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A resurgence of the purpose-built rental market is bringing forward a number of new proposals across Toronto. Although the sought-after Lawrence Park neighbourhood isn't a neighbourhood associated with new fast-paced urban growth—with single-family homes continuing to make up the bulk of local housing—a recently proposed purpose-built rental project aims to open up the area to new residential density. Tabled for a 918.3 m² site on the east side of Yonge Street, Muir Park Developments' 2851 Yonge Street would rise to a height of eight storeys just north of Glengrove Avenue, replacing a surface parking lot.
Designed by Core Architects, the project is proposed at a height of 26.2 metres. The mid-rise massing mirrors the 27 metre width of Yonge Street, thereby falling in line with the City's Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings guidelines, which dictate that building heights should not exceed street width.
Introducing a total 49 rental units to the neighbourhood, the suites come in a mix of 4 bachelor, 5 one-bedroom, 9 one-bedroom + den, 19 two-bedroom, 9 two-bedroom + den, and 3 three-bedroom units. Residents would have access to indoor and outdoor amenity spaces of 106.1m² and 76.9m² respectively.
The site would be served by a two-level underground parking garage, containing 30 parking spaces accomodated within 15 double-parking stackers. Meanwhile, a single accessible parking space would be located at the ground level. 41 indoor bicycle parking spaces will also be provided, with 34 reserved for residents and 7 for visitors.
Since the original proposal was tabled in 2015, a modified proposal has be re-submitted. The P1 and P2 levels of the revised submission now include locker space between parking stackers, while the grade of the parking ramp, and the placement of storm and sanitary monitoring wells, have also been modified.
At the ground floor, changes include the reconfiguration of the parking ramp area, the elimination of the volume at the building’s northeast corner—allowing greater natural light penetration—and the addition of a landscaped area in lieu of parking. Additional revisions to the street level see the southwest corner's exit stairs redesigned to allow a larger garbage room, while 40 centimetres of land along the Yonge Street frontage has been earmarked to accommodate future right-of-way width enhancement.
On level two and above, notable changes to the massing and interior spaces are outlined, with indoor and outdoor amenity spaces relocated to address the revised northeast corner mentioned above. The second level terrace has been reduced in size, while a green roof has been added atop the revised northeast corner. The north side of the building has also been adjusted to meet minimum 5.5m setback requirements.
On subsequent levels, the modified plan calls for balconies to be partially recessed in relation to the main facade, while stepbacks now start on the 6th rather than the 7th level. Along with the changes in massing, the brick façade seen in renderings of the development will now also switch to glass at the 6th level, a storey lower than originally planned.
We will be sure to return with additional details as new information about the project emerges. In the meanwhile, additional information can be found in the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.
| Related Companies: | Core Architects, Counterpoint Engineering, Ferris + Associates Inc., Grounded Engineering Inc. |
