b'PROJECT PROFILEA NEW DAY FOR MIRVISH VILLAGEPRESERVING THE SPIRIT OF HONEST EDS HOME By Matthew BradfordASK ANY LONG-TIME TORONTONIANto envision a new life for the site. Now,of the uniqueness of the site with TO NAME THEIR FAVOURITEseven years later, Westbank is leading aexisting neighbourhood contexts [It] LANDMARK, AND HONEST EDS IS LIKELYteam that includes EllisDon to transformis an excellent example of collaboration TO TOP THEIR LIST. Yet while the iconicthe former home of Honest Eds into abetween the City, community members retail outlet closed in 2016, the site iscomplete community featuring affordableand the developer.undergoing a revitalization that will put therentals, a new public park and enhanced famed Bloor and Bathurst location back onpublic spaces, preserved heritageTAKING SHAPEthe cultural map. buildings and innovative neighbourhoodDemolition of the former Honest amenitiesall centred around a year- Eds building occurred in 2017, with Mirvish Village is conceived as around public marketplace. construction on the Mirvish Village site highly intricate and layered mixed-usebeginning soon after. Today, EllisDons community that brings together theImportantly, the plans for the formercrews are in the midst of constructing broadest range of residents, visitors,Honest Eds site aim to remain faithfulsix buildings of varying heights (13, business owners and patrons thatto the Mirvish familys original ethos19, 24, and 25-storeys) designed by Toronto has ever seen in one project,with its emphasis on affordable livingVancouver-based Henriquez Partners says Anthony DeCarli, developmentand bringing neighbours together. InArchitects and Toronto-based architect of principal with Westbank Corp, which is2019, the Canadian Institute of Planners spearheading the development.(CIP) Award of Excellence recognizedrecord Diamond Schmitt. The buildings this vision with an Award of Excellencewill feature about900 rental units, Westbank purchased the Honest Eds/ for Urban Design, noting, [The Mirvishover a third of which will be designated Mirvish Village site from the Mirvish familyVillage Redevelopment Plan] strives toaffordable rentals. They will also share an in 2013. Soon after, the development firmachieve a balance between heritageinterconnected podium of varying heights launched consultations with communityconservation, transit-supportive density,that will host a variety of retail and service members and resident associationsrespectful integration and preservationoutlets and workspaces.18Quarter 2 2020 BUILDERSDIGEST'