Tall Buildings in Toronto

As land prices escalate in the GTA, given the demand for high density housing, the need to construct taller buildings to maximize land use becomes more and more acute.  When I commenced doing condominium development work in the late 80's and into the 90's, buildings were generally in the 15-30 storey range for the most part.  These buildings were simpler to construct from both a construction and financing perspective.  As the pace of condominium development accelerated in the late 90's into the 21^st century, land has become premium priced and scarcer.  Condominiums began to grow significantly to maximize density and be profitable.   One of the first really tall buildings in Toronto to be built was constructed by Minto at the south-east corner of Yonge and Eglinton.  The project contained 2 towers of over 50 storeys and were completed in the face of major local opposition.  It resulted in the local Councillor, Anne Johnston, who supported the project, losing her council seat.  My hats off to Anne Johnston for taking a larger whole city view of the project and not pandering to nimbyism.  Where else would 50 storey buildings be appropriate other than at a major intersection like Yonge and Eglinton, when intensification is the route which is both being mandated by the province and by economic necessity?  Interestingly, Mississauga projects like the Marilyn Monroe building have broken through the 50 storey barrier in a municipality which was a low-rise city for the most part until 10 or 15 years ago.   The question now is how should Toronto deal with the new normal of buildings of 40 storeys as well as mega developments like the Aura at Yonge/Gerrard of 78 storeys, One Bloor Street East of 70 storeys (potentially going to 75 storeys) and the new Tridel /Build Toronto joint venture at 10 York Street of 75 storeys.   In the face of these developments, the City commissioned a report called "Tall Buildings Inviting Change in Downtown Toronto" prepared by Frank Lewinberg of Urban Strategies and David Pontarini of Hariri Pontarini Architects.  The report identifies where tall buildings should be concentrated, such as high traffic streets like Bay, Bloor, College and King Street and recommends further that the City establish regulations for maximum heights for high-rises.  It should be noted that height limits were taken out of the City's Official Plan several years ago.   There has been much criticism of this report from a design perspective.  The report has been described as "very restrictive" by Robert Glover, a principal with urban design firm Bousilds Inc. and a former Director of the urban design for the City.  Other architects and developers have taken issue with regulations which would sterilize the creativity of Toronto architects.  Clearly, there needs to be some site plan control to a certain extent in respect of high-rises but etching in stone the heights and locations of specific high-rises is not the way to go for the City.  It stifles the potential for creativity and ignores the growing need for high density sites throughout Toronto, not only on major arterial roads. Ryan Starr of the Toronto Star interviewed a number of architects who commented on the study as well as Harry Pontarini, one of the authors of the report.  His report can be viewed at  http://bit.ly/H7W5tY   The one good thing that comes out of this report is that the City is clearly attempting to give some structure to the massive condominium growth in the City.  Although the report may not be the full answer, there is no question that an overall vision for planning of the City is required so that Toronto can become the world class city is aspires to be.