4.2K 
In October 2021, Gairloch Developments shared the final renderings for the design of their then latest Toronto project, Leaside Common, a mid-rise condo reaching 9 storeys in the Leaside neighbourhood on Bayview near Eglinton. Just under a year later, the midtown site has been cleared, and the ceremonial start of the project’s construction was celebrated at a ground breaking event on September 28th.
“We launched Leaside Common less than a year ago with a vision for thoughtful design and an embrace for the exciting changes coming to the neighbourhood,” said Bill Gairdner, Founder and President of Gairloch Developments. “Along with the Crosstown LRT, this building will further establish the Bayview and Eglinton intersection with a thoughtful modern masonry mid-rise building.”
The project is part of a class of new developments pursuing the transit-oriented model that has seen particular prominence along Eglinton Avenue, but what makes the Leaside Common unique is its design. From the architects at BDP Quadrangle, the development appears almost as two brick buildings connected by a central glass hub, and is defined by distinct brick facades of different tones that place masonry in the spotlight along the street-wall.
Beginning above the recessed townhome units on the two lowest floors, the brick facade is marked by tall openings that bring some important verticality to the wide and low character of the development. Balconies make use of the triangular spaces created by the massing of the facade, while some levels enjoy a walkout terrace made possible by the building's gradual step-backs.
Meanwhile, around the back on the western elevation, the vertical massing of the street-wall is substituted by a more pronounced series of step-backs, making a staircase shape as the building travels upwards. Taking advantage of the potential this design creates for outdoor space, rows of continuous terraces will be made lush with planters that add more to the building’s green coverage, also found on a large green roof up top, and in planters lining the street-wall.
Along the ground level of this western elevation, Leaside Common offers another space that distinguishes the development from others, a green laneway. Inspired by the wide and active laneways of Montreal, the outdoor space is a contemporary interpretation of a backyard, populated densely with local plant life along the property line while a pedestrian path allows for movement around the neighbourhood and the building.
With construction officially underway, the promise of 198 new high-end units ranging from studio to 3-bedroom is now being realized. With the Leaside Common, Gariloch will expand their portfolio of Toronto projects to include another design-focussed development that delivers quality residential development in highly desirable areas. Occupancy is expected to begin by 2025.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto's new data research service, UrbanToronto Pro, offers comprehensive information on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal right through to completion stages. In addition, our subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, drops in your mailbox daily to help you track projects through the planning process.
