A proposal submitted to the City of Toronto earlier this month seeks rezoning to permit a new mid-rise purpose-built rental building with ground floor retail at 1521 Queen West. BSäR Group Of Companies' plan for the site between Lansdowne Avenue and Roncesvalles Avenue in the Parkdale neighbourhood calls for an 8-storey Core Architects-designed building to replace an existing two-storey retail strip.

Site of 1521 Queen West, image via submission to City of Toronto

Rising 30.9 metres to the top of the mechanical penthouse floor and elevator overrun, the 5,923 m² building is primarily occupied by rental residential space, taking up 5,623 m² or 95% of the building. This includes 78 units in a mix of 7 studios, 40 one-bedrooms, 26 two-bedrooms, and 5 three-bedrooms. The remaining 300 m² is taken up by ground-floor retail space fronting onto Queen Street.

Looking southwest to 1521 Queen West, image via submission to City of Toronto

The development site sits on a stretch of Queen that has been largely isolated from the development occurring mostly to the east of this area in West Queen West and Liberty Village. This plan incorporates a five-storey streetwall before stepping back at the sixth, seventh, and eighth level, creating terraces for the suites on those floors. To the south, the building abuts the rear of Our Lady of Lebanon Church.

Aerial view looking southeast to 1521 Queen West, image via submission to City of Toronto

Minimal parking is proposed, with just three car-share spaces located at the rear of the site, accessed via a covered drive aisle. In addition, bicycle parking spaces are proposed within a single underground level shared with mechanical, electrical, and storage space. 84 total bicycle spaces are proposed, with 71 residential and 1 retail space in the underground level, and 12 residential and retail short-term spaces at ground level.

Aerial view looking northwest to 1521 Queen West, image via submission to City of Toronto

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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