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In mid-May, a rezoning and Official Plan amendment application were submitted to the City of Toronto for the construction of a 38-storey condominium with a 7-storey podium at the northeast corner of River St and Labatt Avenue. Developed by Broccolini, the IBI Group-designed tower, currently known for its address at 83 River Street, would replace four 2-storey semi-detached dwellings at 83 through 97 River Street, and a single building sitting on a double lot at 2-4 Labatt Avenue.
Situated within the City's Queen-River Regeneration Area, the surrounding context has drastically changed over the past few years, with the Regent Park Phase 3 Revitalization happening directly across River Street to the west, while the West Don Lands have been transforming a block to the south. Rising to 132.6 metres/435 feet, the 83 River proposal is of similar height to other nearby projects.
Immediately to the west of the site, The Daniels Corporation's Block 30 at Regent Park has now begun construction and will reach 28 storeys upon completion, while the next complex to the north by Daniels and TCHC on Block 27 is rising to 29 and 10-storeys. Across Labatt Street to the south, 77 River Street by TAS will be a 38-storey tower rising 120 metres (393 feet). It was approved by City Council in December 2016. A block east of the subject site, a redevelopment at 1-25 Defries Street is under review, this proposal would see a north tower reach 39 storeys (122 metres/400 feet) with a podium rising to 14 storeys at the south end along Labatt.
Set to add 410 residential units, 83 River would include 2 bachelor units, 250 1-bedrooms (that include junior and 1-bedroom + den), 115 2-bedroom units (also including jr. + den), and 43 3-bedroom units, accounting for 10% of all residential units. On the ground floor, a series of four 2-storey townhouses will front River St, while the residential entrance is proposed at the southwest corner of the site.
138 vehicular parking spaces would be provided on three-and-a-half levels underground, accessed from the southeast corner of the site at Labatt St, while 472 bicycle parking spaces would be situated on the mezzanine level above the ground floor. The project would too include just under 8,750 square feet of indoor amenity space, located on the second, fourth, and eighth levels. Outdoor amenities would also be provided on terraces on those floors, totalling 6,555 square metres.
According to the energy efficiency report submitted with the application, Tier Two of the Toronto Green Standard is being targeted in this design, in an effort to construct a sustainable building. The tower would be clad mainly in a window-wall system, while ribbons of black and white panelling curve across the face of the building to give it its signature look.
We will keep you up to date as this project circulates through the planning process. Additional information and renderings can be found in the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to share your thoughts on 83 River? Feel free to leave a comment in the space provided on this page, or join in the ongoing discussion in the associated Forum thread.
