On the map: Canada's first ‘supertall' building adds to suite count amid project review

National Post

21-07-2025

When sales of condo units in The One were halted in 2023, less than a quarter of the troubled downtown megaproject remained unsold. Now that the 85-storey mixed-use building has officially become Canada's first supertall skyscraper by surpassing 300 metres in height, that number has risen to about one-third.
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That isn't because any sales agreements have been rescinded. Rather, it's because Tridel has increased the total number of units from 416 to 476 after taking over from Mizrahi Developments as developer, builder and sales manager of the rebranded One Bloor West in May 2025. Originally launched as The One in 2016, construction of the tower has been hampered by various delays and financial complications that led to it being placed in receivership in October 2023. As of early July, Tridel had not set a date for restarting sales.
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'As part of the transition plan for this community, we've been conducting feasibility and efficiency studies so we can see how to best optimize the project to completion,' explains Tridel president and CEO Jim Ritchie. 'Part of this included identifying opportunities to reconfigure and improve the layouts of suites in some areas of the tower, and supporting a greater mix of suite types. This has raised the total suite count of One Bloor West from its original design.'
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As was the case with The One, the 308.6-metre tower will still be home to a luxury hotel and extensive retail in one of the city's most prominent and transit-connected locations. 'World-class retailers' are currently being selected to occupy the building's six-level commercial podium, Ritchie says. The same goes for the new 'five-star hotel' that will occupy several floors between the podium and the condo units. (The previous intended occupant, ANDAZ, a luxury boutique hotel brand under Hyatt Hotels, bowed out in 2024.)
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The residential side of One Bloor West is being redesigned 'with a clear understanding that today's buyers are looking for efficient layouts, quality finishes and access to amenities that genuinely enhance daily life,' Ritchie says. 'The market may be facing an adjustment, but the fundamentals haven't changed. People still want well-located, well-designed homes that offer long-term livability and support their lifestyle.'
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While Tridel has stated that revised suite designs and updated finishes will be announced upon completion of the review, it has already outlined key components of One Bloor West's residential offering. These include fitness and wellness facilities, indoor and outdoor lounges, concierge services, dedicated residential access points separate from commercial and hotel components, and outdoor amenity terraces.
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Given that 300 units have already been purchased, it is unlikely that unit features and finishes, as well as communal building amenities, will change markedly from what was slated for The One. Open-concept layouts will almost certainly predominate given that the building's hybrid structural exoskeleton minimizes interior obstructions. Suite owners who bought through Mizrahi were enticed by features such as nine- and 10-foot ceilings, custom built-in benches next to exterior glass walls, marble and stone countertops and backsplashes, and frameless glass-enclosed showers, and there's no reason to think much of that will change. The tower's location above the Bloor-Yonge interchange will undoubtedly facilitate direct access to both Line 1 and 2 of the Toronto subway system, while most of the Mizrahi-designed amenities — such as a concierge-staffed lobby, underground valet parking, an elevated garden terrace, a fitness centre, and various club rooms and event spaces — align with Tridel's component outline.