On June 13th—less than two weeks time—a wave of development applications will be making their way to Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, and Toronto East York Community Councils. At the four meetings, City Councillors will review and either recommend for approval or refusal the applications, based on the final reports as prepared by the City Planning staff and comments from the public, before ultimately heading to Toronto City Council a few weeks later where the final decisions will be made.

Today we're talking a look at a number of the projects coming to Council, and what kind of a reception they are preparing for. We'll start with the simplest ones—those which City Staff are are giving "thumbs up" to.

On Yonge Street, staff recommends approval for the Core Architects-designed 2851 Yonge Street. More information about this project can be found in today's editorial, linked here. Another project which the Planning Department supports is The Greenwood near the subway station of the same name, which according to the final report, is an appropriate scale of development and fits into the existing and planned scale of the neighbourhood.

The Greenwood, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Planning feels that the proposed height, density and scale at The Kennedys Condominiums & Hotel in Scarborough is appropriate for the site and local context, hence their recommendation for approval of the zoning by-law. 

The Kennedys Condominiums & Hotel, image via submission to the City of Toronto

For Alterra Group of Companies, their curvaceous residential mid-rise project at 321 Davenport is also supported by staff, while the Sanofi Pasteur Expansion up on Steeles near Dufferin is recommended for getting the green light too.

Updated rendering of 321 Davenport, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Recommended approvals for Official Plan and zoning by-law amendments are also being made for 796 Broadview Ave25 Leonard Ave25 Thunder Grove260 High Park Avenue , and 3775 Dundas West

Next, there are some projects that are getting the thumbs up, but in another way. These are ones which were appealed to the OMB, but which, through further talks with the City and changes to the plans, have now found favour. For these projects, Planning is asking that Council send staff to the OMB hearings in support of the proposals.

Included in this group is Ivy Condos by The Sher Corporation and Dream which is planned to rise to a height of 32 storeys on Mutual Street, south of Dundas.

Ivy Condos, image via submission to the City of Toronto 

In Scarborough, staff recommends that Atria Development's four building development currently known as Brimley & Progress Towers also be supported by staff at the OMB. This substantial proposal is planned just west of Scarborough City Centre.

Brimley and Progress Towers, image courtesy of Atria Developments

Not all of the proposals heading to the OMB have been reworked to City Planning's satisfaction, however, so they face requests that the City send staff to the hearings in opposition to them.

859 Eglinton West is a project that is going that route. Designed by Quadrangle, the 16-storey condominium is planned to rise at the southwest corner of Bathurst and Eglinton Ave at the coming Forest Hill Crosstown LRT station, but Planning sees it as too large for the site. 

859 Eglinton Avenue West, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Other projects that have been recommended to be opposed by Planning staff at the OMB include: 90 Eastdale, an IBI Group-designed project that would see a 37-storey rental tower built beside existing slab towers; Times Group Corporation's 55 Broadway Avenue; and 492 Eglinton East, with a prehearing date at the OMB set for August 2nd. Developed by Sierra Building Group, this would see a 10-storey mixed-use condo built on Eglinton Avenue, west of Bayview. 

492 Eglinton Avenue East, image via submission to the City of Toronto

There is also a proposal which has not been appealed to the OMB, but which could be a candidate for a hearing should Council endorse Planning's refusal recommendation. On Sheppard Avenue about a kilometre west of Yonge Street, Greatwise Developments ambitious plans at 325 Bogert Avenue has been recommended refusal. The proposal sought out a six-tower development with the tallest building rising to 27 storeys. Over 1,700 units are proposed to be built, replacing the 415 rental units currently existing on the site, constructed back in 1969. 

If Council sides with Planning's refusal recommendation, the developers could choose to rework their proposal and resubmit, they cld drop it altogether, or they could appeal the decision to the OMB.

325 Bogert Avenue, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Finally, the last item currently scheduled to be presented at the Toronto East York Community Council is 357 King Street West, formerly known as Tux Condos. Now planned as a rental, the report on the 42-storey tower by Great Gulf is still being finished. We don't know what recommendation is coming here yet, but we will know by the time of the meeting on the 13th.

357 King Street West, image via submission to the City of Toronto

***

We will provide you with more information for each project as they proceed, or go back for reworking. In the meantime, additional information can be found in each of the project's Database files, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Feel free to write a comment in the space provided below, or join in the ongoing discussions in the associated Forum threads. 

Related Companies:  Alterra Group of Companies, Arcadis, Astro Excavating Inc., Baker Real Estate Incorporated, BDP Quadrangle, BlackLine Aluminum, Bousfields, BVGlazing Systems, Clark Construction Management Inc, Core Architects, Cornerstone Marketing Realty, Counterpoint Engineering, Crozier & Associates Consulting Engineers, Dochia Interior Design, Dream Unlimited, EQ Building Performance Inc., Ferris + Associates Inc., Figure3, Giannone Petricone Associates, Great Gulf, Grounded Engineering Inc., Isotherm Engineering Ltd., Jablonsky, Ast and Partners, L.A. Inc., Live Patrol Inc., LiveRoof Ontario Inc, McIntosh Perry, MCW Consultants Ltd, MEP Design Inc., My Design Studio, NAK Design Group, NAK Design Strategies, NEEZO Studios, Norris Fire Consulting Inc, Parcel One, Patton Design Studio, Peter McCann Architectural Models Inc., Priestly Demolition Inc., Qoo Studio, RAW Design, Rebar Enterprises Inc, Schollen & Company, Sierra Communities, Sigmund Soudack & Associates, SKYGRiD, Snaile Inc., STS Renewables , Tarra Engineering & Structural Consultants Inc, The Fence People, TUCKER HIRISE Construction, Turner Fleischer Architects, U31, UCEL Inc., ULMA Canada, Vortex Fire Consulting Inc. , Wilkinson Construction Services Inc., WND Associates Ltd