Ontario Construction News staff writer
Metrolinx has selected Dream Kilmer, a partnership of Dream Unlimited Corp. and Kilmer Group to redevelop land in downtown Toronto for the future home of the Spadina–Front GO Station.
The group has extensive experience in mixed use and infrastructure development.
Dream Kilmer will work with the City of Toronto to complete the established municipal planning approvals process and other necessary due diligence.
The redevelopment plan will transform a 1.01-acre site at 433 Front St. W. into a new mixed-use development that will connect the future Spadina-Front GO Station to a high-density mixed-use development.
According to Metrolinx, it’s “an opportunity to bring more housing, jobs and transit options to the growing population of downtown Toronto.
“People living, working, and visiting Toronto will benefit from two-way, all-day GO Train service with faster trains and more frequent service that will better connect the region.”
The site located at 433 Front Street West currently serves as the North Bathurst Yard, a train layover facility where GO Trains are stored during non-peak periods.
With the massive multi-billion-dollar investment in GO Expansion underway to transform GO rail service across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, an opportunity was presented to better utilize the North Bathurst Yard lands.
Metrolinx is also exploring ways to optimize land above and around the GO station to create a vibrant, sustainable, mixed-use community that will bring more housing and jobs within walking distance of transit.
However, given the complexities of building on a tight parcel of land on an active rail corridor, Metrolinx issued a two stage Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Request for Proposals (RFP) to seek the expertise of industry through an open competition.
Through that process, a partnership formed by Dream Unlimited Corp. and Kilmer Group was selected as the successful proponent and Metrolinx’s development partner on the project.
The proposal by Dream Kilmer integrates the at-grade GO station within a new mixed-use development, with station entrances connecting onto Front Street West and Spadina Avenue.