With expansive suites that have some of the standard design features of traditional homes, moving here is less a matter of downsizing than of redistributing one’s living space.

Until a few years ago, there used to be a bank branch on the southwest corner of St. Clair and Avenue Road. Architecturally speaking, it wasn’t particularly noteworthy, but it had a clock tower in its face and a certain Art Deco-era charm, and had been clearly designed to present a friendly face to the neighbourhood from which it drew its clientele. Nestled among parks, 1920s brownstone apartment blocks and gracious single-family homes, it reflected a time when it was considered good form for public buildings to be consistent in character with their context and the people patronizing them.

it makes not only architectural, but business sense that the new building should resonate as much as possible with well-to-do empty nesters and established couples, who may be moving there from the family homes in the area.

The Avenue, the new condominium recently risen on this corner, has embraced the idea of creating visual and psychological harmony with its neighbours; it’s a new building, but with a quietly classical look. According to David Feldman, CEO of The Avenue’s developer, Camrost-Feldcorp, “From the beginning, we set out to make the building feel similar to a high-end Forest Hill home.” And it makes not only architectural, but business sense that the new building should resonate as much as possible with well-to-do empty nesters and established couples, who may be moving there from the family homes in the area.

The Avenue’s red brick, stone and glass façade is anchored at street level by a double-height stone colonnade that recalls the storefronts further west along St. Clair; the building’s profile is even stepped in at the top to suggest the peaked and gabled roof of a house. You enter through a covered circular porte-cochere, where a valet will take your keys, park your car and deliver your bags up to your suite if you wish; the lobby, public areas and many of the suites are by Brian Gluckstein Design, whose calm, dark-wood and pale neutral schemes are comfortably and immediately familiar to many a Forest Hill resident.

Each suite has its own private elevator access, which opens onto large hallways with wood floors, tall coffered ceilings and high, multi-grooved baseboards — unusual in a modern condo, but a standard feature of traditional homes. The choice of plans, each with a locally inspired name, such as the Old Forest Hill or the De Lasalle, ranges from about 1,500 square feet to well over 4,000 sq. ft., and means that moving here is less a matter of downsizing than of redistributing one’s living space. “It’s a one-level house, really,” Camrost marketing director Richard Mariani said recently when I visited “a bungalow mansion in the sky.”

The larger suites fairly ramble, with wings for different bedrooms and plenty of space for sculpture and art or for lavish entertaining.

The larger suites fairly ramble, with wings for different bedrooms and plenty of space for sculpture and art or for lavish entertaining. For example, the 3,750-sq.-ft. Russell Hill was designed by Mr. Feldman himself, modelling it after his own home in — where else? — Forest Hill. This suite demonstrates another clever and adaptable feature of many of the units. While the suites are generally quite large and open, some also feature strategically located ancillary rooms that can be converted to a wine cellar, home office, pantry or hobby room. Some of these ancillary spaces back on to one another, so you could knock out the dividing wall and double the space.

Part of gracious living at The Avenue is its services, which rival those of a boutique hotel. The concierge is ready to order theatre tickets or dinner and have it delivered to your suite, but will even hire a private jet, should you ever need one.

Mr. Feldman points out that part of gracious living at The Avenue is its services, which rival those of a boutique hotel. The concierge is ready to order theatre tickets or dinner and have it delivered to your suite, but will even hire a private jet, should you ever need one. If you’d like to hold a party for more guests than your suite can accommodate, there’s the Gluckstein-designed large club room on the main floor, with two fireplaces, a grand piano and a fully equipped caterer’s kitchen, designed in conjunction with celebrity chef Mark McEwan. On the main floor, there is also a shallow pool suitable for taking grandchildren for a swim, adjoined by a gym with personal trainers, extensive exercise machines and a studio for classes.

“This building is unique in Toronto,” Mr. Feldman says, “in that it’s a prestige building in the centre of the city, with everything within walking distance, but it’s also part of a neighbourhood — in contrast with other luxury buildings further south, where it’s more urban.” (For the practical-minded, he also points out that it offers more value per square foot, at several thousand less than similar-sized luxury buildings in Yorkville and Hazelton.) And he’s right; The Avenue may not have a clock tower in its façade, but it has done a creditable job of feeling not at all like a monolithic condo tower, but like a home — only larger, brighter and higher up.

