A long-abandoned site at the southeast corner of Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue in Midtown Toronto could finally see redevelopment, as plans advance for a new mid-rise condominium development. Initially proposed for the former gas station site at 491 Glencairn at the end of 2013 in a much different form than what is planned today, the latest changes—tweaks to a design first introduced last year—follow a 2017 OMB/LPAT order to approve a zoning bylaw and Official Plan Amendment (OPA) approving a scaled-back form versus what was initially proposed.

The latest application seeks to finalize the zoning bylaw and OPA, respectively allowing for the provincially-approved height settled during appeals as well as the re-designating of a portion at the south end of the site from its previous Neighbourhoods land use to the current Mixed Use Areas. Like the initial 12-storey plan, the updated 8-storey version version has been designed by Core Architects. Including the mechanical penthouse, it would now rise to a height of 31.2 metres, falling within the approved zoning envelope for the site. This is a significant decrease from the previous plan's 40.84-metre height.

Looking north to current plan for 491 Glencairn, image via submission to City of Toronto

The proposed gross floor area (GFA) is now planned at 10,438 m²/112,357 ft². This is broken down into 9,957 m² of residential space, 439 m² of retail space, and 67 m² of commercial parking space. The majority of the GFA would be occupied by the building's 105 condominium units, proposed in a mix of three studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 28 two-bedrooms, 21 three-bedrooms, and a single guest suite. This figure falls from the previous plan's proposal of 150 units.

Looking north to previous plan for 491 Glencairn, image via submission to City of Toronto

A three-level underground garage would contain 126 parking spaces, with 101 long-term residential spaces, 10 short-term visitor spaces, and 15 spaces serving the commercial component. The residential parking would be housed on the lower P3 and P2 levels, with commercial parking housed on P1. In addition to vehicle spaces, the garage levels would house 79 bicycle parking spaces, with 63 for residents and 16 for visitors.

Architectural plans build on the rendered exterior, elaborating with a list of materials that includes white brick sections, window wall cladding, ipe wood finishes, and a pattern of colourful terracotta screens that partially enclose balconies. The mechanical penthouse level would be screened in terracotta louvres, matching the details seen on the levels below.

Elevation diagrams also reveal a unique cultural amenity catering to project's clear target demographic, in an area heavily populated with aging empty-nester Jewish diaspora. Atop the building, a rooftop amenity level will include a space for a seasonal Sukkah, where residents would be able to celebrate the week-long harvest celebration Sukkot. Additional indoor amenity space is planned for the building's second floor.

While Greatwise Developments advanced the original proposal, the site and plan is now being marketed for sale to developers seeking to take over an almost shovel-ready project.

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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