Trendy shops, a dining scene known for elaborate brunches, and a tight-knit community vibe are some of the many reasons why Leslieville is such an attractive locale for people looking for a fun area to live in Toronto. Soaring real estate prices, however, are putting this and other previously under-valued neighbourhoods out of reach for many young professionals, and that has led to a resurgence in purpose-built rental properties. Oben Flats Leslieville is one such mid-rise rental development now under construction at the corner of Queen Street East and Winnifred Avenue to meet this new demand.

Facing west on Queen towards Oben Flats Leslieville, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ChesterCopperpot

The building is one of four mid-rise rental properties being developed by Oben Flats, with similar buildings under way in the Castlefield Design District, St. Clair West, and Harbord neighbourhoods. Designed by superkül architects, the six-storey Leslieville location will include 48 rental units, ranging in size from 465 square feet up to 1,200 square feet, while also accommodating retail space at-grade.

Oben Flats Leslieville's steel skeleton taking shape on Queen Street, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ChesterCopperpot

This Oben Flats Leslieville project is notable for its use of structural steel for the construction of the building's skeleton, as opposed to the reinforced concrete construction method more commonly used on construction projects around the region. The images above both reveal that some steel has been erected up to the height of the third floor, with fireproof concrete walls apparent on the ground level.

The building will transition with a step-back above the rear of the third storey, responding to the low-density residential uses to the south. This massing will give residents of the upper three floors ample roof terrace space, with views overlooking the surrounding neighbourhood. The completed development will also feature a space-saving hydraulic parking stacker system, which will be accessible to residents via a rear lane.

Rendering of Oben Flats Leslieville, image courtesy of Oben Flats

Additional information and renderings 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 using the space provided at the bottom of this page.