There’s an old joke that there are two seasons in Toronto: winter and construction. The latter has been top of mind for many in the recent past, especially around midtown where Metrolinx has been hard at work on the Crosstown LRT. As the 2022 opening date nears (as of May construction was 75% complete!), many current and future residents (like those at 38 Broadway) are celebrating. Why? Because they know that life on a transit line comes with big benefits.

A lot of different factors affect property value – location, design, architecture, unit type, and yes, proximity to efficient public transit. Studies, like this one from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), have shown that property values increase dramatically when located close to transit.

• The median sale price for homes is 4% to 24% higher.
• Price per square foot on commercial properties rises between 5% and 42%.
• Rent prices increase between 2% and 14%.

It’s a global phenomenon – in London, home values rise £1,000 for every minute people save in transit time on the tube; in Los Angeles, houses and apartments within a half kilometre from rapid transit are 2x more expensive; in Dallas, properties served by rail see a 39% increase in value –  but similar findings come up right here in Toronto. A 2015 study showed that property located close to a subway station sold for 30% more than properties 500 metres or more away.

“The number one thing people will pay for is walkability to a subway station,” says John S. Andrew, director of the Queen’s Real Estate Roundtable at Queen’s University. “In Toronto you can draw concentric circles around subway stations, and you can see the further you move outward, the lower the property values are. For example, if you’re three blocks from Eglinton station, that’s like gold.”

That’s great news for future residents at 38 Broadway. Not only will they be in a prime position to enjoy the vibrant neighbourhood amenities of Yonge and Eglinton – including some of the city’s most popular coffee shops, restaurants, fitness studios, and abundant retail – but they’ll also be just steps from the new Crosstown LRT, a dedicated route that will connect 25 stations along 19 kilometres between Kennedy in the east, and Mount Dennis in the west, making getting across town up to 60% faster and more convenient with links to 54 bus routes, three TTC subway stations, the UP Express, and three GO Transit lines.

Long-term home value. A faster commute. And there are even more pros to living near transit, including:

Improved Physical Health

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, people who commute via transit are three times more likely to reach their daily recommended allotment of physical exercise than those who drive to work.

A Happier Outlook

Less time stuck in traffic + less expensive parking costs + less road rage = more time to do the things you want, and that can have a huge positive impact on your mental health and the quality of your daily life.

Real Savings

The study from the APTA and the NAR also showed that transportation costs are significantly lower for homeowners living near transit lines, with savings, on average, between $2,500 to $4,400 per year.

Melanie Reuter, a former director at the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), sums it up, proximity to transit is “the feature that adds the most value to a home.”

If you needed another reason to consider 38 Broadway, this is it – with beautiful architecture, thoughtful amenities, and a prime location at Yonge and Eglinton just steps from the Yonge subway line and the future Crosstown LRT, this is an address that will enrich your life in every sense.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is scheduled to open in 2022. For the latest construction updates and milestones visit the Crosstown website at thecrosstown.ca. And for more information on 38 Broadway, contact us today

Look up, way up, and it’s easy to see that Toronto is soaring to new heights. But as our skyline continues to rise, it’s important to stop and ask ourselves, are the communities we’re building helping to lift the next generation? As Toronto grows up, we need to ensure that we’re providing safe and engaging places for our children to do the same. That’s why Collecdev is taking part in Growing Up, the Urban Design Guidelines from the City of Toronto, designed to create an inclusive, sustainable city for everyone, even our youngest citizens.

A History of Children in the Downtown Core

Children have lived in Toronto’s downtown core since families first settled in the area, but at the turn of the 20th century, the growing urban population began to squeeze out child-friendly infrastructure and kids were left to use their imaginations to turn streets, laneways, stoops, and staircases into impromptu urban playgrounds.

Recognizing that those environments were less than hospitable, the City of Toronto embarked on The Playground Movement, a radical shift in the organization of urban space that identified children as active users, worthy of consideration. Today, the Growing Up study continues that tradition, including children as a key stakeholder in a holistic approach to planning city life and public space.

