One Bloor
{{Short description|Skyscraper on Bloor Street and Yonge Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = One Bloor
| image = File:One Bloor 2022.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = View of the building from Yonge-Bloor intersection
| location = 1 Bloor Street East
Toronto, Ontario
| coordinates = {{coord|43.6702|-79.3865|display=inline}}
| roof = {{convert|257|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 76
| public_transit = {{rint|toronto|1}} {{rint|toronto|2}} Bloor–Yonge station
| start_date = August 2011
| topped_out_date = September 23, 2015
| est_completion =
| completion_date = December 2017
| floor_area = {{convert|68,634|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| developer = Great Gulf
| architecture_firm = Hariri Pontarini Architects
| structural_engineer = Jablonsky, Ast and Partners{{Cite web|url= http://astint.on.ca/one-bloor-street-east/ |title=Jablonsky, Ast and Partners | One Bloor East}}
| main_contractor = Tucker Hi-Rise Construction
| building_type = Residential and retail
| status = Complete
}}
One Bloor, previously One Bloor East and Number One Bloor, is a mixed-use skyscraper at the intersection of Bloor Street and Yonge Street in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The project was initially launched by developer Bazis International Inc. in 2007, before being cancelled and re-developed by Great Gulf. As of 2018, it is the tenth-tallest residential building outside of Asia and the 40th tallest residential building in the world.
History
There were several attempts to build a residential building at No. 1 Bloor Street East. In 2005, a 60-storey tower was proposed by Young and Wright.{{cite news| last1=Bentley Mays| first1=John| title=Yonge-Bloor reinvention is indeed special: As One Bloor takes shape, it is revealed as robust, dramatic and briskly urbane| work=The Globe and Mail| location=Toronto| date=September 11, 2015| url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/the-ongoing-reinvention-of-yonge-bloor-in-toronto-is-indeed-special/article26307712/| page=G2}} The site was sold to Bazis International and then to Great Gulf Homes. The site was formerly a two storey retail building with a Harvey's and City Optical on the ground floor, which was demolished once the One Bloor project proceeded.
=Bazis proposal=
In 2007, an 80-storey proposal was announced with much fanfare by Bazis International. The existing two-storey buildings located on the site were demolished in December 2008.
It was to be approximately {{convert|275|m|ft}} tall and was designed by Rosario Varacalli. The proposal called for a semi-transparent metal and glass tower with environmentally friendly and efficient technology. The building planned to include 189 hotel rooms and 612 condominium units.
In July 2009, both the final scope and the eventual fate of the project were called into question. News reports stated that the height would be reduced to 67 storeys to reduce the construction costs.{{cite news| title=Yonge-Bloor development on the brink| url=https://www.thestar.com/article/668302| work=Toronto Star| last=Donovan| first=Kevin| date=July 18, 2009| access-date=August 31, 2017}} The Toronto Star also reported that a group of lenders sought to have their $46 million loan be repaid, or that the court allow them to buy the vacant land. The lenders reportedly made a failed bid of $50.5 million to Bazis for the land.{{cite news| last1=Wong| first1=Tony| title=One Bloor finally breaks ground| work=Toronto Star| date=July 14, 2011| url=https://www.thestar.com/life/homes/2011/07/14/one_bloor_finally_breaks_ground.html}} Bazis purchased the site for $63 million in 2007, and cited the global lending crisis as a reason for the height reduction and the loan being in default.{{cite news|
title=One Bloor East reveals T.O.'s unquenchable thirst for condos| url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/one-bloor-east-reveals-tos-unquenchable-thirst-for-condos/article578058/| first=John| last=Daly| date=April 11, 2011| work=The Globe and Mail}}
=Sale to Great Gulf=
