“Downtown Toronto’s Novotel Hotel, which has been functioning as a temporary COVID-19 homeless shelter for the past year, may be replaced with a much denser, gilded two-tower complex. Last month, Republic Developments submitted a redevelopment proposal to city planners for two 36-storey towers containing condos and hotel suites in Toronto’s vibrant St Lawrence neighbourhood at 45 The Esplanade. The somewhat wedged-shaped site is situated on the south side of The Esplanade, east of Yonge Street and west of Church Street. The nine-storey hotel that occupies it was leased to the City of Toronto in February, 2021 to be used as a 254-room temporary shelter, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The lease currently extends to April, 2022.” Read More