Diversity Makes Room for Everyone

Diversity is the backbone of a strong community, and, as developers, it’s our responsibility to build homes conducive to that diversity. That means a range of unit types and sizes that not only supports households with children, but households at all different stages of life. It means connectivity to transit, access to community services, and a rich selection of neighbourhood amenities. It means affordability, not only for the initial home purchase, but through unit design that responds to a family’s changing needs, saving the cost of future relocation. Collecdev takes everyone into account, young and old, delivering complete communities that meet the daily needs of all residents.

The Design Guidelines

Between 1996 and 2016 more than 15,000 families with children made the move into a high-rise building in the city. 13% of Toronto families call a condominium home (well above the national average of 8.4%), and as that trend continues, the City has responded with Growing Up.

The guidelines are rooted in Toronto’s Official Plan, which “seeks to create an attractive and safe city where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy a good quality of life.” The goal is to integrate family-centric design into new multi-unit residential development, in other words, to make sure that every new vertical community offers a welcoming home to people of every age. To do that, the guidelines address the entire community experience, from the surrounding neighbourhood, to the family home, the same things we look at when planning a Collecdev community.

The Condo Suite

We begin in the suite itself by considering the unique needs of a family and what specific features can help address those needs. Suite are designed with efficient layouts; ample storage space; enough room to gather, connect, and share meals; bedrooms conducive to homework time and with windows that allow for natural light; and balconies or terraces that extend the living space and provide a modern version of the traditional backyard.

The Building

We move into the building where functional and flexible amenity space, and a critical mass of larger units, support a vibrant social life across multiple generations. Indoor and outdoor common spaces are designed to promote socialization and casual interaction between neighbours, creating a neighbourhood experience for the modern age.

The Neighbourhood

At the neighbourhood level, we focus on children’s experience of the city, considering things like safe pedestrian, cycling, and transit networks that encourage children’s independence; access to natural gardens that help kids learn about the environment and central parks that help anchor the neighbourhood; public art; high-quality, conveniently-located schools and child care; an active street life with community services and engaging retail; sustainable features; and a touch of whimsy to encourage young imaginations. These are all the elements that have long been included in low-rise neighbourhoods to encourage family living, and are now available in the urban centre, offering a new alternative for today’s modern families.

Over time, as children grow, these guidelines allow them to explore further and further afield, expanding their horizons as they move from their home, to the building, to the local neighbourhood.

How the Guidelines Were Developed

Similar to how we’re developing our newest project at 300 Bloor Street West, the guidelines for Growing Up were created in collaboration with the community. The City engaged development industry professionals (including architects, planners, landscape architects, and developers like Collecdev), families, residents, and city staff. They used traditional methods, like public meetings, and innovative new information-gathering campaigns like kinder-workshops, walking tours, pop-up events, online surveys, in-home “CondoHack” visits that revealed how families had “hacked” their homes to meet their unique needs, and design jams with high-school students that ensured that the perspective of youth were heard and included. They studied international and local case studies, bringing best practices home from across the globe, similar to the vision for Collecdev’s Scandinavian-inspired communities, TRETTI and Nørdic. And through extensive collaboration, the guidelines emerged, a comprehensive method to building thriving urban communities where children have the opportunity to participate, learn, engage, and grow.

At Collecdev we’ve always known that collaboration leads to better communities and we’re committed to building inclusive spaces that welcome people of all ages and generations. Through responsible development and thoughtful design, guided by the key tenets in Growing Up, we’re helping to ensure that growing up in Toronto means opportunity and inspiration for future generations, starting right now.

Discover Collecdev’s full portfolio of complete, multi-generational communities at collecdev.com. And for more information on the Growing Up consultations and guidelines, check out www.toronto.ca/growingupTO.

When something is easy, we say it’s like riding a bike, and the ride is about to get a whole lot easier thanks to a plan approved by Toronto City Council that could see new bike lanes installed on Yonge Street by the summer.

The vote to introduce protected bike lanes on a six-kilometre stretch of Yonge Street, running from Bloor Street to Lawrence Avenue, won by a huge majority (19-3) at a city council meeting late last year. The next stop is Toronto’s Transportation Services department. If all goes well, the lanes could be installed by the second quarter of 2021, offering people yet another convenient option to whiz across, around, and through midtown.

