The project maintains the eclectic, vibrant aesthetic of the historic site through diverse architectural forms and a mix of uses. Rather than a single monolithic building, the project stiches back together the historical fine-grained streetscapes of Bathurst and Bloor with narrow shopfronts at street level that form the character of the new buildings with varying façade typologies, including low and mid-rise buildings and a series of micro-towers. In total, 24 heritage buildings will be preserved across the site. Markham Street will be restored and re-landscaped as a pedestrian-first, tree-lined thoroughfare with restaurants, boutiques, patios, and public seating, adjacent to a new public park. At street level, there will be new pedestrian laneways and public spaces, and, at the heart of Mirvish Village, The Kitchen, a food and music venue featuring the best of Toronto’s culinary entrepreneurs, artisans and live music will bring all the ingredients together.

To extend the entrepreneurial legacy of the site, Honest Ed’s Alley will feature a dedicated micro-retail incubator, developed in partnership with the Centre for Social Innovation. Mirvish Village will also be one of the most sustainable new developments in the City of Toronto, targeting reductions in energy use of over 30% more than typical buildings, to achieve TGS Tier II standards. The project will be home to a block-scale neighbourhood energy system that will provide reliable and renewable heating, cooling, and power to the surrounding area, to demonstrate leadership in sustainability and set a new precedent for city-building in Toronto.

Each of these ingredients provide the building blocks for a project that not only celebrates the legacy of Ed Mirvish but allows for its evolution as we look towards Toronto’s future.