A group of excavators at 124 Street and 102 Avenue have dug several metres below ground in preparation for the imminent assembly of the four-level underground parking garage for The MacLaren, a 25-storey residential tower with ground-level commercial space by Edgar Development.

The MacLaren, image via Edgar Development

The apartment tower will contain a total of 240 units and a rooftop garden with a dedicated dog-walking area. A number of renderings showcase how the DIALOG-designed development will erupt into the skyline and interact with 124 Street, which will be fronted by a deep courtyard.

A closer look at the front courtyard, image via Edgar Development

Nearly a full block of buildings were demolished to make way for the new development, including the 104-year-old Buena Vista Apartments, which primarily housed the Glenora Bed and Breakfast. While the exterior of the brick-faced structure appeared to be in relatively good shape, the interior had been crumbling, with major heating, electrical and plumbing problems adding up to a lengthy record of building code violations.

A tall red crane towers above the site, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Despite erasing the building from the neighbourhood fabric in 2016, Edgar Development is promising to reimagine its north, south and west facades in the base of the new tower. Renderings show how the restored structure will be integrated into the project, with the preserved City Grocery sign on the south wall afforded more breathing room.

Digging continues at the site, image by Forum contributor chrisvazquez7

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