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Work begins at National Casket Company Factories Under construction now is the first he solid old line of nineteenth-century T phase, a six-storey podium that reflects the factory buildings from 89 to 109 massing of the heritage block and supports Niagara Street – due north across the two square towers rising a further six and tracks from the Blue Barracks – has been eight storeys (to a height of 52 metres). ripe for redevelopment for years. When The two main structures are separated by Aspen Ridge Homes acquired the site from an interior courtyard whose north side will Jerudan Developments, work began on a be the restored brick walls at the back of new design. Unsurprisingly, the project the factories. The courtyard includes, at is not being called “The Coffin Factory,” the eastern end, the old Kiln Building and which is how most people know it – the its chimney. The only direct connection of developers just call it “West.” the two phases will be a tunnel under the Led by Babak Eslahyou, Core Architects courtyard into the basement of the factories. created a two-phased design. The The new build includes 15 live-work industrial buildings along Niagara will units and 272 condominiums while the become residential in the upper floors heritage block (the second phase) will and have substantial commercial spaces have 52 condos, 6 live-work units and at street level. The heritage consultant is almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor Philip Goldsmith Architect. commercial space. Each apartment will Residents of the inexpensive live-work have what the developer calls a bicycle units in the old factories were evicted locker and – if you commit to one of the in 2019 and the industrial outbuildings larger market units – you could have one behind the solid brick structures began of the 178 underground parking spots for to be cleared last summer. By year’s end an extra $55,000. The main vehicle access the excavation was nearly ready for cranes will be off Tecumseth. to be erected.
14 The Fife and Drum December 2020
The heritage block is a row of similar Exterior walls of will be preserved and structures. At the eastern end, 89-91 interiors are entirely gutted. Niagara was built in 1884, with a fifth will be aligned with floor added later; 95-97 was built in 1886; and organized along 101-107 was built in 1887; and 109 Niagara, serving units that face at the corner of Tecumseth, was also built An old carriageway at in 1887. City Council designated them the block will be reopened all “as being of cultural heritage value or passage to the courtyard. interest” on February 11, 2015, in By-Law passageway becomes 1036-2015. Heritage staff recommended exit to Niagara. approval of the PGA conservation plan on Although the old industrial October 25, 2019.
the old buildings seemed to back onto the railway corridor, restored while the in fact they’re separated from the tracks The new floors by 28 Bathurst. That’s now the Stackt existing windows Market on a short-term lease from the a central corridor City. This deep lot with a long history of north and south. industrial contamination – it’s where the the eastern end of old gas holders stood – is designated future as a pedestrian parkland. For a look at how the industry The existing here was portrayed in 1912, see the F&D a one-way vehicle of April 2020.
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