Back then, the thought of having a family-friendly community right in downtown Toronto would seem like a bit of a crazy and far-fetched idea. However, now that times have changed, it looks like people are starting to embrace this concept.
In fact, a lot of people started coming to Toronto to see the lively downtown and waterfront areas. This started with the groundbreaking for the Sugar Wharf project, a five-condo community which is set to be built on Toronto’s waterfront.
But how can it exactly change the area? To answer that question, let’s first know what Sugar Wharf is.
An Overview of Sugar Wharf
According to Menkes Development Ltd., Sugar Wharf is a place where your work, dreams, and play can all live happily. It’s a place where every amenity you could think of – from restaurants, transit, schools, and offices to parks, homes, and shopping centers – are all gathered in one amazing community. Sugar Wharf is more like the ideal utopia you’dhave imagined.
The project will start with a 25-storey, 695K SF office building housing the LCBO headquarters. Eventually, it will also include five condo towers with different heights varying from around 64 to 90 storeys. It will also include a mid-rise rental building plus a grocery store along with a flagship LCBO store.
To further connect with the community, and to make Sugar Wharf’s community approach possible, it will also include a public school located within the first three floors of its commercial podium and a two-acre park.
How It can Help Shape the Waterfront
One of the problems with condo community projects in downtown Toronto is the lack of schools. With the ever-growing population and the rise in condo developments these past few years, looking for a nearby school becomes even harder.
Fortunately, Sugar Wharf aims to resolve that problem. However, it’s not actually the first to do so. Earlier, the new CityPlace neighborhood in the west has taken the initiative by opening two public schools along with a community centre and child care.
There’s also the issue with transit. That said, Sugar Wharf will include a new transit line along with a connection to the PATH system in downtown Toronto. This will aim to connect the project’s estimated 8,000 residents plus 4,500 workers to the downtown.
With more than $260 million garnered through this project, the city was able to secure a funding commitment to make the transit a possibility. According to Ontario’s Minister of Finance Charles Sousa, this funding will be used to invest in even greater infrastructure and more public transit for everyone in the city.