A view of two Four Seasons Hotel Toronto properties, with the new property on the left in the horizon and the old hotel on the right

Toronto – The iconic Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, located in the city’s trendy Yorkville district, is now closed for good, as management and visitors eagerly anticipate the successor, a 55-storey tower still under construction just around the corner.

Every season passes, and now its Four Seasons Toronto’s turn. The 35-year-old hotel at 21 Avenue Road closed its doors in anticipation of the opening of a new location on Yorkville Avenue, expected to be completed later this summer.

It’s an end of an era for many who made the Four Seasons their temporary home while visiting Toronto, or for those who dined at their celebrated restaurants such as Studio Cafe. Many Torontonians also frequented the hotel during the Toronto International Film Festival to catch a glimpse of movie stars coming in and out of the popular tourist destination.

Celebrities who have frequented the hotel include The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Rowan Atkinson, Christopher Plummer, Sharon Stone, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many more. Canada’s political stars also stopped in, such as former Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney.

The old Four Seasons Hotel Toronto which recently closed its doors and will be converted into condos

“Four Seasons was born in Toronto so it’s a bittersweet time in our history books,” said Dimitrios Zarikos, Regional Vice President and General Manager, in a press release. But fans of Four Seasons Toronto don’t need to pine wistfully all by their lonesome; they can share their Four Seasons Toronto memories via a Facebook Page application the hotel calls Memory Book.

Guests can “like” the Page and then post their thoughts and photos of their Four Seasons Toronto experiences. Recollections include Terry Fox’s visit to the property during his Marathon of Hope and memorable wedding receptions.

The existing building was bought by Comrost-Felcorp Inc and they plan to rebuild it, add a glass base with restaurants and shops and convert the 380 former hotel rooms into 490 condo units.

This coming summer should see the completion of Four Seasons Toronto’s new property on 60 Yorkville Avenue close to its original home. Digital Journal covered the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hotel in 2008. The refurbished building will include 55 stories and a 30,000-square-foot luxury spa. The property will be a mix of hotel rooms and some of the most expensive condos in the country, with a starting price of $1.9 million and the penthouse setting back a millionaire around $28 million.

Management is looking for employees to help staff this new hotel, having released a recruitment video last month on YouTube.

A view of Toronto’s Yorkville district, with the old Four Seasons Toronto on the right, and the new Four Seasons being developed further down on Yorkville Avenue

The empty lobby of Four Seasons Hotel Toronto after it closed its doors for good

A Four Seasons Hotel Toronto staffer removes flower ornaments from the hotel’s Studio Cafe

Hani Roustom, director of Restaurants and Bars at Four Seasons Toronto Hotel, chats with Cathy, a server at Studio Cafe, after closing

Despite the closure of the current Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Hani Roustom, director of restaurant and bars [left] and Ashwin Mathur, Studio Cafe manager, will be busy preparing for the new property opening later this summer

A server Hakim finds quiet time in the normally popular Studio Cafe in Four Seasons Toronto Hotel, now empty after closing for good

Four Seasons Hotel founder Isadore Sharp [right] said the new property in Toronto will be a flagship for the Four Seasons chain

Constructions workers are busy trying to finish the new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto on Yorkville Avenue, destined for a summer 2012 opening

New Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, located in the city’s trendy Yorkville district is destined for a summer 2012 opening

From a purely business point of view, David Feldman lives and breathes great buildings, yet this highly successful entrepreneur, the president and CEO of Camrost-Felcorp Inc., has a soft spot for certain iconic buildings such as the former Imperial Oil headquarters (Yonge St. and St. Clair Ave.) and the legendary Four Seasons’ hotel tower (Yorkville Ave. and Avenue Rd.).

As a real estate developer who has lived in Toronto’s Forest Hill neighbourhood for many years, Feldman has plenty of personal insights into consumers’ deep affection for a downtown urban lifestyle that puts them as close to their workplaces as to superb arts, entertainment, dining and retail.

“Here we have two buildings that are anchored in outstanding geographic locations – one is at Yonge and St. Clair since the 1950s, and the other on Yorkville and Avenue Rd. since the 1970s. But as our company has discovered, Torontonians also have a real emotional connection to these buildings because they represent a part of their personal history in these Toronto neighbourhoods,” Feldman says, who has had his own nostalgic moments after driving along St. Clair, spending time in Yorkville and hosting a number of family functions in the Four Seasons hotel building. “People have a real affection and a deep respect for the former Imperial Oil headquarters and Four Seasons hotel building.”

