What exactly is a mixed-use community?
Simply put, it’s a neighbourhood or development that brings together different aspects of everyday life in one connected destination. Rather than separating where people live, work, shop, dine, and socialize, mixed-use communities intentionally combine residential homes with retail, restaurants, workplaces, amenities, public spaces, and convenient transit.
As Toronto continues to grow, this approach to city-building is becoming increasingly important. It creates complete communities that are more connected, more convenient, and better equipped to support modern lifestyles. Our Queen Church community with Tridel is one example of this vision in action.
Here’s why mixed-use communities continue to shape Toronto’s future.
1. They Bring Everyday Life Together
One of the greatest advantages of a mixed-use community is convenience. Instead of travelling across the city for work, fitness, errands, or social activities, many daily needs can be met close to home.
Queen Church has been thoughtfully designed around this idea. In addition to beautifully designed residences, the community features 16,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a fitness centre, yoga studio, cowork lounges, meeting rooms, dining and social spaces, outdoor terraces, a pet run, kid’s play zones, and more. Combined with planned street-level retail and the cafés, restaurants, and services that surround the community in Old Town Toronto, residents can enjoy a seamless lifestyle where much of their day unfolds in one connected place.
Top left: St. Lawrence Market (image via eraarch.ca); Bottom left: The Distillery District (image via The Distillery District); Right: CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre (image via Mirvish Productions)
2. They Create Vibrant Communities from Morning to Night
The best neighbourhoods don’t shut down after business hours. Mixed-use communities bring together residents, workers, and visitors throughout the day, creating lively streets that support local businesses while fostering a welcoming sense of community.
Located at 60 Queen Street East, Queen Church contributes to this vibrant urban experience. Just steps from destinations like St. Lawrence Market, the Distillery District, theatres, boutiques, and local restaurants, the community is part of a neighbourhood where history, culture, and contemporary city life come together. At street level, planned retail will further contribute to the energy of the surrounding community, helping create a destination that’s active well beyond the traditional workday.
3. They Support the Way People Live and Work Today
The way people use their homes has evolved. Many people now work remotely at least part of the week, making flexibility more important than ever.
Queen Church embraces this shift with amenities designed to support both productivity and wellbeing. Dedicated cowork lounges, an outdoor cowork lounge, a digital studio, and meeting rooms make it easy to work close to home, while a fitness centre, yoga studio, and outdoor yoga deck provide opportunities to recharge throughout the day. Even the READY collection of thoughtfully furnished suites reflects this philosophy, offering spaces designed for living, working, and playing from day one.
4. They Create Opportunities to Connect
Great communities are about more than convenience. They’re about bringing people together.
Queen Church has been designed with a variety of shared spaces that encourage connection, whether residents are hosting friends in the dining room, gathering around the rooftop BBQs and fireplace lounge, relaxing in the multi-purpose lounge, enjoying the theatre and gaming lounge, or spending time outdoors on the building’s terraces. These spaces help transform a residential building into a true community, creating opportunities for neighbours to connect while supporting a more engaging and active lifestyle.
Bottom right: Patrick Hunter (via Tridel)
5. They’re Helping Shape Toronto’s Future
As Toronto continues to welcome new residents, mixed-use communities offer a thoughtful approach to urban growth by making better use of space while creating complete, connected neighbourhoods.
Queen Church reflects this vision at every level. Rising in the heart of Old Town Toronto, it combines contemporary homes, exceptional amenities, street-level retail, and outstanding transit access, including the Queen streetcar, nearby subway station, and future Ontario Line. The community also celebrates its surroundings through original artwork by Indigenous artist Patrick Hunter, honouring both Indigenous culture and 2SLGBTQIA+ pride while reinforcing Queen Church’s connection to one of Toronto’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.
As mixed-use communities continue to shape the future of Toronto, Queen Church demonstrates how thoughtful design can support every aspect of modern city living. By bringing together places to live, work, connect, and recharge, it offers a complete community designed for the way people want to live today.
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