The Rebirth of A Depression-Era Dream

College Park is on the upswing of a roller-coaster ride of boom, bust and boom all over again. A revitalized Eaton's College Park building with its iconic, five-star Carlu Hall, has reignited an economic fascination for one of downtown Toronto's most prestigious and historic blocks, bounded by College, Gerrard, Bay and Yonge Streets.

Canderel Stoneridge is poised to begin contruction of AURA, a 75 storey condominium tower just south of College Park at the corner of Yonge and Gerrard. The residential skyscraper will cover the last street level parking lot along Yonge St. downtown. It will create a vertical community of close to 3,000 people on a block that was once supposed to be the retail epicentre of Canada.

Read Stephen Wier's full article "The Rebirth of a Depression-Era Dream" in The Star (Nov. 8, 2008)

Just How High is 75 Storeys?

If you can't image what a 75 storey tower will look like once its built in the heart of downtown Toronto, these images of AURA put it all into perspective.

The first image is an actual photo of Yonge Street coupled with slick computer graphics to show the tower already built. It gives you an amazing future view of AURA looking North on Yonge Street from the popular Eaton Centre, a shopping attraction for many tourists.












Above is an actual aerial photo of Yonge St. and Gerrard St., the site where the tower will be constructed. Once completed, this awsome skyscrapper will soar 75 storeys high or 243 meters into the sky making AURA the tallest residential tower in all of Canada and North America for that matter! The Toronto skyline as we know it today will be forever changed.

Get a closer look at the Yonge St. & Gerrard St. aerial shot here.

Photo credits --Top: Scott Dickson, Bottom: G+C Architects

Retail Giant Reaches for the Sky with First Urban GTA Location

Bed Bath & Beyond Signs Lease At Canada’s Tallest Condo; First Downtown Site For Home Superstore in Canada

Canderel Stoneridge Equity Group, a leading real estate developer in Canada, announced details of a lease agreement with domestic merchandise and home furnishings superstore Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. The company will lease approximately, 50,000s.f. in the podium level of Canderel Stoneridge’s new condominium at Yonge and Gerrard, called AURA, establishing the retailer’s first urban location in Canada.

Read full news release on newswire.ca (Nov. 11, 2008)

New Retail Alliance with Canadian Brands

Developer Leases More than 20,000 s.f. to Sir Corp and BMO at Canada’s Tallest Condo

Toronto, February 4, 2009— In an agreement which company officials believe demonstrates confidence in Toronto’s commercial and residential real estate markets, Canadian developer Canderel Stoneridge Equity Group today announced lease agreements with Sir Corp and BMO, for a total of more than 20,000 s.f . in the podium level of the developer’s new, 75 storey condominium at Yonge and Gerrard, called AURA.

Together with retail leader Bed, Bath & Beyond which, in November 2008, announced a commitment to lease approximately 50,000 s.f. at AURA, BMO and Sir Corp restaurants Canyon Creek and Alice Fazooli’s will anchor the commercial component of what will be Canada’s tallest condominium.

“With today’s announcement, we have leased nearly two-thirds of the available commercial space and have sold 85% of the 931 condominium units available at AURA,” says Canderel Stoneridge’s Director of Leasing, Michael Vilner. “We see today’s lease agreements, and our continued sales success with condo buyers as evidence that despite today’s pervasive fear, pessimism and ongoing negative headlines, great retailers and great real estate projects will continue to succeed despite the economic slowdown.

“With the confidence and encouragement of our purchasers and partners like BMO, SIR Corp and Bed, Bath & Beyond, AURA will help reinvigorate Toronto’s urban core and help redefine the city’s urban landscape.”