The move is part of a “complete streets” approach, an attitude that has gained traction despite, or perhaps because of, the state of global affairs. In a year where the city, the province, the country, and the world at large have been grappling with a global pandemic, Toronto has shown an incredible capacity to quickly adapt.

In June of last year, Mayor John Tory announced the introduction of CafeTO, a program that the mayor described as cutting through red tape “with wartime-speed” to allow restaurants and bars to expand their patios onto sidewalks and streets (we wrote about some of the local businesses taking part of the program in this post).

Similarly, the new bike lanes are part of another recent city initiative, ActiveTO, designed to make sure people have space to get around while respecting physical distancing, in part by expanding the cycling network.

Toronto has rapidly expanded its network of bike lanes since the start of the pandemic, introducing the largest one-year increase in on-street bike lanes in the city’s history. Approximately 25 kilometres of new bikeways have been installed, with new lanes on University Avenue, Danforth Avenue, and Bloor Street, allowing cyclists to move around safely, connecting the city, and mirroring major transit routes.

The new lanes on Yonge Street will introduce what local Ward 8 Councillor Mike Colle calls “a new way of looking at transportation,” ensuring the safety of cyclists, while relieving traffic congestion, and encouraging much needed support for local businesses. Residents, like those at 38 Broadway, will have even greater access to Yonge Street’s exciting lineup of shops, employers, and schools, and enjoy yet another way to stay connected to the rest of the city.

As more and more Torontonians opt for bikes as their means of transportation – staying active, saving time and saving the planet – the introduction of new infrastructure like the new lanes on Yonge Street will make it an even easier choice, and make midtown more appealing than ever.

For more on the Yonge Street bike lanes, check out this article from CBC News.

And for more on 38 Broadway and the connected midtown lifestyle coming soon from Collecdev, register here.

The neighbourhood around 38 Broadway is a year-round hub of excitement and activity with great options for restaurants, shops, and spaces to feel inspired and relaxed all day long. When the sun is out and temperatures rise, there are even more unique opportunities to explore. Apply your SPF and get ready for the perfect summer day in midtown.

MORNING

First things first: coffee. Whether you’re in search of an Americano, a cold brew, a flat white, or just good old-fashioned drip, you’ll find a favourite spot nearby. Check out De Mello Coffee, just one block north, serving up freshly roasted gourmet beans, plus a mouth-watering assortment of pastries, baked daily in-house.

Summer is the perfect time to take a break from your flat iron, but if the thought of leaving the house with your locks au naturel is a little too daunting then pop in to Blo Blowdry Bar for a blow-out that will outlast the heat. Gents enjoy a beard trim or a straight razor shave at Mankind.

If it’s the weekend, then the next item on the agenda is definitely brunch, or maybe it’s a Wednesday and you’re playing hooky – we won’t judge. Either way, you can’t start your day on an empty stomach. Yonge and Eglinton is one of the best neighbourhoods in the city for a wide range of breakfast fare. Mars Diner offers a classic style eatery with a wide menu selection, or if you’re looking for a little less Formica and a little more formality, visit Bar Buca on Eglinton where scrambled eggs get a major upgrade with burrata & black truffles.

Time for a little window shopping along Yonge, popping in and out of midtown’s beautiful boutiques for style inspiration and a dose of cool air. From big name brands like Lululemon, Club Monaco, and Sephora, to local favourites like Want Apothecary and bluboho, you’ll find an eclectic mix for every style, taste, and occasion.

AFTERNOON

Ever thought that crispy cauliflower tacos might rival the real deal? Judge for yourself with a side-by-side lineup of Mexican-inspired lunch fare, light enough for summer, delicious enough to fuel you up for the afternoon. Vegetarians will love Fresh on Eglinton’s crispy cauliflower tacos bursting with jicama, avocado, lemon aioli, napa cabbage, and beet sauerkraut. Meat lovers can head 100 metres east to La Carnita and choose from delectable combinations made with chicken, shrimp, sausage, steak, or cod.

