Details of a new major residential development along Highway 427 at Bloor Street West have been revealed through a rezoning application recently submitted by Edilcan for a 2.6-hectare lot at 2 Gibbs Road. The multi-phase multi-tower development would see two 10-storey mid-rises constructed along the eastern edge of the site facing The East Mall in the first phase of the construction, followed by a complex of three towers measuring in at 31, 37, and 46 storeys located along the western edge facing Highway 427, built out in subsequent phases. The property in question is located directly to the south of Edilcan's One Valhalla development, which is comprised of three residential towers and a series of townhouses.

East elevation of the proposed development, image courtesy of Edilcan.

Featuring a unique design by Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects, the initial phase of the project would see two 10-storey mid-rise rental buildings constructed on the eastern edge of the site, which would step down to 8, 7, and 6 storeys. The two buildings would contain a total of 420 residential units, with a large grocery-type retail space occupying a portion of the lower two floors of the southern building, and a smaller ground-level retail space in the northern building. The mid-rises will have three levels of underground parking, with some above-grade parking incorporated into the northern building.

Aerial view of the two mid-rises comprising Phase One, image courtesy of Edilcan.

Artist's rendering of the southern mid-rise at Gibbs Road and The East Mall, image courtesy of Edilcan.

The later phases of the project feature three curvaceous towers of 31, 37, and 46 storeys sitting atop a shared five-storey podium. The mixed-use podium will contain office space, retail space, and townhouses, with one level of underground parking and five levels of above-ground parking integrated with a similar architectural treatment as the remainder of the podium. In total, the three towers and podium will contain roughly 1080 new residential units in a range of sizes.

Rendering of the three proposed towers looking east, image courtesy of Edilcan.

The design of the public realm, overseen by Claude Cormier + Associés, places heavy emphasis on creating a pedestrian-friendly environment. At the centre of the site, a privately-owned public space (POPS) will give residents some intimate parkland within the development, while a north-south pedestrian-oriented road bisects the site. The five-storey podium to the west blocks sound from Highway 427, leaving in central POPS relatively quiet.

The rooftops of the tower podiums will feature landscaped gardens accessible to the residents, and a pedestrian pathway will circle around the western edge of the site, along which will be located a small off-leash dog park, before looping back around to the central axis. Public realm improvements also include a new southern gateway to the site, and upgrades to the intersection of Gibbs Road and The East Mall.

Landscape plan showing public realm design and rooftop gardens, image courtesy of Edilcan.

Edilcan's proposal for 2 Gibbs Road is just the latest in a string of high-density residential proposals along the 427 Corridor in Etobicoke. With several new communities and planning initiatives on this stretch, the shoulder areas on either side of the busy expressway are becoming increasingly high-density and mixed-use.

Site plan showing immediate context, image courtesy of Edilcan.

We will keep you updated as more news arises on 2 Gibbs Road as it makes it's way through the City's planning process. In the meantime, you can get in on the discussion by checking out the associated Forum thread, or by leaving a comment in the space provided on this page.