Phase 1A of the reconstruction of Alexandra Park began yesterday, with the demolition of the first of 44 townhouses.
You can get an idea of how big a job this is going to be from the fact the first step is designated 1A.
According to Toronto Community Housing's taciturn spokeswoman Sara Goldvine, the timeline for the entire redevelopment of
the poorly designed 1960s low-cost housing project will be 12-15 years, with just this initial demolition phase, being executed by
Pro Green, taking as much as four months.
The replacement rental townhomes were designed by
Levitt Goodman Architects, chosen in consultation with the current residents. The new Alexandra Park will also have market-priced condominiums, the first of which was designed by
Teeple Architects.
Tridel, the developer, will ultimately be building 61 rent-geared-to-income townhouses and two condo towers in the projects first phase. Considered a revitalization project, it will also be replacing street that was eliminated in the 60s, as well as extending another, to allow people to actually walk through the neighbourhood.
According to yesterday’s press release, further phases will include a park, a community centre, almost 6,000 square metres of retail, as well as an “incubator space for local social enterprise and business development” on the south side of Dundas.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Sara Goldvine