Mixed-use ‘Wonder’ condominium to replace Toronto’s Weston Bakery
Graywood Developments and Alterra have their latest mixed-use project, Toronto’s Wonder Condos. Situated at the former Bread Factory at Eastern Avenue and Logan Avenue, Wonder will transform a local Leslieville landmark into the premier, modern residences featuring true hard-loft conversions alongside new condos and townhomes. With Queen Street East’s blend of urban amenities and small town feel, Wonder residents will have access to much of what makes the area desirable, while also benefiting from the innovative new plans that are slated to surround this east Toronto location.
“It’s a unique moment in history for the east end. You have the established, sought after charms of Leslieville, with great restaurants and shops along Queen and a family-centric residential feel that is going to remain intact,” says Graywood President and CEO Stephen Price. “At the same time, to the immediate south you have a generational shift that is about to take place where former industrial lands are going to transform into a new urban centre with new transit, new places to work and new places to entertain.”
“It’s an exciting time and we are thrilled to be a part of it,” adds Alterra President and CEO Robert Cooper. “Adaptive re-use projects like this are always unique and provide so much additional value for the community and our purchasers. We are stewarding a piece of history and making it viable for years to come.”
Helming the transition from bread factory to condos are acclaimed architects Diamond Schmitt, along with Toronto-based interior designers TACT Design. Wonder’s ambitious design includes one of Toronto’s largest structural heritage preservations in situ, converting and adapting the existing form into hard lofts and commercial space within a new 8-storey residential condominium.
“We knew that Diamond Schmitt were the right architects for this development,” says Neil Pattison, Graywood’s VP of Development, Project Management. “They know how to break down the built form of a large building to achieve a human scale, to fit contextually within the existing residential neighbourhood.”
To anchor the building, the architects retained the masonry that is central to the identity of the factory and the Leslieville area. “We had to pay homage to the industrial past of the building,” says Lead Architect Don Schmitt. “But we also had to make sure we were good neighbours. In terms of building height, we’re transitioning from 3 storeys to the north and terracing up to the new construction. That transition creates very special residences with very large outdoor terraces.”
Graywood, Alterra and the design team worked with the City’s Heritage Preservation Services to ensure the appropriate conservation of this historic property during its conversion, considering everything from window size and materials, to the new materials being introduced.