by Oliver von Bretten 
The Mason, a boutique condo, commemorates the site’s industrial heritage in a modern way with steel balconies and red brick.
Pandemic, what exactly is it? Last Sunday, a line formed outside the Scoops Ice Cream Shop on the main street of Port Credit, Lakeshore Road. In the heat, the kids held on to cones that were about to fall to the ground. People in summer clothes walked to the marina to appreciate the boats and the Instagram – worthy lighthouse while a busker played upbeat music. The Mississauga neighbourhood resembled a picturesque village in a British murder mystery.
Port Credit is known as “a jewel within Mississauga” by Ken Tanenbaum, vice-chair of the Kilmer Group. The master-planned site profoundly known as Brightwater, the developer puts it as “jewel within a jewel.”
In partnership with Diamond Corp, Dream Unlimited, and FRAM + Slokker, a consortium known as the Port Credit West Village Partners, the Kilmer Group is developing a pedestrian-friendly community, which will deliver 3,000 new homes when completed.
Brightwater will be a mix of mid- and high-rise mixed-use housing developments and townhomes, situated west of the Credit River along the waterfront on the southern edge, and Lakeshore Road West on the northern edge.
“It’s not often you get to build 72 acres within such a mature community. Tanenbaum further states that it is excellent and walkable, with great character and charm.”
He describes the community as “vibrant.” This includes 300,000 square feet of commercial space, a community recreation center, a proposed elementary school, green space and 18 acres of park. “It’s one-of-a-kind. There is a shuttle service that takes you to the GO station, which is 25 minutes from downtown. It’s fantastic to be in Toronto while still feeling like you’re in a different place and part of a community.”
Tanenbaum compares Brightwater to his other master-planned co-developed community, the 35-acre Canary District in the West Don Lands. He calls it a “second once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The response to Brightwater has been “remarkable,” according to Tanenbaum. “Earlier this week, within the launch of the first two condo buildings, we got sold out in a matter of weeks.”
The most recent is The Mason, a nine-story building designed by architectsAlliance and featuring suites by Truong Ly Design. The condo offers penthouse suites, one- to two-bedroom apartments, and studios with panoramic views. Prices have yet to be announced, and occupancy is scheduled for 2023.
The amenities include a ground-floor party space and a sun-drenched south-facing courtyard. Further, it has a double-height co-working space that both overlook the yard. In addition, it offers a parcel room, yoga studio, fitness center and a dog spa.
Tanenbaum describes the building, conveniently located within the Brightwater community, as “a very decent, boutique-y size that will look very beautiful.”
“I like the scale, which is similar to what we did in Canary. It’s a midrise-oriented, eyes-on-the-street building that feels like it belongs to a community.”
According to senior associate at architectsAlliance, Rob Cadeau, the materials of the building reference the area’s industrial history as a brick making facility (hence The Mason). He adds that the steel and red brick convey Main Street Ontario.
Cadeau explains, “Instead of traditional concrete balconies, we constructed these out of steel.”
“They clip onto the façade, similar to the Victorian-era Toronto red-brick warehouse buildings with black-steel balconies and fire exits.”
The balconies, however, will have glass balustrades to keep things new. “It’s a modern version of that traditional-industrial element that we associate with Victorian buildings and warehouses.” Cadeau says, adding such a design is environmentally friendly. Because you cannot insulate concrete balconies, they lose heat in the winter, while clip-on steel balconies do not.
The ground level will have cobblestone segments and a bosque of trees planted in a forecourt to give it an accommodating, pedestrian-friendly vibe.
Open-concept suites, on the other hand, “try to best orientate themselves towards the views,” according to Cadeau. “Because of its location within the Brightwater plan, this building in specific has fascinating vantage points on all ends. It’s kind of like a village square if you’re on the northeast corner, which is the development’s heart.”
“All of the south-facing segments and the southwest end of the building will have great views to the lake because the nine-story midrise is L-shaped,” he adds.
3 Port Credit Hot Spots
My Secret Kitchen, which does catering and takeaway, provides a wide range of Italian and Portuguese ready-for-the-oven and ready-to-eat meals, from codfish and potato casserole to penne primavera, as well as salads for days. 316 Lakeshore Rd. E.
The Studio Paint Bar, where paint and prosecco collide, is a fun idea for team building or simply trying something new. Participants in an event with the Father’s Day theme will virtually paint Darth Vader on canvases. 80 Port St. E., Unit C2.
Locals adore Port Credit’s modernist library, which features resources such as a children’s multimedia workspace, a seed library, and a lovely pollinator garden. 20 Lakeshore Rd. E.