Consumers are keen to own a piece of these two buildings that are respectively a tribute to mid-century modernism and brutalist-style 10 minutes with… Camrost-Felcorp’s David Feldman by Kara Kuryllowic z architecture, and that also have a powerful connection to wealth and luxury. For example, the Imperial Oil headquarters, built in 1957 by New York City’s Rockefeller family who spared no expense, boasts a limestone façade and welded steel frame. Its dramatic two-storey polished marble lobby is home to York Wilson’s massive masterpiece “Story of Oil” which the Group of Seven’s A.Y. Jackson declared one of the finest pieces of art that Canada has ever seen. During construction in one of the city’s most prestigious and influential neighbourhoods, Imperial chose to weld its metal framework rather than jackhammer hot rivets into steel, which helped reduce the noise in what was primarily a residential neighbourhood, even in those days.

As Feldman notes, it was and still is a “solid” building with thick walls and reasonably sized windows that were appreciated by civic leaders during the Cold War era.

“As much as I admire and respect these buildings for their history and architectural legacy, there is a practical aspect to our conversions,” says Feldman, who points out that Camrost-Felcorp will strip the Imperial Plaza and Four Seasons hotel buildings right down to their façades and bare bones, then install brand new interiors and mechanicals so that buyers reap the benefits of fresh, modern finishes, floor plans and amenities as well as the most current and energy-efficient technology. “The locations are perfect for high-end, luxury residences, but we also recognize that no one could afford to replicate this level of construction today. In addition, it’s part of our commitment to sustainability because we keep so much out of landfill and preserve resources, such as stone, by retaining the buildings’ basic structure and envelope.”

Meanwhile, in the late 1970s, the Four Seasons hotel was a catalyst that saw Yorkville’s gradual evolution from a village for hippies and coffee houses to a world-class, luxury location for people who appreciate the very best. Whether or not consumers are familiar with the Four Seasons hotel building through personal experience, most Torontonians at least know of it because it so frequently hosted headline-making celebrities such as Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Madonna and the Rolling Stones.

As much as Feldman has deep roots in Toronto, he and his wife Angela Feldman, executive vice-president of Camrost-Felcorp, are frequent flyers who regularly visit the world’s best cities, including Chicago, Madrid, New York and Paris. While he and his wife are viewing superb art in private collections and public museums, Feldman is always on the lookout for more. For instance, while visiting a high-end condo in Chicago recently, Feldman photographed a variety of intriguing and impressive architectural details, including the window sills. Why record a simple window sill? For inspiration’s sake! Feldman liked the way the AC system had been built into the 18-inch high, deeper-than-average window sill, which could then serve as a small shelf for something special, such as a sculpture or favourite photo.

“Wherever I am, I find great ideas and bring them back home,” says Feldman, who loves to travel but when in Toronto, will always ensure that he never is more than a 30-minute drive from any project site. “I’ve travelled to numerous urban centres to identify and be inspired by the best. This knowledge has helped make Imperial Plaza and Yorkville Plaza neighbourhood landmarks that are unique all the way up from their signature architecture, location, interior spaces and city views.”

As one of the most anticipated projects this year, Camrost-Felcorp is rebuilding the gateway to Yorkville with the conversion of the Four Season’s hotel building at 21 Avenue Rd.

Building on its upscale character, unrivaled history and celebrity association, the New Residences of Yorkville Plaza will emerge as an iconic residential address offering an exclusive selection of pied-à-terre, one- and two-bedroom suites that will become a pinnacle for this famed stomping ground at the corner of Yorkville Ave. and Avenue Rd.

“This project is beyond iconic,” says Matthew Davis of The Design Agency. “It’s really where everyone wants to be.”

In a nod to the many international tastemakers and socialites who have played, stayed, lunched and launched at this signature location, Yorkville Plaza will usher in a new era for Yorkville by offering the ultimate pied-à-terre address priced from the mid- $300,000s. Providing access to the heart of Toronto’s cosmopolitan lifestyle, the complete revamp of each floor launches a variety of elegant suite designs including the Manhattan, New York, Paris, Milan and London.

Yorkville Plaza’s interior design options offer both contemporary and transitional aesthetics. Purchasers can select from a range of three distinct colour palettes for a highly tailored look. “We’ve carefully crafted an artful selection of colour combinations and detailed finishes to make it both exciting and simple for purchasers to create their ideal look,” Davis says.

