Two current applications continue a recent trend of redevelopment of older I-1 zoned properties in the Mt. Pleasant area, referred to more recently by some as “Mt. Pixel” because of the many tech companies that are locating in the area. The I-1 zone was amended by the City in 2013 to be more flexible in allowing office uses up to 3.0 FSR in density, and this has spurred several land sales; primarily to developers, either for speculative development or build-to-suits. The pace of recent development applications points to the demand for general office use in an area that was traditionally limited to light-industrial uses.
The two projects are outlined below:
This proposal for this site at the Southeast corner of East 5th and Ontario envisions restoring the facade of the existing one-storey industrial building on site, and adding a new 6-storey retail and office building with parking on the first and second floor (due to site slope). Details include:
The architect for this project is Christopher Bozyk.
An application has also been filed by Chard Development for a site at 34 West 7th, which was purchased for $8,150,000 earlier this year. Preliminary plans call for a 4-storey building with clothing manufacturing uses on the ground floor and office uses on the 2nd to 4th floors, and two levels of underground parking. The total density is not known at this time, but the site would allow for up to 54,350 SF (3.0 FSR).
The architect for this project is Proscenium Architecture.
A lowrise retail and office building at West Broadway and Ash Street has sold for $38,888,888 to a Chinese investor. The 34,600 SF building was sold by TPMG Capital, a long-time owner. The property is 31,250 SF in size and is zoned C-3A which allows a density of 3.0 FSR, but only for commercial use in this sub-area, this equates to $415 per buildable SF. The main retail tenant is Rogue, which has a long-term lease.