish out the myriad retail, community and private spaces within.

Work is also expected to commence during the summer on the rooftop infinity pool, which will be the longest in the city and take poolside luxury to new heights when it opens in 2020.

When finished the Art Shoppe Condo development will be the epitome of sophisticated urban living and create a nexus through which historical Toronto connects to a future defined by unlimited possibilities.