Condo Critic: Despite change, King St. E. keeps identity

There was a time when King St., east of, say, Jarvis or Sherbourne, was a bit of a wasteland. The nice part, with St. James Cathedral and St. Lawrence Hall, has always been at the west end. That stretch has always been fully integrated into the larger urban fabric.

But farther east, the dull part, it was warehouses, storage facilities and fire safety stores, not wildly exciting. And yet some of King's most historic buildings – Little Trinity Church, Enoch Turner Schoolhouse – are east of Parliament St.

Despite the damage done in the middle decades of the last century, the area has managed to retain a sense of identity. Though many of the structures dating from the 1800s are gone, all is not lost.

In recent years, the area has been under intense pressure from developers who rightly view it as a prime residential district. That means more tall buildings and, of course, more contemporary architecture. Though there are projects that make one cringe, change is inevitable. In a healthy city, this is as it should be.

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Condo Critic

East Lofts, 275 King St. E.: It isn't finished yet, but this new condo has already served a useful role in helping bring the portion of King east of Sherbourne into the modern age.

Sitting on the southwest corner of King and Princess Sts., this 12-storey building reads like two boxes, one sitting atop the other. The lower of the two is larger and, clad in black brick, the more substantial of the two cubes. With its (mostly) glass facades, the uppermost of the pair is slightly smaller and set back.

On King, the building has considerable sidewalk presence. A glass-fronted double-height space is ideally suited to the furniture shops that have long been located in the vicinity.

On Princess, it's much the same. The lower block, which is essentially a grid of glazing and masonry, contrasts with the top box, which feels lighter and more transparent. And the balconies, which are recessed below, protrude above, adding a measure of visual interest.

The back end of the complex faces south onto Abbey Lane – yes, Toronto has one, too – and is the location of the sort of utilitarian stuff – garage entrances and the like – that clutters up exteriors.

The L-shaped condo might also be able to redirect some of the energy generated on King and channel it down Princess. As it is, the side streets tend to drop off quite quickly, especially those running south to Front St.

This won't the most spectacular or elegant building ever seen in Toronto, but does its job better than many and much better than one might have expected. Not only does it do its bit to strengthen the streetscape, it will provide housing for dozens along the way.

GRADE: B+

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Email condocritic@thestar.ca.

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