Darker colours define a sleek, metropolitan design aesthetic, while gray and earthy tones characterize a calm and sophisticated ambience. Art lovers can run with a lighter gallery-inspired palette of bleached Camrost-Felcorp revitalizes yorkville by transforming the Four Seasons hotel building into a world-class residential address woods and white-on-white finishes. All suites at Yorkville Plaza feature highly tailored kitchens with integrated appliances and the latest urban conveniences for sophisticated Yorkville living.

On the outside, the distinguished brutalist-style architecture of the Four Season’s hotel building will be anchored by a contemporary two-storey glass podium featuring an impressive retail envelope that will revitalize a large commercial footprint along Yorkville Ave. and Avenue Rd. Vertical glass accents will rise from the podium to highlight Yorkville Plaza and animate this internationally recognized corner.

“Patterns of opaque and transparent enameled glass will allow the building to transform its appearance from day to night,” says lead architect Brian Andrew from WZMH Architects, whose firm worked on the original 1970 structure and has a long-standing, intimate relationship with the Yorkville neighbourhood.

The complete transformation of this legendary building was an obvious decision for Camrost-Felcorp, cover story a pioneer in bringing new life to a number of Toronto’s iconic structures. “A building that once was the catalyst in transforming Yorkville from a ‘village’ of coffee houses to a luxury destination will once again usher in a new era for this world-class location,” says David Feldman, president and CEO of Camrost-Felcorp.

Other notable revitalization projects by Camrost- Felcorp include Imperial Plaza, which will convert the former Imperial Oil headquarters at St. Clair and Yonge into a prestigious residential address, Kings Court condominiums at King and Sherbourne that restored a heritage façade formally occupied by CIBC, and the Bishop townhomes originally built in the late 1700s.

The Yorkville Plaza presentation centre is now previewing and is located at 162 Cumberland Ave. (across the entrance from the Four Seasons Hotel at Avenue Rd. and Cumberland). For more information, visit yorkvilleplaza.com or call 416.966.3003 to book your private appointment.

TORONTO — The Iconic Four Seasons hotel in Yorkville officially closed on Wednesday in preparation for the opening of its new location at the corner of Yorkville Ave. and Bay St. this summer.

“I’m calling this our flagship hotel because it’s in Toronto — in our hometown — but also because it embodies everything we’ve learned over these last 50 years,” said Isadore Sharp commenting on the new location as quoted in the Toronto Star. “All of that is incorporated into a state-of-the-art great addition to Toronto. The hotel is dramatic in its scale as well as its architecture. That first experience when you arrive is going to be as glamourous as it is generous — more so than any other hotel in town.”

The old building at the corner of Yorkville Ave. and Avenue Rd. will be turned into a condo residence with retail businesses on the ground floor.

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TODAY’S CALENDAR: The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational golf tournament begins in Las Vegas, the Sony Ericsson Open continues in Miami

* INCOMING *

1. INAUGURATION PLANNING BEGINS: The presidential election is still months away, but planning for the inauguration ceremony kicked off yesterday. According to The Hill, the January 21 event will have a budget of $1.2 million, about $3,000 less than in 2009 and $13,000 less than in 2005. New York Senator Charles Schumer was voted to head the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. thehill.com/homen…

2. BING FIRINGS TIED TO SUNDANCE: This past week the Microsoft brand publicly fired two marketing executives, Eric Hadley and Sean Carver. Ad Age: “An internal investigation turned up a list of violations, which Ad Age has learned included problems with line items and dates on purchase orders related to the three-story Bing Bar in Park City, Utah, Microsoft’s celeb hangout during the Sundance Film Festival.” They also paid more than $1 million to a marketing agency not approved by Microsoft, and Carver took a first-class flight without proper approval. adage.com/article…

3. PREPPING FOR FINAL FOUR: Events for the N.C.A.A.’s playoff tournament in New Orleans begin tomorrow and the city has a security plan in place to deal with the expected crowd of fans. Protective measures stretch from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to the French Quarter, and the New Orleans Police Department will receive additional help from the state police as well as the Orleans and Jefferson parish sheriffs deputies. fox8live.com/news…

Here’s a roundup of N.C.A.A. events tied to the weekend. The Times-Picayune: nola.com/ncaa/ind…