Time to take a page from the Europeans and sneak in a little afternoon siesta. You’re close enough to home to pop in for a nap, but if you can’t bear to be inside when the weather is beautiful then grab a book and head to a neighbourhood park. Eglinton Park and Sherwood Park are full of shady spots under a canopy of trees. Or walk to St. Clements-Yonge Parkette where you can stop and smell the roses.

If you’ve got a second wind then why not put it to good use with a workout? Close your eyes and let the ride fly by at SPINCO. Climb to new heights with a VersaClimber workout at Burnout Fitness. Pack more intensity into less time at F45. Or channel your inner Karen Kain at Barreworks. Then it’s a short walk home for a refreshing shower in your spa-inspired bathroom. The night is still young.

EVENING

Nothing says summer like al fresco dining and Sip Wine Bar is just the spot. Specializing in Neapolitan pizzas, this neighbourhood favourite boasts an authentic Italian pizza chef with a repertoire of nearly two dozen different pizzas, all flash-baked in an authentic wood-burning oven specially imported from the Old World. Taste wines from northern, central, and southern Italy. Don’t worry, it’s only a 4-minute walk to get home.

If you’re not quite ready to call it a night then take your pick from a Hollywood blockbuster, stadium seating, and surround sound at Cineplex Yonge and Eglinton; LOL-ing with North America’s best standup at Absolute Comedy; or a night of friendly competition at Snakes and Lattes Midtown.

Photo courtesy of blogTO

Seldom is any season in Canada welcomed as enthusiastically as patio season, and perhaps never more so than this year. After nearly four months of lockdown orders due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many Torontonians were thrilled to dine al fresco when restaurants and bars finally opened their (out)doors last month.

Yonge and Eglinton has long been considered one of the city’s best spots to dine outside, and this year, there are even more places to choose from. A host of neighbourhood restaurants have introduced new patios on city sidewalks and curb lanes, all part of the CaféTO program, a city-wide initiative introduced by Mayor John Tory to allow for physical distancing and safer dining for all. Here are seven of the area’s best newcomers.

Little Sister Indonesian Food Bar
Indonesian food was meant to be consumed under a blazing sun, it makes the experience even more authentic. With a little help from a small lane reduction (thanks CaféTO!), Little Sister now offers a patio with seats for 30. Don’t miss the classic Nasi Goreng from the spot Toronto Life recently named as Toronto’s Best New Takeout.
littlesisterto.com | 2031 Yonge Street

Rose and Crown
For nearly half a century the Rose and Crown pub has been a neighbourhood institution at Yonge and Eglinton, but they’ve never had a patio… until now. This summer, snap up a spot among the new tables on the sidewalk in front of the classic English pub.
roseandcrown.com | 2335 Yonge Street

St. Louis Bar & Grill
This Toronto chain has always had a solid following for their patio, but this year, an expansion onto the side parking and curbside means there’s even more space to enjoy your favourite wings while keeping a safe social distance.
stlouiswings.com | 2050 Yonge Street

5 Doors North
This local restaurant stayed busy during the pandemic participating in Feed the Frontlines TO, an initiative that supports local restaurants by creating opportunities for employees to prepare and distribute meals to healthcare and social services workers around the city. Now open with expanded patio seating, they’re ready to serve even more customers for lunch, dinner, and cocktails in between.
fivedoorsnorth.com | 2088 Yonge Street

Tabule
It’s nearly impossible to decide among the menu of middle eastern delights at this midtown spot, so grab a table right on Yonge Street and settle in for a feast. Hot tip: you can’t go wrong with the namesake dish.
Tabule.ca | 2009 Yonge Street

Khau Gully
Authentic and healthy Indian food is now being served on a charming street-side patio. Tickle your tastebuds with a lineup of perfectly-spiced dishes like vegetable samosas, Kashmiri rogan josh, and the all-time favourite tandoori chicken.
khaugully.ca | 1991 Yonge Street

Balsamico
If artisan-made linguine with calamari, capers and olives in a rich San Marzano tomato sauce sounds like something you might want to try, then head to the expanded patio at Balsamico’s. Filling up faster than you can say “ciao.”
balsamico.ca | 2029 Yonge Street

