New renderings have surfaced for a stacked townhouse proposal in Toronto's Summerhill neighbourhood. North Drive Investments is planning a 27-unit townhouse complex housing with 18 two-bedroom and 9 three-bedroom homes called Birch Avenue Townhomes for 26 trough 40 Birch Avenue just west of Yonge. The two-storey back-to-back units would front onto either Birch Avenue or the rear of the lot, abutting a number of low rise residential buildings. First and third floor corridors run through the centre of the building to provide access to units, while lower level units will also have direct entry from the sidewalk or landscaped rear lane. An underground garage will house mechanical equipment, storage and 58 parking spaces.

Evening Rendering of Birch Avenue Townhomes, image courtesy of Richard Wengle Architect

13 homes will be housed on the first level, the north facing units on this level will have access to patios and green space from the lot setbacks. 14 units will be found on the elevator-accessible upper levels; these suites will feature private rooftop terraces. Landscape design is by Janet Rosenberg + Studio.

Designed by Richard Wengle Architect, the building uses red brick, light grey stone, aluminium detailing around the windows, and a dark grey standing seam metal roof to pull off a classic, yet modern design. 

The north side of the building and residential patios, image courtesy of North Drive Developments

The building is still in the planning stages as a zoning amendment and site plan approval applications were filed last August. It would replace low-rise commercial/institutional buildings currently on site. The landscaped rear lane would provide access to the back gardens of homes on Alcorn Avenue to the north via gated entries in a privacy fence.

Earlier this year, a preliminary report was released by city planning outlining the different elements of the application under review and noted some of the current neighbouring residents' concerns with the project. According to Goldberg Group, the planning firm working on the project for North Drive, the proposed massing fits within the Neighbourhood’s official plan allowances.

Rendering of the south side of the building, fronting Birch Avenue, image courtesy of North Drive Developments

We will keep you updated as further details form for this project as it heads towards a planning approval and sales. In the meantime, visit the associated database file and Forum thread to learn more.

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