8.1K 
With the opening of Eglinton Line 5 in the near future, more areas of Midtown Toronto are seeing applications for redevelopment, especially within easy walking distances of the new stations. One project of many within that scope is at 444 Eglinton Avenue West. Developer Arista Homes has submitted applications for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-Law Amendment, as well as Rental Housing Demolition, for a mixed-use condominium west of Eglinton Avenue West and Avenue Road.
The site is at the northwest corner of Eglinton Avenue West and Castle Knock Road, one block west of Avenue Road and its coming Line 5 station. The site is currently home to two-storey mixed-use commercial buildings, with retail at grade, and fewer than six residential units above, so residential replacement units are therefore not a legal requirement in the redevelopment. The site area is about 1,469m² in area, and directly south of a surface parking lot serving local retailers, while the rest of the surroundings are mostly low-rise residential neighbourhoods and low- and mid-rise residential and commercial buildings.
Arista Homes’ proposal notes the growth of the area and the shift towards taller buildings as part of the City's Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan. In this instance, Core Architects has designed a 19-storey mixed-use condominium standing 70.3m tall that would bring 185 new residential units to the neighbourhood. With two elevators incorporated into the design, one elevator for 92.5 units is provided, nicely below the one elevator per 100 units threshold.
The podium is proposed to be seven storeys with the ground level residential lobby accessed in the northeast corner of the site fronting Castle Knock Road, while the majority of the Eglinton frontage is made up of retail space. The building would incorporate step backs and cantilevers for its design to separate the podium from the tower, with the added goal of fitting in with the current and planned developments in the surrounding area. Residents would find amenities on the 13th floor, with 411m² indoors and 427m² outdoors.
The submission notes the City’s plans to minimize vehicle use and encourage travel by foot and by bike. Two levels of underground parking are proposed with 33 spaces, of which 27 would be for residents. The design includes ample room for bikes, with 209 bicycle parking spaces, of which 168 would be for long-term use.
By working towards a neighbourhood with a more complete feel, the proposal intends to be in line with planned developments nearby. The submission notes 20 of these projects on Eglinton Avenue West from Duplex Avenue to Keele Street, varying in height from seven to 35 storeys. In addition, the Parks and Open Space Network Plan outlines the greenery and communal areas for the neighbourhood.
With the other major goal of the plan being connection, the site is currently serviced by buses that lead to Eglinton Station. Like many other parts of midtown, 444 Eglinton West is set to significantly benefit from the Eglinton Line 5 LRT. The site is about 240m to the west of the Avenue Road station, and 400m to the east of Chaplin station. The new line will get riders more quickly to the existing TTC subway lines, and across the city at large.
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: | Arista Homes, Core Architects, Counterpoint Engineering, Goldberg Group, Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, LEA Consulting, STUDIO tla |
