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A proposal submitted to the City of Toronto seeks rezoning and subdivision approval to permit redevelopment of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation's (TCHC) Jane-Firgrove and Firgrove-Grassways communities in the Jane and Finch area. Currently home to several low-rise apartment buildings and a rental tower, the redevelopment plan seeks to implement a new master plan for the Firgrove Community that would maintain and renovate 152 existing TCHC rent-geared to income units, replace most of the remaining 236 TCHC units on-site with new-build rental housing, and add approximately 600 market-rate apartment and townhome units to the mix.
The community, in one of Toronto's most stigmatized areas, has been in a state of increasing disrepair for years, and some blocks within the subject site have been deemed "unlivable" or in "serious disrepair" and are currently boarded up and fenced off. The site's deteriorating condition is a factor in the proposed redevelopment, which has been in the works since consultations between the City, community, and stakeholders were held in June, 2018. These talks have informed the newly submitted plans, calling for seven blocks of LGA Architectural Partners-designed buildings across a new simplified street grid designed for increased safety and better connectivity with the surrounding neighbourhood, while creating new public spaces and community amenities.
Plans call for seven blocks of buildings surrounding a central park: a pair of TCHC blocks with towers of 16 and 25 storeys containing a respective 123 and 218 TCHC rental units; a third block containing a community centre; and four market blocks containing buildings with heights of 6, 8, 14, and 25 storeys, and respective unit counts of 48, 142, 127, and 283. The existing 12-storey building at 5 Needle Firway would see its 152 units renovated and modernized. A total of 91,121 m² of residential space is proposed across the site, with a combined of 943 units broken down in a mix of 241 one-bedrooms, 305 two-bedrooms, 303 three-bedrooms, and 92 four-bedroom units. Over 2,300 residents would be supported in the complex.
In addition to the TCHC and market units, the complex proposes approximately 940 m² of non-residential uses that would include commercial, restaurant, and retail uses, as well as a 3,716 m² community centre housing approximately 2,800 m² of community space and approximately 950 m² of City-run child care space.
Public realm enhancements, designed by landscape architects The Planning Partnership, include the community's central park, which is proposed to be bordered by a double row of trees. A smaller pocket park is also proposed adjacent to Firgrove Public School within the northern area of the site.
A total of 667 parking spaces would be provided across the entire site, with the majority housed below grade and remaining parking to be provided on-street via the new grid of roads. Of the 856 spaces proposed within the underground garage, 809 are planned as long-term visitor parking spaces, with the remaining 91 to be short-term visitor spaces.
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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