The upcoming 2022 opening of the Crosstown LRT is fostering a wave of intensification all along the route's 19-kilometre stretch through Toronto. Just southwest of the line's future O'Connor stop, an application dating back to late 2018 has been resubmitted to the City, seeking Site Plan Approval for a proposed mid-rise condominium development at 1861 O’Connor Drive.

Looking north to 1861 O'Connor, image via submission to City of Toronto

Designed by Studio JCI for a numbered corporation tracing back to Artlife Developments, the latest application builds on a second rezoning submission from September, 2019 that introduced changes to the previous December 2018 plan. Among the changes are increases in both gross floor area (GFA) and unit count, while reducing from ten to nine storeys in response to a City comment that the height of the building should not exceed 27 metres, the width of the O'Connor Drive right-of-way. 

Looking east to 1861 O'Connor, image via submission to City of Toronto

A total GFA of 15,953 m²—increases slightly from the initial proposal's 15,785 m² GFA—proposed primarily as residential space, with 15,831 m² accounting for over 99% of the building's total GFA. Increasing significantly to 252 condominium units from the previous 222 units, they are now proposed in a mix of 4 studio layouts, 188 one-bedrooms, 36 two-bedrooms, and 24 three-bedroom units. The remaining 122 m² is proposed as street-fronting retail space, reduced from the initial plan's 232 m².

Looking southeast to 1861 O'Connor, image via submission to City of Toronto

Architectural plans list the proposed exterior materials which include a mix of brick and stone finishes with black metal slab edge covers along the first four levels. A primarily glazed volume above would also feature the same black metal slab edge covers, breaking up the glass volumes with the help of projecting balconies.

The building would have a three-level underground garage with 217 spaces, of which 191 would be resident spaces, 25 visitor spaces, and a single space for retail use. The original submission called for a commercial parking section, which was removed on advice of City staff. 

Looking west to 1861 O'Connor, 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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