In 2016, a plan was tabled with the City of Toronto, seeking rezoning to permit a high-rise rental tower at the southeast corner of Church and Lombard streets. The resulting architectsAlliance-designed plan for Cityzen Development Group's 89 Church Street has been navigating Toronto's complex planning and approvals process in the time since. The project recently faced the OMB/LPAT, where its zoning by-law amendment was approved recently, but not at the height originally sought.

Looking northeast to 89 Church, image via submission to City of Toronto

Previously proposed at 49 storeys/162 metres and containing 468 rental units, the plan was approved for zoning at a reduced size, now 45 storeys/149.5 metres high. The zoning approval has now led to a resubmission for and Site Plan Approval this month.

Looking north to 89 Church, image via submission to City of Toronto

A total of 407 rental units are proposed in the updated tower, reduced by 61 units from the previous plan. The unit mix would be 242 one-bedrooms, 123 two-bedrooms, and 42 three-bedrooms. This building would be anchored to the Church and Lombard intersection with 145 m² of ground-level retail space.

Looking north to 89 Church, image via submission to City of Toronto

The updated plans also include a number of minor revisions to the tower’s proposed massing and exterior design. Previously proposed as a single volume rising from the podium, the tower is now articulated into two stacked volumes with differing exterior expressions, mostly through the elimination of most balconies on the upper storeys. 

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.