Today, Rad Marketing and Blackline hosted their second annual "Ballin' Out For Charity" basketball tournament. And it was a fantastic event. My sore lower back proves it. It's always fun getting so many Toronto real estate people into one room (or onto a giant court at the University of Toronto). But more important is the fact that it was for a good cause. This year's tournament raised money for the MLSE Foundation (which you can learn more about here). And last year's tournament raised over $70,000 for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

I'm looking forward to this becoming an industry staple. Everyone involved in the organizing of this event should be very proud of what they accomplished. Great job.

The minutes from One Delisle's Design Review Panel meeting were just published. They are public and available on the City of Toronto's website, here. The project was on the December 13, 2018 agenda.

No project is ever perfect, but here are two paragraphs from the minutes that I think do it justice:

The Panel thought the proposal had an "iconographic landmark quality to it". Numerous members pointed out that it's (sic) siting at a transitional "hinge point" on Yonge St would also lend itself to iconic placemaking as well as a striking addition to the view down the Yonge corridor.

The Panel was excited to have this type of sophisticated design come to Toronto. Many members felt that the massing and design solution would be a powerful and beautiful addition to the skyline. Several members commented that the proposal could become "a building with a name" similar to landmark towers in London, England. One member suggested that Toronto could use more buildings with personality.

Lots of buildings, of course, have names. What is really being discussed is a building with an identity that resonates with people in a meaningful way and that becomes associated with a particular place.

But let's not forget that being "iconic" is only one part of this equation. The goal here is ambitious architecture with genuine civic value. And if you're at all familiar with the project and broader ideas for the block, I would hope that mission is clear.

Today, Rad Marketing and Blackline hosted their second annual "Ballin' Out For Charity" basketball tournament. And it was a fantastic event. My sore lower back proves it. It's always fun getting so many Toronto real estate people into one room (or onto a giant court at the University of Toronto). But more important is the fact that it was for a good cause. This year's tournament raised money for the MLSE Foundation (which you can learn more about here). And last year's tournament raised over $70,000 for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

I'm looking forward to this becoming an industry staple. Everyone involved in the organizing of this event should be very proud of what they accomplished. Great job.

The minutes from One Delisle's Design Review Panel meeting were just published. They are public and available on the City of Toronto's website, here. The project was on the December 13, 2018 agenda.

No project is ever perfect, but here are two paragraphs from the minutes that I think do it justice:

The Panel thought the proposal had an "iconographic landmark quality to it". Numerous members pointed out that it's (sic) siting at a transitional "hinge point" on Yonge St would also lend itself to iconic placemaking as well as a striking addition to the view down the Yonge corridor.

The Panel was excited to have this type of sophisticated design come to Toronto. Many members felt that the massing and design solution would be a powerful and beautiful addition to the skyline. Several members commented that the proposal could become "a building with a name" similar to landmark towers in London, England. One member suggested that Toronto could use more buildings with personality.

Lots of buildings, of course, have names. What is really being discussed is a building with an identity that resonates with people in a meaningful way and that becomes associated with a particular place.

But let's not forget that being "iconic" is only one part of this equation. The goal here is ambitious architecture with genuine civic value. And if you're at all familiar with the project and broader ideas for the block, I would hope that mission is clear.