4. COST-CUTTING AT CHEVY: General Motors is looking to save $2 billion by centralizing most of its global advertising for Chevrolet. The Detroit automaker announced this week that Commonwealth, a joint venture between two agencies, will handle its ads going forward. Business Week: http://buswk.co/HfYOvw

5. KOMEN CANCELS BIG EVENT: More news about the troubles faced by the Susan G. Komen Foundation emerged yesterday: the nonprofit has opted to forgo one of its most important events, the annual “Lobby Day” event in Washington, D.C. Although a spokesperson did not disclose the reason for the cancellation, there is some speculation that costs were a deciding factor. The Daily Beast: http://bit.ly/GTbUA

6. AMEX’S MOVE HOME: Frontline business travel agents for American Express Global Business Travel will work out of home offices. Travel Market Report: “Spreading virtual teams across multiple time zones could let the company offer extended hours for clients or more flexible coverage without pushing travel agents into working outside standard business hours.” travelmarketrepor…

7. FROM EVENT TREND TO HOTEL STAPLE? Apparently, the food-truck craze is not over just yet. USA Today reports that hotels from Miami to Quebec City are partnering with mobile eateries to entice more customers. http://usat.ly/GUO20c

++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: EVENT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE ++

The Event Leadership Institute is proud to provide the most progressive training and education for event planners in the industry, through on-demand video classes, biweekly webinars, white papers as well as interviews with industry leaders. www.eventleadershipinstitute.com

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST: Wizard World, the producer of Comic Cons in Chicago, Toronto, and other cities, named John Macaluso its new C.E.O. pr.com/press-rele…

BOSTON: Strega Waterfront has a new selection of seasonal cocktails, including “L.J.’s Luscious Libation” made with raspberry vodka, fresh lemonade, St. Germain liqueur, and strawberry puree.

The Teamsters Local 25 autism gala is April 7 at the InterContinental Boston hotel. With a Hollywood theme, the evening includes Marilyn Monroe and Lady Gaga impersonators.

Second Glass will kick off its 2012 Wine Riot April 20 at the Boston Park Plaza Castle. The event will feature more than 250 wines, cheese by Cabot Creamery Cooperative, and chocolate from Taza Chocolate.

Mick Provencher is a new producer and technical director at Uxbridge-based Blackstone Productions Inc.

CHICAGO: The Children’s Memorial will become the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago June 9. Sarah Jessica Parker and Harry Connick Jr. will headline a gala preview to benefit the new space April 20.

Marketing professionals from across the nation will gather at the Chicago Theatre for the 2012 Marketing and Innovation Conference April 24.

The Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Chicago Marriott Naperville is April 2.

LAS VEGAS: The Academy of Country Music announced Wednesday that Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley are scheduled to perform as part of its 47th annual awards, and that Lionel Richie and Taylor Swift are presenters for the show at MGM Grand Garden Arena April 1.

The U.S. Travel Association is launching a nationwide bus tour to draw attention to the economic impact of the leisure and business travel industry. The Vote Travel Bus Tour will cover 20,000 miles and stop in more than 35 cities beginning April 12 in Las Vegas. votetravel.org/la…

LOS ANGELES: On April 5, street art gallery Lab Art will host the Los Angeles launch of Red Bull Curates: The Road to Basel, a four-city tour for 20 artists competing to win a trip to Miami’s Art Basel.

The oceanfront Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach and the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego are the newest members of Associated Luxury Hotels International.

Santa Monica’s new nightlife venue, the Charleston, opens today. Set amid 1930s-style decor, the venue will offer live entertainment and chef Jet Tila’s take on American comfort food, plus occasional pop-up restaurants.

The third annual “Milk & Bookies Story Time Celebration” will take to the Skirball Cultural Center April 15. DreamWorks Animation, Scholastic, Bama Works, C.A.A., John W. Carson Foundation, Marc Jacobs Bookmarc, and Amazon Publishing are sponsors of the charity event.

MIAMI: The Museum of Discovery and Science will host its 17th annual Wine & Culinary Celebration tomorrow, hosting 1,800 guests and many of the region’s top chefs in one of the first events at the museum’s newly expanded EcoDiscovery Center.

NEW BERN, N.C.: A weekend of events pegged to the release of the film The Lucky One will benefit author Nicholas Sparks’ foundation. Highlights of the April 20-22 gathering in his hometown include a screening of the film, a family fun night, brunch at Sparks’ home and a film festival of movies based on his novels.