On July 22, 2009, the Toronto Star reported that Bazis had sold the property to privately held Great Gulf, who have expressed interest in building a skyscraper on the site.{{cite news| last1=Donovan| first1=Kevin| title=Tower's future up in the air as Yonge-Bloor site being sold| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2009/07/22/towers_future_up_in_the_air_as_yongebloor_site_being_sold.html| work=Toronto Star| date=July 22, 2009}} The Bazis proposal died as a result of the sale. Great Gulf relaunched the plans to build a condo tower there with a new design, reduced height (initially 91 to 80, but then 80 floors to 65), and a new name. Buoyed by strong sales, One Bloor grew from the downsized 65 floors to 70 floors and again to 75 floors. The skyscraper's final height is {{convert|257|m|ft}}, making it the second tallest residential tower in Canada, after nearby Aura.{{cite web| url=http://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/one-bloor-east| title=One Bloor East Urban Toronto Database| publisher=Urban Toronto| access-date=December 16, 2014}}
The building is designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, overseen by David Pontarini. Number One Bloor features over {{convert|27000|sqft|m2|order=flip|abbr=on}} of resort-inspired amenities on the sixth and seventh floors designed by Cecconi Simone. On the seventh floor terrace, there is {{convert|19000|sqft|m2|order=flip|abbr=on}} of outdoor amenity space designed by Janet Rosenberg & Studio, Landscape Architecture/Urban Design. The six-storey podium includes {{convert|100000|sqft|m2|order=flip|abbr=on}} of retail space.{{cite news| last1=Hume| first1=Christopher| title=Bloor Street may be messy, but it's vital| work=Toronto Star| date=February 13, 2015| url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1654871108| page=GT 4|url-access=subscription }} One major tenant, the Seattle-based Nordstrom Rack chain opened a {{convert|40000|sqft|m2|order=flip|abbr=on}} store in May 2018 and closed it in May 2023. It was the chain's first Canadian location.{{cite press release |title=Nordstrom Rack launches first Canadian Location at One Bloor |publisher=First Gulf |url=http://firstgulf.com/nordstrom-rack-launches-first-canadian-location-at-one-bloor/ |date=February 23, 2016}}
=Chick-fil-A controversy=
American chicken sandwich chain Chick-fil-A opened its first standalone Canadian location at street level on September 6, 2019 amid protests over the homophobic beliefs held by the evangelical owner of the restaurant chain and donations to anti-LGBT organizations,{{efn|According to American civil rights organization Southern Poverty Law Center's definition of anti-LGBT organizations}} especially given the location's proximity to Toronto's main LGBT community of Church and Wellesley.{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/chik-fil-a-toronto-opening-1.5273381| title = Chick-fil-A opens 1st Toronto location to adoring customers, angry protesters {{!}} CBC News}} {{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/09/06/protesters-rally-at-chick-fil-a-opening-in-toronto-over-owners-record-on-lgbtq-issues.html|title = Protesters rally at Chick-fil-A opening in Toronto over owner's record on LGBTQ issues|newspaper = The Toronto Star|date = September 6, 2019|last1 = Warren|first1 = May}}
Construction
The final scheme comprises a 76-storey condominium tower built by Great Gulf. The two-storey buildings located on the site were demolished in December 2008. Construction began in August 2011,{{cite news| title=Number One Bloor| work=MENA Report| date=May 19, 2015}} and the tower topped out in late 2015.
File:Number One Bloor site.jpg|One Bloor site, September 2009
File:1BloorEast Toronto JAN2013 Foundations.JPG|Foundations of One Bloor in January 2013
File:NumberOneBloorConstruction.jpg|One Bloor construction site in April 2015
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Toronto
- The One – supertall tower being developed across the street from One Bloor
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
https://ca.marketscreener.com/insider/HARRY-ROSENBAUM-A0C8IV/
External links
{{Commons category|One Bloor}}
- [http://www.1bloor.com Official website]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040701195636/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=147938 1 Bloor East at Emporis]}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091104043008/http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/1_bloor_east/ 1 Bloor East at urbandb.com]
{{Toronto skyscrapers}}
Category:Residential skyscrapers in Toronto