[Northern Light]

This project started over a decade ago but was held up by red tape in a town afraid of dreaming big. So yeah, I like to believe that this is what Frank is thinking of Toronto's bureaucracy wherever he is right now:

Where did you get this idea from?

It's not true.

The City approved the initial application (post OMB) in 2017. The developer initially suggesting they would start building in 2019, but instead resubmitted their zoning, changed uses (hotel) and added height.

Across time, the leadership team of the developer also changed.

You can see from this post inquiring about the status of this project in 2020 that the City was not a leading cause of delay here:

It's all well and good to slag City staff if they've screwed up or screwed around, but when they are guilty of neither it's a rather unreasonable thing to do.

 

[Towered]

It was obvious he wouldn't see these towers completed, but at least he got to see the first one start, including the gorgeous cladding.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

What a giant..whose shoes and shoulders will be difficult to take up. R.I.P., Mr Gehry. /bows

 

[nightstreak]

Where did you get this idea from?

I dunno… here?

I’m referring to when the project got started and the city gave it a hard time because it was removing the Princess of Wales theatre.

Sure the compromises (on both sides) made it better and more realistic but had it not been for a municipal culture intent on bland architecture both (or all three) towers would have likely been built by now.

I guess you could nitpick at my comment and say that the towers as currently planned were around since 2017 but yeah, we’re days away from 2026… so about a decade.

 

[Civdis]

Such a sad day, but he lived a long full life and achieved so much. One of the great things about being an architect is that your public legacy lives on for all of us to enjoy. RIP Mr Gehry

 

[Northern Light]

I’m referring to when the project got started

I get the original start date, the city initially dealt w/the application by 2014, but it went to the OMB (later LPAT and now OLT). It was the developers' choice to appeal.

and the city gave it a hard time because it was removing the Princess of Wales theatre.

As it should have.

Sure the compromises (on both sides) made it better

Yes, it did.

but had it not been for a municipal culture intent on bland architecture both (or all three) towers would have likely been built by now.

This makes no sense at all, it was the City that insisted that Gehry remain on board and codified that in the approvals.

At no point did the City seek to bland anything here.

I guess you could nitpick at my comment and say that the towers as currently planned were around since 2017 but yeah, we’re days away from 2026… so about a decade.

It's not nitpicking. It's fact checking. It was the developer who resubmitted again in 2019. They had their approvals, that they missed their 2019 construction target was entirely on them.

Similarly, they only proceeded with one tower, as they couldn't sell through two at once. Nothing to do with the City.

The developer didn't submit the request to the City to move ahead (permits, road closures ) until 2022.

In fairness to the builder this was a very high risk and complex project and very expensive. It's understandable there were many details to be worked on and re-worked over time.

But none of that is on the City.

 

[Rascacielo]

Rest in Peace to this irreplaceable titan. Some of the most remarkable buildings he has ever designed are here in the the States, and I am pleased that Canada is not only receivin’ his tallest ever project in the world, but the fact that he desired it in his hometown and home country must have held significant meanin’ for him. I am grateful that he was able to witness its construction before his passin’. Go ahead and approve Forma West, in his honor.

Forma West was approved years ago, but poor market conditions are postponing (maybe even jeopardizing) its realization.

 

[mcbg1]

Forma West was approved years ago, but poor market conditions are postponing (maybe even jeopardizing) its realization.

People who bought 300 sf studios for 800k in this first tower are going to be in big trouble when construction is done. West tower isn't happening anytime soon.

 

[A Torontonian Now]

To call Gehry an architectural titan would be an understatement. An inspiration for all that the best part of your career can start more than 30 years into it. What a loss. How fortunate we are to have this gorgeous project well underway.

 

[Koops65]

RIP Frank

 

[Koops65]

Link to HD renders

 

[Rascacielo]

People who bought 300 sf studios for 800k in this first tower are going to be in big trouble when construction is done. West tower isn't happening anytime soon.

We have to thank them for making the shorter tower a reality. Their loss, our gain

 

[GameOnBrad]

Peaceful snowy morning with something being filmed right beside FORMA.

 

[Civdis]

We have to thank them for making the shorter tower a reality. Their loss, our gain

Unlike the One, this developer will actually get this thing built and the pre-con buyers will have to close. Hopefully for them, the market may be stronger in 2 or 3 years (sorry for the derail to real estate discussion, back on topic now )

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Similarly, they only proceeded with one tower, as they couldn't sell through two at once. Nothing to do with the City.

The developer didn't submit the request to the City to move ahead (permits, road closures ) until 2022.

In fairness to the builder this was a very high risk and complex project and very expensive. It's understandable there were many details to be worked on and re-worked over time.

But none of that is on the City.

I suspect their strategy is to build this tower to rave reviews that there will be enough interests generated market wise to build the second one. And the rate this is going, they may very well pull that off.