Toronto is well-known for its suburban mid-century apartment blocks, which dot the skyline across Etobicoke, North York, and Scarborough. Prevalent in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, these towers were sprinkled among low-density housing as a way to encourage the development of mixed-income neighbourhoods and to fund the infrastructure needed for the rapidly expanding city. The popular design at the time is referred to as the Tower-in-the-Park model, where a single slab or square-form tower sits isolated in a field of green space. Now, fifty years later, a growing trend across the city is seeing these Tower-in-the-Park buildings intensified with new density that replaces the often-underutilized spaces adjacent to the existing mid-century apartment blocks.

The latest example of this is a proposal from Starlight Investments, who are looking to add more density, along with new community benefits, to their property at 765 Steeles Avenue West in North York. Here, the existing 21-storey tower will be joined by a new 27-storey tower containing 296 new rental units. The new building is designed by IBI Group and will also include a not-for-profit daycare and public parkland for the Newtonbrook neighbourhood.

Rendering looking south from Steeles, image courtesy of Starlight Investments.

The project has evolved since it was first proposed in 2019 and is an excellent example of how collaboration with the local community and city planners can result in a positive outcome for all. The existing property has two frontages along Steeles West to the north and Greenwin Village Road to the south, with the existing tower located roughly at the centre of the property, set back from both streets. Initially, Starlight had proposed the addition of two mid-rise buildings to the site: a 10-storey building to the north of the existing tower, and an 8-storey building to the south of the existing tower.

However, through an extensive and productive process of consultations with both the community and the City, Starlight recognized that the unprogrammed green space to the south of the existing tower was in fact well-used by the local residents, who wanted to maintain this as a public amenity. Starlight had also identified the area as a growing hotspot for young families, so when the City pointed out that this particular neighbourhood was lacking in terms of childcare centres, they agreed that it would be beneficial to include one as part of the proposal. Starlight then went back to the drawing board and revised the development into a single tower located along Steeles to the north of the existing building, thereby preserving and enhancing the green space to the south, and also added a childcare centre in the podium.

Rendering of the podium looking west along Steeles, image courtesy of Starlight Investments.

The new 27-storey, 296-unit tower contains over 1,650m² of indoor and outdoor amenity space on the ground and second floors, all of which will be accessible to the residents of the existing tower. The 790m² daycare will be located on the first and second floors of the building and will also have over 270m² of dedicated outdoor space. The residential units are located in the podium and tower above, containing a significant number of larger suites, with roughly 42% being two or three bedrooms. This split is representative of the demographic of younger families in the area.

To the south of the existing tower, a new POPS will provide outdoor amenity space for both existing and new residents, totaling 514m² of space. The remainder of the southern portion of the site, roughly 1,575m² in size, will be handed over to the City as a  public parkland dedication. The POPS and park space will be designed to function seamlessly. Furthermore, a new north-south pedestrian walkway will be added to the east side of the property, providing a mid-block connection between Steeles and Greenwin Village Road.

Preliminary landscape plan, image courtesy of Starlight Investments.

Further upgrades to the existing building as part of the project are also in development, according to Starlight. Thus far, the company has spent just under $6 million on general property improvements, including environmentally-friendly energy and sustainability initiatives, underground parking expansion, and landscaping upgrades. Additional improvements to the existing tower and plans for the newly introduced indoor and outdoor amenity space are still under review at this time.

Overall, the building has received a positive reception from both the City and the local community. The rezoning application was approved by City Council in their most recent July 2022 session, and the project is currently seeking site plan approval.

Rendering of the podium looking east along Steeles, image courtesy of Starlight Investments.

We will keep you posted as plans for 765 Steeles West continue to evolve, but in the meantime, you can join in on the discussion by checking out the associated Forum thread or by leaving a comment in the space provided on this page.

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