In a city where new development has been dominated by a decade of increasingly ambitious skyscrapers, the transformation of Toronto's Upper Beaches along Kingston Road is notable for the distinctly mid-rise character developing in the neighborhood. Among the slate of ongoing mid-rise developments, the The Southwood, a two-building, TACT Architecture-designed project is adding new residential units and retail space to the growing area. 

A view of the Kingston Road sales centre, image courtesy of UrbanToronto Forum contributor salsa

Both of the 6-storey, Streetcar Developments buildings feature interiors appointed by Seven Haus Design, as well as landscaping by Corban and Goode. With one-to-three bedroom suites ranging from 500 to 1,750 square feet, the boutique condominiums offer units geared towards a range of buyers, including single professionals, outdoorsy urbanites, and families. 

A rendering of the first phase at 663 Kingston Road, image courtesy of Streetcar

The buildings' exteriors are characterized by an interplay between grey brick and a lighter stone exterior, meeting Kingston Road with a subtle but contemporary aesthetic. While the condominium at 663 Kingston Road—where the sales centre is now located—will be dominated by light grey brick, with notes of dark bronze metal (above), the second phase sister building at 646 Kingston Road (below) will feature a darker brick base interwoven with lighter cladding on the upper levels. 

A rendering of the building at 646 Kingston Road, image courtesy of Streetcar

The Southwood units are set to feature 9' ceilings and a choice of engineered hardwood or laminate flooring. Gas stoves and quartz countertops are also standard, while an in-built heat recovery ventilator (HRV) provides an advanced, energy-efficient system specifically suited to colder climates. 

The back balconies of the building at 646 Kingston Road, image courtesy of Streetcar

Nearby Glen Stewart Park enhances the neighborhood's leafy character with an expansive green space, leading down to a ravine that stretches south to Queen Street East. The increasingly pedestrian-oriented neighborhood also features a growing number of cafes and restaurants, while the Main Street Subway Station is located directly up Southwood Drive (which becomes Main Street north of Kingston Road).   

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.