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A new infill project in Toronto's Moss Park neighbourhood could bring over 300 new rental dwellings and new residential amenities to two existing apartment buildings. The Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment application was submitted by Bousfields Inc., planning consultant to Ontari Holdings Ltd, to City officials for 191-201 Sherbourne Street, located at the northeast corner of Sherbourne and Shuter streets.
The L-shaped site measures 188 metres along Sherbourne Street and 109 metres along Shuter Street. It is currently occupied by two 'Tower-in-the-Park' style residential apartment buildings constructed in the 1970s, one 17 storeys in height and the other, 23 storeys. The existing buildings are comprised of 596 rental dwelling units, which will be retained as rental tenure for a period of at least 20 years.
If approved, the plans would permit the redevelopment of the site with two infill buildings designed by Zeidler Architecture Inc.: a 15-storey tall mid-rise built between the two existing rental towers fronting onto Sherbourne Street (i.e. the “Sherbourne Building”), and a stepped 4- to 7-storey building at the southeast corner of the site, with frontages on Shuter Street and Seaton Street (i.e. the “Shuter Building”).
The east end of Downtown contains a mix of uses and a wide diversity of housing and neighbourhood types and tenures, as well as a number of major public institutions related to education, the arts, healthcare, and worship. The character of the area is evolving as a result of significant regeneration, revitalization, and increased development activity. Various applications of recently constructed, approved, or proposed developments in proximity to the site range from 9 to nearly 50 storeys. Across the street from the subject site is Moss Park, a 3.4-acre park that will in coming years see a complete overhaul, with upgraded park and recreational facilities.
This application would provide for the construction of a combined 313 new purpose-built rental dwelling units and 23,900 m² of residential gross floor area, resulting in a total site density of 4.61 times the area of the lot, inclusive of the existing buildings.
The ground level of the ‘Sherbourne Building’ includes three independent indoor amenity spaces that will be directly accessible from the existing apartment buildings. A community space—potentially housing daycare—is proposed on the ground level of the ‘Shuter Building,’ contiguous with outdoor space.
The buildings utilize the existing three levels of below grade parking to accommodate a collective 610 vehicle parking spaces and add nearly 600 bicycle parking spaces to the entire complex. Access to both the underground vehicle parking/bicycle parking will be provided via a consolidated underground garage ramp accessible along the eastern edge of the site from Windeyer Lane. The proposed buildings provide for step backs and a gradual stepping down of built form and height, respecting the low-rise character of the properties along Seaton Street.
The new buildings provide 1,150 m² of indoor amenity space, and a total of 4,000 m² outdoor amenity space which would be accessible to the tenants in the existing buildings.
The proposed residential count includes 87 one-bedroom units (60%); 94 two-bedroom units (30%); and 32 three-bedroom units (10%).
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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| Related Companies: | EQ Building Performance Inc., Fitzrovia Real Estate Inc., Goldberg Group, Janet Rosenberg & Studio, Mulvey & Banani |
