Preservation and regeneration of a cherished neighbourhood
Mirvish Village marks a shift in Toronto city-building by providing a necessary, new development model that includes rental housing, public spaces and retail animation in the Bloor and Bathurst neighbourhood. The project reimagines 4.5 acres in downtown Toronto – including the site formerly occupied by the beloved Honest Ed’s store – as a comprehensive purpose-built community for rental apartments and innovative retail. Mirvish Village will be home to over 2,000 Torontonians, comprising 33 micro buildings that appeal to the human scale. Of the development’s almost 900 rental suites, 40% will offer rents at or below 30% of median Toronto household income, and over 40% will be family-sized units. Inspired by the small building floorplate densification of Tokyo, the collection of buildings is broken into small towers and streetwall buildings with retail at the ground plane to preserve the rhythm of the existing streetscape. The development’s fine-grain approach fits seamlessly into the surrounding urban fabric known for its diversity and vitality.
Mirvish Village will preserve and honour the site’s heritage and history. A robust consultation process helped shape its mix of uses, from Honest Ed’s Alley, to an incubator space for start-up retailers that gives a nod to the landmark store, to vibrantly programmed outdoor spaces. The heritage houses that formed part of the original Markham Street Art Colony will be restored, bringing life back to these houses with the addition of new restaurants and cafes to enliven the streetscape. The development, which is designed to meet LEED Platinum ND standards, will include a site wide utility and support sustainable transportation with extensive bike and car co-op programs.
The anticipated completion for Mirvish Village is summer 2024.
Design Architect: Henriquez Partners Architects
Architect of Record: Diamond Schmitt Architects
Planner: Urban Strategies
Type
Location
Toronto, ON
Size
900,000 ft2
Awards
- World Architecture News Awards, Future Projects – Multi Use, Bronze, 2023
- Grands Prix du Design Awards, Gold Certification: Commercial Building / Mixed-Use Building, 2022
- Architecture MasterPrize, Honourable Mention – Mixed Use Architecture & High Rise Buildings, 2022
- Azure AZ Awards, Winner & People's Choice – Urban Design Visions, 2022
- AIA Canada Awards, Citation – Urban Design, 2021
- Canadian Institute of Planners, Award for Planning Excellence – Urban Design, 2019
- Architizer A+ Awards, Popular Choice Winner – Residential Unbuilt, Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors), 2019
Bloor and Bathurst Streets -- Construction Progress 
Bathurst Street – Construction Progress I don’t know of a more robust city-led and public process than the one that got us to this point, in Toronto or in Canada.
Mike Layton, Former Toronto City Councilor
Lennox Street Elevation 
Bloor Street Elevation 
Aerial View from Bloor and Markham Streets looking Southeast 
View from Bloor & Bathurst looking Southwest 
View from Bloor & Bathurst looking Southwest 
View from Bloor Street looking Southeast 
View from Park looking Northeast 
Aerial View from Lennox Street looking Northwest 
View from Honest Ed's Alley looking South 
View from Markham Street looking Northeast 
Aerial View of Mirvish Village Site Related
