A February, 2018 proposal for rezoning at 1637 Bathurst in Toronto's Forest Hill area has been submitted for Site Plan Approval to the City, implementing several design revisions to address comments and concerns outlined by City staff and the local community. The proposal from Starlight Investments still calls for a four-storey residential rental building, though with a new design from WZMH Architects replacing the previous version from RAW Design, now housing an increased unit count and an objectively improved relationship with Bathurst Street.

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

The updated plan submitted at the end of 2019 calls for 75 residential units, increasing from the previous submission's 67, owing to a more efficient built form. These units are now proposed in a mix of 20 one-bedrooms, 26 two-bedrooms, and 29 three-bedrooms. This includes 25 rental replacement units for the existing units housed within the 3-storey apartment buildings currently on site.

Looking northeast to 1637 Bathurst, image via submission to City of Toronto

Exterior changes are evident when comparing the new and old renderings, including a few key aspects that drastically improve the proposed conditions along Bathurst Street. The addition of articulated fronts break up the building's massing along Bathurst Street, while the removal of part of the existing retaining wall along Bathurst Street increases the building's connection to the road.

Looking southeast to 1637 Bathurst, image via submission to City of Toronto

The updated design also comes with complete details of the finishes proposed for the building’s exterior. The main exterior expression is in the form of dark brick masonry cladding, a mix of grey and white aluminum panels, and clear balcony glass framed in aluminum mullions.

1637 Bathurst, image via submission to City of Toronto

Removed from the previous submission are all surface parking spaces, with the building now proposing all of its parking within a two level underground garage, no longer planned with a parking stacker system. A total of 94 parking spaces are proposed in the upper and lower parking levels, along with 81 bicycle parking spaces.

Looking southeast over 1637 Bathurst, image via submission to City of Toronto

You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like to, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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