Toronto's downtown east side has been the place of much change over the city's history. From posh luxury to working industry and blue collar neighbourhoods, the area's future seems destined for change. In recent years it has become one of the city's most promising gentrifying neighbourhoods. Overlooked by developers for years, record land prices in the core renewed their interest in the area over the past half dozen years.

In June we reported that a proposal to redevelop the site of the Hilton Garden Inn at Dundas and Jarvis would bring a single 45-storey complex, and change from a earlier two-towered incarnation. We now have early renderings of developer Easton's Group's revised proposal for the site.

Looking North at 200 Dundas East by Page + Steele/IBI Group for Easton's Group

The new proposal will see a residential tower totalling 45 storeys rising beside a 16 storey-mixed use podium with retail at the base. A new hotel is not part of the mix here. In all the project would bring 767 new units to the area. With more families and couples choosing to live downtown, the developer intends to include 205 2-bedorrom and 76 3-bedroom suites. Underground, 405 parking spaces and 786 bicycle parking spaces will be provided for residents, visitors and shoppers alike.

Looking North at 200 Dundas East by Page + Steele/IBI Group for Easton's Group

When reviewing the proposal, planning staff and the developer worked together to design a proposal that works within City guidelines while addiing positively to the community. The Page + Steele/IBI Group Architects-designed complex will step down from Jarvis Street to George Street, going from 45 to 16 to 14 to 4 storeys, transitioning to the low rise character of the neighbourhood to the east. At the base of the complex, the sidewalks surounding the site would be widened with a building setback and weather protection canopy, protecting the retail commercial entrances.

Looking east at 200 Dundas East by Page + Steele/IBI Group for Easton's Group

As part of the proposal's community benefits, 1300 square metres of community space will be included in the complex, adhering to the City's Downtown East Revitalization Initiative. City planners lamented the area's lack of per capita park space but given the site's configuration, the inclusion of additional onsite parkland was not feasable and the developer will simply make a cash payment instead, a commonly used option on tight sites.

Looking west at 200 Dundas East by Page + Steele/IBI Group for Easton's Group

As this development moves through the planning process, UrbanToronto will keep you posted. Check out our dataBase entry for 200 Dundas East, linked below, to find the project on a map. Leave a comment below, or join our Forum discussion to have your voice heard.