Photo courtesy of Balsamico

Toronto – a city that’s always on the move, with exciting arts, culture, dining, business, and entertainment events that keep the city humming, 365 days a year. With the current global pandemic that pace has slowed somewhat, but throughout the uncertainty of COVID-19, front-line construction workers have continued to work toward a more connected future, advancing the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

In late April the project’s tunnel boring machines re-emerged from below ground, the path was cleared, and a train — or, more specifically, a light rail vehicle (LRV) – entered one of the crosstown tunnels for the very first time. According to Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency in charge of the project, an LRV 6216 travelled from the Eglinton Maintenance and Storage Facility (EMSF), over Black Creek Drive, and into the westbound tunnel, stopping just short of the Keelesdale Station platform before heading back to the EMSF along the same route.

Check out the video of the inaugural journey below:

This marks a milestone in the Eglinton Crosstown LRT progress, the start of a testing and commissioning phase that will ensure the LRVs run smoothly and that the trackwork, overhead power, and communications systems on the new transit line meet stringent quality and performance standards. Before its official opening in 2022, each one of the Crosstown LRT’s 76 light rail vehicles will need to travel 600 kilometres on the test track, the proverbial first step in a journey that will keep people connected for decades to come.

When complete, Line 5 (the Crosstown’s moniker within the TTC) will include 25 stops between Mount Dennis station in the west and Kennedy Station in the east. The route will move people across town up to 60% faster, making it more convenient than ever to commute to work, run errands, grab a bite, or visit friends across the city – great news for anyone who lives near a stop, including future Collecdev residents at 38 Broadway, just two blocks away from Eglinton Station where you can also access the Yonge-University line.

With the Crosstown LRT residents can live in a neighbourhood they love, and remain connected to everything they need to live, work, and play across the city. A few steps and a few stops and you can be dining in the Upper Village or window shopping in the Golden Mile. You can be biting into the flaky golden pastry of a pain au chocolat, a house-made Jamaican patty with a scotch bonnet kick, or a juicy Portuguese chicken dripping with homemade piri piri sauce. The Crosstown LRT will offer a portal into so many different communities, putting the entire city within easy reach.

Representing an ambitious investment of $8.4 billion, the Crosstown LRT project is the largest transit expansion in the history of Toronto, creating thousands of design and construction jobs, and providing lasting economic benefits to the city. Service will run both underground and at street level with dedicated lanes for large parts of the journey, eliminating traffic delays.

With the first tunnel voyage now complete, the LRT is one step closer to uniting communities from east to west, creating a more connected city and a better way to get where you need to go.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is scheduled to open in 2022. For the latest construction updates and milestones visit the Crosstown website at thecrosstown.ca.

*Photo Credit: Metrolinx

Time has shifted since the coronavirus pandemic began. And many of us are left feeling as if the ground has shifted beneath our feet. The things we used to rely on to define our lives and our days – work, schedules, errands, socializing – have suddenly been put on hold. This is a time when, more than ever, we need to stay connected. But how can we do that when we’re meant to be keeping apart

1. Reach out.
We may not be able to meet up for a coffee or get together for dinner, but thanks to technology, there are still many ways we can reach out to the people we love. Send a message. Write an email. Say hello on social media. Jump on a video chat. Pick up the phone. Let someone know you’re thinking about them. It’s amazing how many ways we can stay in touch with friends and family even without physical proximity.

2. Check in on the most vulnerable.
For many people living alone, the opportunity to socialize has all but disappeared. Make a point to check in on the most vulnerable, especially the elderly. Take your kids for a walk and wave hello from the sidewalk. Offer to pick up and deliver groceries (dropped off at the front door) if they need help. Phone your grandmother or grandfather, your great uncle, or your elderly neighbour. A chance to socialize, even in small ways, just might be the highlight of their day.

3. Consider becoming a volunteer.
If you have the desire and the time, consider becoming a volunteer. Organizations like Spark Ontario and Volunteer Toronto are spearheading efforts to help isolated residents and families in need during this emergency. Check out their websites for opportunities to help .

