Among the trio of Tower-in-the-Park infill projects proposed on the northwest block of Toronto’s Sheppard and Don Mills intersection that led to the City initiating an area context plan in 2018, a proposal from Compten Management to bring a new high-rise rental building to 2600 Don Mills has been evolving since it was initially tabled in late 2017. The new version of the Quadrangle-designed tower comes with a significant redesign, part of a renewed rezoning application in support of a settlement agreement between the developer and the City at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), expected to be finalized at an upcoming May, 2020 hearing.

Site of 2600 Don Mills, image via submission to City of Toronto

Several changes have been incorporated into the latest resubmission, including an increase in the site area of 97 m², but more apparent are changes to the tower itself, in its height, massing, and exterior finishes. Reduced from the initial 2017 submission's 39-storey, 125.5-metre height, the new 33-storey version rises to a height of 108.45 metres, and contains a new gross floor area (GFA) of 27,883 m², reduced from 31,080 m². The average tower floor plate size has risen from 728 to 750 m², the standard size of the typical Toronto point tower.

Looking northeast to 2600 Don Mills, image via submission to City of Toronto

In place of the original design and its slab-style design (below)—a modern interpretation of the surrounding apartment towers—the new plan (above) features more of a contemporary design. Balconies would be inset behind a grid-like scrim, with a series of incrementally spaced horizontal frame lines that articulate the massing.

2017 design, 2600 Don Mills, image via submission to City of Toronto

While the complex's GFA and height have been reduced, the overall unit count has increased from 364 to 384. This is in part due to the creation of new residential blocks, with 15 three-to-four-storey stacked units to be located along Don Mills, and another 15 stacked units at the south end of the site along a new proposed municipal road. Combined with the existing rental tower, this would bring the site’s total up to 610 rental units. Another addition in the updated submission is the proposal for a new two-storey child care centre at the north end of the site, still to be finalized through ongoing negotiations with the City.

The site would have a four-level underground garage containing 437 parking spaces, increased from 329. These are now proposed in a mix of 399 long-term residential spaces and 38 short-term spaces for visitors.

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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