NEW YORK: Renovations to the 16-year-old Midtown restaurant Maloney and Porcelli include revamping of its decor, from the lighting to the wall art. A new menu of dishes and cocktails is also in the works. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/Hi3Ucv

Asian Women in Business presents its second annual Raising the Bar forum at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison L.L.P. April 10.

ORLANDO: SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association brings its triennial International Plastics Showcase to the Orange County Convention Center Sunday through Thursday. This is the first time in nearly 40 years that the show has left Chicago. Organizers expect more than 50,000 people to attend.

Twenty-year hospitality veteran Rebecca Jacques has launched Inspired Hospitality Recruiting for restaurants, hotels and resorts, private clubs, destination marketing organizations, and destination management companies, hospitality industry technology providers.

SAN FRANCISCO: The tech conferences Oracle OpenWorld at the Moscone Center and JavaOne at the Zone (Hilton Union Square, Hotel Nikko, and Parc 55 Wyndham) will both take place September 30-October 4.

TORONTO: Provincial funding for annual art and culture festival Luminato is to be cut by $3.5 million, or 23 percent, over the next two years. The budget includes cuts to other cultural institutions, including the Royal Ontario Museum and Art Gallery of Ontario. The Globe and Mail: theglobeandmail.c…

Toronto’s Four Seasons Hotel closed on Tuesday when the last guest checked out. Developer Camrost-Felcorp purchased the location, which will become condominiums. The Four Seasons opens its new flagship location on Yorkville in August.

WASHINGTON: The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and All Baby and Child finalized negotiations to merge, the groups announced at the J.P.M.A. Annual Legislative Summit here this week. The groups will continue to promote the ABC Kids Expo as the largest trade show serving the juvenile products industry.

The Cloud Computing Exchange will host its quarterly meeting April 25 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill featuring U.S. senators Scott Brown and Tom Carper. The conference will be followed by Cloud Computing Brainstorm event at the Capitol Visitor Center.

As part of his New Look Foundation, Usher will join former President Clinton on a panel tomorrow evening at Clinton Global Initiative University to discuss the importance of public service.

This morning, Mayor Vincent C. Gray will visit the Yes! Organic Market in Petworth to debut the District’s Vibrant Retail Streets Toolkit, which evaluates the essential elements for outstanding retail areas and offers strategies to improve retail corridors.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: tips@bizbash.com.

With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Anna Sekula, Beth Kormanik, and Rose Chevalier in New York.

BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

Yorkville’s landmark Four Seasons Hotel is closing its doors temporarily while it moves to a new location down the street.

The Avenue Road building, which helped transform Yorkville from its bohemian roots into the luxury destination it is now, closed Wednesday ahead of its makeover.

“I have a lot of guests, a lot of employees. A lot of farewells, a lot of goodbyes. It’s just a very emotional, difficult day for all of us,” said Dimitrios Zarikos, Regional VP & GM, Four Seasons Hotel.

This summer the hotel will reopen as the New Residences of Yorkville Plaza — a 31-storey tower housing high-end condos and shops at the corner of Avenue and Yorkville Avenue.

“I’ve been here since 1978. It’s bittersweet, because I’m also very excited about the new place one block down…but it will be sad to say goodbye to this lovely old building,” said Liloo Alin, chef concierge, four seasons hotel

Renovations are also planned for Hazelton Lanes and the Park Hyatt nearby.

Click here for more information.

The iconic Four Seasons tower in the upscale Yorkville neighbourhood will be turned into a condo … » View Video

New 55-storey hotel towers over old location, which closes today

There are very few things that take legendary hotelier Isadore Sharp by surprise.

He’s built a business – a world renowned luxury brand, in fact – anticipating every problem, every want, every need of the well-heeled guests who count the Four Seasons’ hotels as one of their homes away from home.

But as he stood outside the chain’s new flagship property this week, staring up the sleek tower buzzing with construction workers and employees moving into new offices, Sharp was taken aback.

“It really stands on that location. You see it from everywhere,” says Sharp of the Four Seasons’ new Yorkville hotel, slated to open in August.

“I never expected that, I knew we were building a 55-storey building, but it just seems to be all by itself moving up there.”

That comes as no surprise, of course, to loyal customers who’ve always seen Four Seasons as towering above the competition… » Read More