4. Support local business.
In addition to the emotional strain of social distancing and global uncertainty, there’s also the economic strain for many people who have lost their jobs or are struggling to maintain their small business. While we can’t show up in person, there are still ways you can shop local and show your support. Buy gift cards from your favourite neighbourhood spots (you’ll be helping them and have something to look forward to when we can once again be out and about). Contact small businesses on social media and find out if they’re offering delivery or curbside pickup. Independent businesses are what make a community unique. Support them now to help ensure they’ll still be around in the future.

5. As much as possible, stick to your regular routine.
Yes the world around us has changed, and yes, our days bear little resemblance to what they were just a few months ago, but there are still ways to stick to your regular routine. Used to getting your sweat on? Many yoga and fitness studios have moved their classes online or to social media platforms like Instagram Live. Missing your monthly book club? Meet up digitally using a virtual meeting tool like Skype or Zoom. Longing for the comfort of your Sunday service? Reverend Father Damian Young-Sam-You at St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Church, located right here at 44 Broadway, will be offering Good Friday and Easter Sunday messages (you can find the link on the St. Monica’s website) in addition to the pandemic prayer.

These are uncertain times, but if we look around, we are reminded of just how connected we all are.

collaboration noun
/kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən/

The act of working together with other people or organizations to create or achieve something.

Collaboration is a driving principle at Collecdev. It’s what purshes us each day to come to work, set new standards, and ask important questions like, how can we make this better? And how do people really want to live? But there’s an old expression, two heads are better than one, so we don’t answer these questions by ourselves, instead, we rely on the input of the communities in which we build. After all, who better to weigh in on neighbourhood development than the people who make up the neighbourhood?

Community collaboration at 38 Broadway.

At 38 Broadway the community is answering the call. Whether it’s through connecting with the team, participating in community meetings, or staying up to date with the latest news on our blog, community residents, congregation members, and key stakeholders are seizing the opportunity to give input and shape the way this development evolves.

Why is community engagement so important?

The benefits of community engagement are well documented: lower project costs, increased sharing of information, smarter decision-making, improved outcomes for all stakeholders, and a greater understanding of the history and context of the site. The best ideas emerge through collaboration, so your input is vital to making sure this project is the best it can be.

For nearly 115 years St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Church has been providing a place of inspiration, engagement, and belonging. Our goal is to continue that tradition, with a thriving new development that celebrates faith, community, and growth for the next 100 years. With your help, we can achieve that aim, enhancing the experience of everyone who interacts with the site, every day.

broadway38 stg.wpengine.com, a place to share ideas.

We’ve set up this website as a place to share ideas and we invite you to join in.

Check out the project status to see what milestones are coming up in the approvals, planning, and development process.

Find important facts and figures about the proposed new design.

Read about the team bringing this project to life.

Discover the philosophy and vision for the site.

Stay up to date with the latest news on our blog.

Connect with our team to voice any questions or concerns.

By sharing your thoughts, you can play an important role in shaping this project and contributing to a development that will benefit the Yonge and Eglinton community for decades to come. So come and collaborate, together we can make something incredible.

Have something to say? Connect with our team and we promise to get back to you as soon as possible.

When the Archdiocese of Toronto and St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Church put out an RFP for the redevelopment of 40-44 Broadway, they were hoping, in some ways, for the holy trinity of urban development. The selected architectural firm had to have demonstrated capacity for creating vibrant and sustainable communities; they had to be adept at balancing past, present, and future; and they had to be passionate about enriching the quality of the human experience. It was a tall order, but when KPMB Architects submitted their proposal (a joint venture with esteemed community developer Collecdev), it seemed the order had been filled. Here we sit down with KPMB Partner, Marianne McKenna, and Principal, Bob Sims, to talk about the community, the church, and the plans for this unique site.

Why is KPMB uniquely positioned to bring the redevelopment of 38 Broadway to life?

KPMB has established a reputation for design excellence in a broad range of building types, from cultural and academic projects, to residential and hospitality. Each of these projects focuses on engaging the broader community with buildings that relate to context and improve the public realm beyond the constraints of the immediate property, something that is essential to the plans for 38 Broadway.

