Past set to meet future in The Distillery District
September 13, 2021
32-storey Goode condo will add to area’s appeal as a residential neighbourhood
There has been frequent expansion going on in The Distillery District since the 1830s when plans were first put in place to turn surplus grain from a grist mill into whisky.
Designated a national historic site, Parks Canada notes on its web site that “exploiting new technologies and commercial opportunities, Gooderham and Worts grew steadily, paralleling Toronto’s rise as a manufacturing centre.
“With the large stone distillery erected in 1859-61 and brick malthouse, kilns, warehouses, shops and offices built before 1900, this complex is an outstanding example of Victorian industrial design in terms of integrity, historical associations and aesthetic qualities.”
The Distillery District has continued to evolve since it re-opened in 2003 not as one of North America’s largest makers of whisky, but as a repurposed arts and entertainment district.
There will also be a new residence there by the spring of 2025 called The Goode, a 32-storey mixed-used development by Graywood Developments to be located nearby at 33 Parliament St. in the district.
Company president and CEO Stephen Price, says developing one of the last parcels in the area “comes with a fair share of responsibility.
“The Distillery District has one of the richest histories in Canada, from its industrial past to its emergence as a world-class destination for vibrant retail, cuisine, entertainment and cultural festivals.”
Neil Pattison, senior vice president of development at Graywood, said the key to the initiative is that the area is being expanded.
Plans call for 540 units ranging in size from a studio to luxury three-bedroom condos plus a den with pricing starting from the $400,000s and ending somewhere around the $2 million range.
And just as prices vary, so too will the type of residents who eventually move in, ranging from first-time buyers to families to couples wanting to downsize.
“The draw will definitely be the Distillery District,” said Pattison. “We like a mix of people in our buildings because getting that mix of cultures and demographics is what makes interesting places. That’s why people come to cities. People come see not just live with families, people, come for that mix and that vibrancy and so that’s what we are targeting here in this building.”
The layering of residential buildings into the area has changed the area from being a destination that normally might only be busy on the weekend to a place that is busy throughout the day, he said.
“One of the key components of our building is we have 20,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. We’re putting a new retail edge on the South side so where there’s nothing at the moment, you’re going to have more shops and restaurants.”
According to a Graywood release, amenities will include a multi-purpose room, a co-working area, fitness studio, bicycle repair room and pet wash. In addition, a “roof terrace with a swimming pool and rooftop garden (will) stand atop the 10-storey podium overlooking Distillery Lane.”
Partners on the project, which launches this month, include architectsAlliance, creators of the original residential masterplan for the area and the designer of three of the condo buildings that exist there now.
“The Distillery has emerged as one of the most desirable residential neighbourhoods in the city, while realizing its vision as a flourishing cultural and entertainment centre,” said Peter Clewes, the firm’s managing partner and design director.
“While individual design expressions evolve over time, our underlying design principle is constant: to preserve the soul of this remarkable place.”
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