BIG changes coming to Queen Street West with MEC Moving in

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MATTHEW SLUTSKY

Senior Buzzer

2299

171

BIG changes coming to Queen Street West with MEC Moving in

Big changes are coming to Queen Street West, specifically at the intersection of Queen and Soho in downtown Toronto.

Rumour has it that Mountain Equipment Co-Op (aka MEC) has purchased the old parking lot at the north west corner, pictured below.

Source: Google Maps

According to sources, they are going to put their flagship store on ground level, with commercial offices above, and underground parking below.

It will be nice to see that parking lot gone, and some new retail space on the strip.

Ontario / General Chit-Chat

KEVIN KILLACKEY

Buzzer

3 BEST REPLY

I say scrap the Scarborough 3 subway stops and put in SEVEN LRT stops instead, for half the price. And concentrate on improving the highest density area: ie. Downtown Core. ie. New Mayor. ;)

MARCO DIFOTI

Senior Buzzer

550

The bigger question is: What is going to happen to the current MEC site?

I heard that @Great Gulf has purchased it.

DYLAN DILECCE

Buzzer

Hopefully something gets announced for their current site. With that large office project announced beside it for the Shoppers site and Queen Charlotte right behind, that'll be one busy block!

KEVIN KILLACKEY

Buzzer

There's no way the city should allow another highrise in the King & Blue Jays Way area - it has reach optimal density in there already - it would be too dense on the streetcars - too dense in cars. If everybody in the buildings could walk to work it would make sense, but since they cannot, there should be no additional condo buildings put in that pocket. Keep the MEC site commercial. That would be a good idea.

MATTHEW SLUTSKY

Senior Buzzer

2299

171

Here is a rendering of an office building for 388 King Street West (via @Hariri Pontarini Architects), which includes the Shoppers Site:

Source: http://www.cgarchitect.com/2014/01/toronto-office-proposal

But, not the MEC site. It will be interesting to see what happens with these two sites.

MARCO DIFOTI

Senior Buzzer

550

@Kevin Killackey, I would have to disagree. This is why we need the Downtown Relief line along King St.

KEVIN KILLACKEY

Buzzer

Awesome! It is good to hear we will be getting some much needed employment space on that Shoppers corner.

KEVIN KILLACKEY

Buzzer

I agree Marco. We need WAY more transit. We are 30 years behind in that department.

DYLAN DILECCE

Buzzer

@Kevin Killackey while I agree with you that it's going to put a terrible strain on the existing infrastructure in the neighbourhood, I'd say the Mirvish site is a much graver concern. But in both cases, I think it would be foolish to turn down attractive proposals based solely on a lack of infrastructure. If we don't pressure the City by moving forward on these projects and being vocal about congestion, then we'll never grow.

The downtown relief line for the subway is what's need in my opinion, even a future expansion of the PATH (you have QRC West offices just a couple blocks north too that'll be out in the cold).

KEVIN KILLACKEY

Buzzer

Agreed @Dylan DiLecce. Anyone know how much the MEC site sold for?

ALLEN

Buzzer

192

wow, Charlotte Street will be jam-packed with condos for being such a short road:
Charlotte Lofts, Glas Lofts, Charlie Condos, King Charlotte, and the site previously known as Langston Hall.
The brick building at the south-east corner of Charlotte and Adelaide would be last remaining property with potential to be redeveloped on this street.

MATTHEW SLUTSKY

Senior Buzzer

2299

171

According to Retail Insider, the current MEC site has not been sold:

https://twitter.com/RetailInsider_/status/426159075970121728

But, my source claims it to be true.

MATTHEW SLUTSKY

Senior Buzzer

2299

171

Looking like this one will be moving from a rumour to truth.