How did you approach the new design of the church – what was your inspiration?

St Monica’s Parish represents a distinctive form of Catholicism, in an urban context surrounded by tall residential buildings. Our approach to the worship space sees a distinct and scared element set within the Narthex, the parish hall, and the steeple, the program elements of this congregation.

The interior of the worship space is a private sanctuary, protected from city life on Broadway, lending privacy to the worshipers. Strategically placed openings provide natural light, which is both symbolically and atmospherically significant.  The entire congregation sits beneath a distinct roof whose design was inspired by the veil worn by Saint Monica.

How did the context of the surrounding neighbourhood influence the design?

The intersection of Broadway Avenue and Yonge Street is rapidly transforming. The traditional model of single family homes is seeing the addition of more environmentally-friendly and higher density residential communities that offer greater access and diversity in the city’s growing hubs. In this context, the church’s small footprint needed to stand proudly on its own as a strong expression of Catholicism in the city. Through the majestic steeple and eycatching curved roof, the church captures that expression, small but mighty.

What element of the redevelopment are you most proud of?

I would have to say the steeple. The design was inspired by the idea of two hands, delicately holding a cross. A symbol for the community, the steeple visibly represents the faith of the congregation, and creates a public identity on the street. It reaches to the sky as a sacred beacon and brings balance to the residential tower.

How has the design evolved as a result of community feedback and engagement?

The community is a vital source of inspiration, information, and engagement. The development of the site, and its relationship to the neighbourhood, has been inspired by community feedback. For example, based on comments and requests, the site has been designed with a public piazza on Broadway, a gathering space for residents, worshipers, and visitors to mix and mingle.

What are some of the unique challenges that emerge when designing a site that combines a residential building with a faith-based community space?

The biggest challenge is balancing scale and the different needs of the programming (i.e. both worship and residential), while building cohesion for the site. Every element – from the residential tower, to the piazza, to the church – needs to have a relationship to the other elements and to the overall site, while still maintaining a unique position and purpose.

The plans for 40-38 Broadway mention a contemporary narthex. What is a narthex and how did it become a part of the design?

A narthex is the traditional “public space” or entrance lobby in a Christian church. Typically located on the west side of the building, it acts as a social gathering space and a symbolic element that the parishioners “pass through” to reach the main place of worship. At St. Monica’s the new narthex will be a soaring, light-filled space, sheltered from the residential and urban context, marking the transition from daily life into the church.

What has been the biggest concern of neighbourhood residents and how have you addressed it?

As with many urban redevelopments, the item of biggest concern has been the height of the residential tower. While the proposed tower is the same height as several future developments along Broadway Avenue that have already received city approval, we are sensitive to the community concerns and have worked to create a design that fits within the existing neighbourhood context. For example, on the north side, the residential tower will be set back, allowing the church to provide a more human-scale transition from Broadway and maintain a welcoming streetscape that responds to the human experience.

How does the residential tower relate to the new church?

Architecturally, the organic façade of the building establishes a relationship with the church, drawing on the softly curved lines of the rooftop and existing in balance with the vertical steeple. Materially, both buildings draw from the same source, expressing warmth, quality, and timelessness. Programatically, the tower’s podium base will include residential units dedicated for retired priests, creating a natural connection between residents and the church. At the same time, both elements will have their own unique personality, striking a balance between distinct character and common ground.

Is this the first church you’ve designed?

No actually. We’ve previously developed a strategic masterplan for the St Michael’s Cathedral block on Bond Street that incorporates a new centre for Catholic community use, a new St Michael’s Choir School, and a new chapel. We’ve also worked on designs for the Bloor Street United Church and Saint Thomas Anglican Church in the Annex.

What special considerations go into designing a church? How does the spiritual / religious element translate in the architecture?

A church is a sanctuary space, balancing the sacred and symbolic, and all aspects of the design must serve those principles, creating an expression of the Catholic liturgy. For example, the placement of windows to let in the eastern light of the rising sun, the placement of the “Stations of the Cross” to create a procession, the creation of a narrative through a particular flow – these are all examples of how the religious elements of a worship space translate into architecture. Drawing on sources of traditional Catholic symbolism creates an exciting opportunity in contemporary design.

