BLAST FROM THE PAST: KING WEST’S UNIQUE HISTORY

Since the first bricks were laid on the street in early Toronto, King Street has been ripe with local history and cultural heritage. So much so that King Blue Condos will find its home in the historic Canadian Westinghouse Building on King Street and Blue Jays Way, paying homage to the rich history of the area’s past while enhancing the vibrancy of the neighbourhood for the future with new life and architecture.

King Street was named after King George III, the reigning British monarch at the time of its construction in what was then called the Town of York. The King West area of the Entertainment District in recent years has become the cultural hub of the city, charming residences and tourists alike with trendy restaurants and cafes, gourmet food emporiums, world class theatre and music and vibrant nightlife.

King Blue’s home in King West finds it near major attractions such as the Rogers Centre, Air Canada Centre and the soon to be opened Ripley’s Aquarium, and home to the oldest continuously operating theatre in North America, the Royal Alexandra Theatre owned by Mirvish Productions.

The street is served by the busiest line in the TTC’s streetcar fleet, the 504 King route which serves an average of 50,000 passengers each day and connects to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. Walk along King from John to Simcoe Streets and you’ll encounter a tribute in granite to Canadians who have gained fame in the fields of music, literature, dance, sports, entertainment and journalism at Canada’s Walk of Fame. The entire area has a unique architectural history with a mix of brick, glass and steel that eclectically blends old and new.

King Blue’s 44 and 48-storey towers will give life to the historic Westinghouse structure, and embody the energy and eclectic mix of the neighbourhood for a contemporary new feel. Old will meet new, and old will become part of the new for the next chapter in King West’s history.  

What’s your favourite landmark of King West History? Join the neighbourhood conversation with us on Facebook and Twitter, #KingBlueCondos.