Toronto’s The One tower, once slated to be Canada’s tallest building, now has the dubious distinction of being one of the country’s most ill-fated construction projects.
Since breaking ground in 2017, the supertall tower at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor has been plagued by a series of problems, including defaults, a switch in developers, and a lawsuit from residents.
The future of The One remains uncertain. Despite being listed for sale in May 2024, construction continues, and the tower continues to grow. But the project’s lead developer, Mizrahi Developments, has been embroiled in litigation, most recently a $3 million lawsuit from an adjacent property owner, and a request to halt construction. The lawsuit centers on a concrete pump.
Mappro Realty Inc., the owner of the adjacent property at 1 Bloor West, claims the concrete pump and work area “continue to interfere with the use of the property.”
In a statement, court-appointed administrator Alvarez & Marsal Canada said, “Mappro alleges that the debtors continued to use the concrete pump after the administrator was appointed, which constitutes deliberate misconduct.” The administrator says the use of the pump is inevitable. “The construction of the project requires a significant amount of concrete, and the concrete pump located on the adjacent property is essential to supply that,” the administrator said.
The current road occupancy permit issued by the city has been renewed several times and is valid until February 2026. However, Mappro said it has unsuccessfully opposed the renewal at every stage since the initial permit application.
The lawsuit is just one of many issues facing The One. With construction delays continuing, the timeline for completion remains uncertain. Although not as long delayed as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, The One remains one of Toronto’s most controversial and slow-moving megaprojects.