Developer Tenblock has submitted a proposal for its property on Steeles Avenue West near Dufferin to the City of Toronto for a redevelopment that will bring some 800 residential units to the site, including inviting existing residents to return to new modern units.

Exterior rendering. View along Steeles Avenue West. Image courtesy of Kirkor Architects

The site on the south side of Steeles and immediately west of the West Don River ravine parklands is currently home to an ageing H-shaped, 4-storey, 120-unit residential rental apartment building and its associated surface parking lot.

Subject Site Aerial surroundings: 6-storey retirement home to the North; surface parking to the South; West Don River Ravine to the East; proposed development (at 1881 Steeles Ave W) to the West. Image courtesy of Kirkor Architects

The Zoning By-law Amendment proposal seeks to construct 120 rental replacement housing units plus 694 new housing units, a new N-S public road along the western edge of the site, and a new 1,486.5 m² public park along the southern edge of the site. In addition, Tenblock would dedicate 1,700 m² of valley lands back to the City and/or the TRCA.

The proposal entails a comprehensive redevelopment of the site with three new Kirkor Architects-designed residential buildings: two towers at 38 and 39-storeys, and a 10-storey mid-rise building fronting Steeles, all connected via a 3-storey podium. The buildings would comprise 814 dwelling units and total gross floor area of 67,597 m², resulting in a density (FSI) of 5.26 times the area of the lot. All three buildings would have access to indoor and outdoor amenity spaces.

Site Plan. Building A (38 storeys): 398 units; Building B (39 storeys): 296 units; and, Building C (10 storeys): 120 units. Image courtesy of Kirkor Architects

The scheme provides 637 parking spaces and 612 bicycle spaces. Due to a high groundwater table connected with the adjacent West Don River, parking would be provided in a 2-level underground garage as well as in three levels hidden with the podium, above-grade, clad with textured concrete and climbing ivy, at the tower bases.

Exterior rendering. View along proposed new road. Image courtesy of Kirkor Architects

The 10-storey structure would hold the rental replacement units, replacing the existing ones at a similar size, bedroom type, and rent level. These new units will have air conditioning, in-suite laundry, taller ceilings, and modern layouts, fixtures, and finishes. Tenants will have access to improved common areas, including condo-like amenities.

The proposed development would improve the existing public realm, contribute to more vibrancy, and increase connectivity in and around the subject site. Critically, the existing retaining wall fronting Steeles that creates a narrow and hostile pedestrian experience will be removed with scoped regrading. In addition, new outdoor amenities, landscaping, and street-level features would be introduced, as well as a new access point to the restored ravine multi-use trail.

Proposed for 1881 Steeles Avenue West, owned by First Capital Realty, are multiple midrise and tall residential buildings with retail at grade. These two neighbouring properties, with concurrent planning applications under review at the City of Toronto, represent an opportunity for orderly development. Image courtesy of Kirkor Architects

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 in the space provided on this page.

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Related Companies:

BDP Quadrangle, Bousfields, Clark Construction Management Inc, EQ Building Performance Inc., Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Grounded Engineering Inc., Tenblock, Unison Group