The coming Crosstown LRT is priming new areas of Toronto for high-rise development. At the line's initial western terminus at Mount Dennis, an application seeks an Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments to permit a 34-storey condominium tower at 15 Hollis Street, directly adjacent to the Crosstown's Mount Dennis Station, and across the rail corridor from the Crosstown's Eglinton Maintenance & Storage Facility (EMSF). The station will be located at the 'E' in Eglinton, while the EMSF land is labeled 'Kodak Lands' on the image below.

Site of the proposed development, image via submission to City of Toronto

In place of the five single-detached homes that have been assembled, the application from Gairloch Developments calls for a tower rising 117.05 metres tall, with a total gross floor area of 23,305 m², proposed entirely as residential space. While Mount Dennis has not been a sought after neighbourhood, the coming TTC rapid transit line, along with new GO and UPX stations, will undoubtedly bring about an evolution of the area, especially on the blocks close to the stations. Designed by architects—Alliance, this current version of the building should be understood as a massing study only at this point, with architectural expression to be evolved at a later date.

Looking north from Eglinton to 15 Hollis, image via submission to City of Toronto

A total of 365 condominium units are proposed in a mix of 29 studios (8% of total), 211 one-bedrooms (58%), 90 two-bedrooms (25%) and 35 three-bedroom units (10%). There is approximately 1,460 m² of amenity space proposed, including 1,172 m² of indoor space (165 m² on the first floor and approximately 250 m² on levels 2 through 5) in addition to 288 m² of outdoor amenity space.

The project would have a three-level underground garage, proposed to contain 134 parking spaces, accessed via a garage ramp from a reconfigured Hollis Street (its terminus to be converted into a new partial cul-de-sac.) 36 visitor spaces are proposed on the P1 level, while the P2 and P3 levels would each have 49 resident spaces. Bicycle parking is proposed across underground and podium floors, with a total of 329 resident and 36 visitor spaces.

Podium of 15 Hollis, image via submission to City of Toronto

The majority of residents would be expected to make use of the adjacent transit stations to meet their commuting needs. This has been incorporated into the building's design, with the main entrance positioned to face Mount Dennis station rather than Hollis Street. The massing features a recessed podium with a tower cantilevered above it supported by a group of four 'supercolumns' that extend five storeys high. The rendering below shows how the columns could be a prominent feature for commuters using the adjacent station.

View of 15 Hollis from Mount Dennis Station, 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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Related Companies:  architects—Alliance, Bousfields, Gairloch Developments, Grounded Engineering Inc., NAK Design Strategies