Four Toronto neighbourhoods are about to get a European-inspired hipster rental building. The Oben Flats by Toronto's Superkül Architecture are seeking to re-invent the Toronto rental market with a series of upscale buildings in Leslieville, St. Clair West, Little Italy and the Castlefield Design District (near Dufferin and Eglinton). The project still under review by the city for a zoning by-law amendment, is planned for occupancy starting with the Little Italy project on Harbord Street in fall 2014. The site at 354 Harbord St. near Ossington was a former gas station, now a vacant lot. While it's an intriguing new project on the Harbord strip, the street mainly consists of houses with retail space and additional restaurants, more east of Bathurst. The new development on Harbord will house only six units in the three-storey townhouse complex. The developer is planning to finish the four developments very quickly with the final neighbourhood completed by 2016. Rental prices have not been published yet.
St Clair West, 109 Vaughan Road
This one's a nine-storey complex in midtown Toronto which includes 51 rental units varying in size from 580 to 1,225 square feet, and underground parking. Occupancy scheduled for 2015.
Leslieville, 1075 Queen Street East
On Queen West, this six-storey mixed-use building in Toronto's east-end will accommodate 48 residential rental units ranging from 465 to 1,200 square feet with retail space. Parking is accessed off a rear lane, and is serviced by a hydraulic car lift. Occupancy scheduled for fall 2015.
Castlefield Design District, 2280 Eglinton Ave West
This seven-storey building in Toronto includes 29 rental apartments varying in size from 645 to 1,150 square feet with retail space at grade level. There's parking at the rear of the building. Occupancy scheduled for spring 2016.
· Renderings Revealed for Gehry's Blockbuster Development [Curbed Toronto]
· Superkül, One of Nine Finalists for the 2014 Scotiabank EcoLiving Awards [Canadian Architect]