Now about nine years after the 1888-built Empress Hotel was destroyed by arson, the owners of the vacant property on the southeast corner of Yonge and Gould streets are moving forward with a development proposal for the Downtown Toronto site. The Lalani Group submitted applications on November 15 for Zoning Bylaw Amendments and an Official Plan Amendment that would allow a 30-storey mixed-use tower at 335 Yonge Street.

Site of the proposed development, image via submission to City of Toronto

Rising 106 metres measured to the top of a mechanical penthouse level, the Zeidler Partnership Architects-designed proposal calls for 14,299 m² in gross floor area with 2,096 m² of that as commercial space and the rest as residential. Retail is proposed at grade and below grade, while levels two and three are proposed as office space.

Aerial view looking southeast over 335 Yonge, image via submission to City of Toronto

The top podium level would house amenity spaces for the residents living above. A total of 165 rental units are proposed on floors 5 through 30 in a unit mix of 26 studios, 70 one-bedrooms, 52 two-bedrooms, and 17 three-bedrooms, or 30% two-bedroom and 10% three-bedroom units.

Looking southeast over 335 Yonge, image via submission to City of Toronto

Knockout panels are included on the B1 level plan to allow for a potential north entrance to Dundas station subway to be incorporated into the building should that plan proceed.

Looking northeast over 335 Yonge, image via submission to City of Toronto

Owing to the building's proximity to higher order transit at the subway station and an expectation that most renters would be Ryerson students, the proposal does not include resident vehicular parking spaces. In their place, 222 bicycle storage spaces are proposed on the B2 level in stackers, with 52 short-term and 170-long term spaces. 

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 thread, or leave a comment below.

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