7.4K 
Toronto’s ongoing and proposed developments bring growth and change to an evolving city, but also erase parts of its past. In South Etobicoke at the northwest corner of Royal York Road and the Gardiner Expressway, a new proposal from Queenscorp Residences would result in the demolition of 10 low-rise buildings. The developer has submitted Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications which would result in three new mixed-use buildings at 522 Royal York Road.
The site is comprised of 11 parcels west of Royal York Road immediately north of the Gardiner Expressway and a block south of The Queensway. One parcel is not home to any structure. At this time, these lands contain various one-or-two-storey commercial and residential buildings. They form two development parcels; Parcel 1 is approximately 11,207m², and Parcel 2 on the south side of Queen Elizabeth Boulevard is about 3,028m².
The proposal would result in all 10 buildings being demolished. In their place, the proposal calls for three new buildings designed by Turner Fleischer Architects. On the west side, one building would have two residential towers rising from a shared podium, one at a height of 117.9m with 35 storeys and the other 63.9m with 17 storeys. In the northeast corner against Royal York Road, another building would be 41.7m with 10 storeys, it podium forming an L-shape resulting in eight-storeys along Sinclair, a side street to the north. Finally, the design also includes a building in the southeast corner at a height of 71.15m with 20 storeys.
The west building would have a 10-storey podium connecting its two towers, creating a shallow U-shape. The building would step back 5m from the north side of the property along Sinclair Street, along with additional step-backs along the podium. The design also calls for a terrace wrapping around the east and north sides of the taller tower. The other buildings would also have multiple step-backs, as well as terraces on their fifth floors. Green roofs would top the buildings.
With a total of 967 residential units, the design would offer residents 3,880m² of amenity space, including 1,939m² of outdoor amenities. The podium for the west building would also contain 309m² of office space. The design provides a central courtyard that spans Queen Elizabeth Boulevard, in the centre of the buildings, providing but driveways and green space. The buildings north of Queen Elizabeth would share an underground parking garage with three levels and separate entrances. The garage would have 858 parking spaces, with 75 of those for visitors. The building to the south would have a separate parking garage with 3.5 levels, as well as 217 parking spaces, including 22 for visitors.
For cyclists, the development would also have 741 bicycle spaces, including 67 for short-term use and 16 for visitors. For commuters, the site is located next to two bus routes that connect to either Royal York or Keele subway stations. The site is also about 850m north of the Mimico GO station.
The Queensway community in South Etobicoke where 522 Royal York Road is located is a mostly residential area, with commercial buildings along the Queensway, and light industrial buildings facing the Gardiner. While there are 23 active or recently approved development applications close to the site as of November, 2022, the proposal notes that the neighbourhood’s population has remained stable in recent years.
In a neighbourhood poised to transform through numerous developments, 522 Royal York Road would see great intensification and development by replacing several small buildings with a few large ones. The proposal argues this would not have a significant impact on the community’s services. It would look to the future and be in line with the transit and development plans for the neighbourhood.
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 has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
| Related Companies: | Bousfields, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering, Turner Fleischer Architects |