What does the new church offer the parish?

The new St. Monica’s Roman Catholic Church will offer a welcoming sanctuary of warmth, abundant natural light, and great beauty. The intimate worship space will embrace parishioners in curving pews, wrapping around the altar. The parish hall will be a unique and fully accessible sunlit room with views downtown, across the open playing field of North Toronto Collegiate Institute.

How does the new plan contribute to a stronger community?

The church is not just being maintained, but reestablished as a beacon of modern faith and inclusion on Broadway. In its new configuration it will be set back from the sidewalk to create a welcoming plaza connecting to the community, a gesture of city building that aligns with the city’s recommendation for midtown streets. The three-storey scale of the church will define the streetscape and replace surface parking with more welcoming outdoor community space. The higher residential tower will be set back beyond the church, along the western edge of the property. The site as a whole will welcome residents, worshipers, and guests and invite them to mingle, creating new social networks and a stronger sense of wellbeing and home.

How can design affect the way people experience everyday life?

KPMB designs prioritize the human experience through the creation of vibrant communities, sustainable cities, and inspiring spaces. These meaningful spaces are the result of a thoughtful narrative about the experience of the space and where people want to be. Places that are warm, welcoming, and inclusive create opportunities to enrich everyday life. At 38 Broadway everyone who passes by the site, whether they’re a resident, parishioner, or visitor, will experience how the church’s presence enriches the daily composition of this midtown block. Livable cities are built on the diversity of their institutions as urban experiences for people, and that’s exactly what we’re creating here.

When the Eglinton Crosstown LRT was first announced in 2007 by Toronto mayor David Miller and TTC chair Adam Giambrone it felt like an exciting beacon of hope for commuters everywhere, albeit one that was more than a decade away. Fast forward almost 13 years and the Crosstown LRT is nearly complete, ready to deliver on its promise to help support “complete communities” in the city through 25 new stations and a faster way to connect from east to west.

Image credit: www.thecrosstown.ca

Ideally positioned in the centre sits 38 Broadway, embracing the past while anticipating the future. When the Crosstown LRT opens its doors in 2021, residents will find it easier than ever to access the best of Toronto from their home in the heart of Yonge and Eglinton.

To celebrate the exciting new transit infrastructure, here are 10 interesting facts about the new route:

1. The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit is a $5.4 billion project that stretches between Weston Road and Kennedy Road and represents the largest expansion of the TTC’s rapid transit network since the 1960s.
2. When complete, it will provide 19 kilometres of fast, reliable service and help people cross the city 60% faster!
3. From east to west, the Crosstown LRT connects to three subway lines (Yonge-University, Bloor-Danforth, and Scarborough), three GO Stations, 54 bus routes, and the UP Express, reaching out across the entire region.
4. Faster than a streetcar, bus, or subway, the Crosstown LRT will move both above and below ground, with a dedicated track, so there’s no getting stuck in traffic.
5. The line will include 25 stops between Kennedy in the east and Mount Dennis in the west, offering residents and visitors more options to get to work, run errands, grab a bite, or visit friends across the city.
6. Experts agree that the arrival of the LRT will boost real estate values across the entire line, introducing new residences, mixed-use projects, and street front retail.
7. The Crosstown LRT is equipped to handle up to 15,000 passengers per hour in either direction.
8. There will be 916 bicycle parking spots available across the Crosstown stations, making it easier than ever to reduce your carbon footprint and stay active at the same time.
9. 4,000 new trees will be planted as part of the landscaping plans.
10. The Crosstown LRT includes a variety of public art installations, offering moments of inspiration on every trip.

Main image credit: www.infrastructureontario.ca/Eglinton-Crosstown-LRT

The Crosstown LRT is scheduled to open in 2021, with the new Eglinton stop just steps from 38 Broadway. For LRT construction progress and milestones visit www.thecrosstown.ca and for more information about 38 Broadway visit https://38broadway.ca/