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Toronto is currently embarking on the largest transit expansion campaign in North America, and as can be expected, with new transit lines comes a significant amount of transit-oriented development. The Crosstown LRT, GO rail expansion, and Vaughan subway extension projects have all kickstarted the development of significant new density nodes along their paths. The next major transit addition in the pipeline is the Finch West LRT, and development activity along Finch is slowly picking up steam. Leading the pack is SmartLiving, SmartCentres REIT’s residential sub brand, who is introducing a new high-rise tower adjacent to Yorkgate Mall, steps away from the future Jane-Finch LRT station.
The tower represents the first significant new rental building proposed for the Jane-Finch neighbourhood in nearly four decades. Designed by Petroff Partnership Architects, the proposed tower is located in the northwest corner of the site along York Gate Boulevard and will rise 22 storeys with 294 rental units. The tower will replace an under-utilized portion of the surface parking lot, and will not affect the existing mall itself in any way, which will remain untouched and will be enhanced by the new development. SmartLiving recognizes the importance and popularity of Yorkgate Mall among the local community and emphasized that the shopping centre will remain for the foreseeable future.
The units in the tower are designed to offer refreshed living options for the local community. Unit types range from studios to two-bedrooms with sizes of roughly 457 to 800 ft² and are catered to a mix of demographics including seniors, singles, couples, and small families. The development will offer condo-level finishes and features that don’t exist in the older rental stock in this submarket, such as in-unit laundry and dishwashers, while maintaining a competitive price point for the area. The Jane-Finch neighbourhood is a strong and vibrant community and SmartLiving’s proposal will provide further housing options to enhance and strengthen it.
The building offers a variety of lifestyle amenities that cater to a diverse mix of residents. These include a multipurpose room; a co-working space; a lounge and party room; a kids’ playroom; 24-hour security and concierge; and a landscaped outdoor amenity, complete with a children’s play area, barbecues, covered seating, and a public art component.
The tower is conveniently located next to Yorkgate Mall, which offers plenty of retail options including No Frills, LCBO, and Planet Fitness, and is also located adjacent to the Finch Recreation Trail, providing access to significant park and green space. As well, the development is directly across the street from the proposed Jane-Finch Community Hub and Centre for the Arts, a new theatre and community centre that will occupy land acquired by the City in a deal with Metrolinx to provide positive community benefits next to their Maintenance and Storage Facility for the Finch West LRT.
The City is currently working on an updated secondary plan for the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, which is still in the very early planning stages. There are no concrete policies yet, but given the available land and proximity to transit, it is likely that more density will eventually be coming to Jane-Finch. The SmartLiving proposal is at least a year ahead of the secondary plan, but the design team is confident that the tower will fit seamlessly within the plan once it is complete, and they are working with the City to ensure their future vision of the neighbourhood is incorporated.
The Yorkgate proposal is currently seeking rezoning and site plan approval from the City. We will keep you updated as it continues to make its way through the planning process, but in the meantime, 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: | Crozier Consulting Engineers, LEA Consulting, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering, SmartCentres REIT, STUDIO tla, Weston Consulting |
