With another instalment of our weekly series, the UTPro Instant Report, our coverage of the emerging trends in the development of the GTHA’s fastest growing communities continues, once again putting Etobicoke under the microscope. Today’s story focusses on Ward 2, Etobicoke Centre, using data from our exclusive UTPro service to analyze what has been successful in the area so far, and what is still to come. 

Ward 2 represents the central chunk of Etobicoke, bound to the north by Eglinton Avenue and Dixon Road, the Humber Valley to the east, and Etobicoke Creek to the west, while Bloor Street and Dundas Street West both make up portions of the Ward’s southern border. Ward 2 is zoned almost entirely for neighbourhood uses which has placed development pressure on the few corridors that feature mixed-use and apartment neighbourhood designations, with the north-south stretch on both sides of the Highway 427 standing out as a focal point for incoming proposals along with Eglinton Avenue's east-west sweep. 

Map of Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre containing 45 total projects, image from UTPro Instant Report

Our Ward Report came back with a list of 45 total projects in Ward 2. Of that total, eight projects have already been completed, with another seven currently under construction; the remaining 30 projects are under the pre-construction umbrella, indicating that development is on an upward trajectory in the Ward. 

Studying the group of completed projects, Kingsway by the River represents the newest addition to Ward 2, wrapping up construction mid-way through last year. The residential development comprises a pair of buildings, one eight storey mid-rise and a larger 22-storey tower, delivering a total of 319 units to the Kingsway neighbourhood, offering a relatively notable amount of density for an area not particularly well served by high transit frequencies.

Aerial view of Kingsway by the River development, completed in 2022, image by UT Forum contributor Tim MacDonald

Under construction currently is the project that will become one of the largest developments in Ward 2 in terms of density, Notting Hill Condominiums. The project will eventually consist of four towers standing at marks of 25, 25, 25, and 21 storeys, rising in pairs above two podiums, and delivering a total of 1275 new units. Working through the early stages of forming on the first pair of towers, the project’s timeline could line up neatly with the Eglinton Line 5 West Extension, now under construction. 

Construction now underway on the four-tower Notting Hill Condominiums development, image by UT Forum contributor ProjectEnd

In the pre-construction category, Richview Square offers a window into what the future of development in Ward 2 is trending towards. The mixed-use proposal contemplates the construction of 13, 22, and 31 storey towers on a suburban low-rise plaza site, as well as a 3-storey volume, to deliver 1,030 new rental units along with a new community centre, public park, and retail. With close proximity to a future Eglinton Line 5 West Extension station, the proposal was recently increased in size with the designation of the area as an MTSA — a Major Transit Station Area within a short walk to the station — so, its increased density looks strong from a policy standpoint. 

Proposed design for the high-density Richview Square development, image from submission to City of Toronto

Finally, our Ward Report provides some supporting stats that help frame observations about the entire crop of projects. Looking at the gross floor area (GFA) distribution graphic below, we can see that 88% of the total floor space across all projects is programmed for residential uses. 

Gross Floor Area Breakdown for Ward 2, image from UTPro Instant Report

What we can tell about Ward 2 based on this Report confirms what seems to be a common thread in the development community, that Etobicoke is on the rise. While the area is forced to work around an abundance of neighbourhood-zoned land, the mixed-use corridors are seeing improvements to transit that make development, and residential intensification in particular, increasingly more viable.  

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As UrbanToronto continues to refine its role in the GTA development industry, our data services have evolved to become one of our defining elements and we want to share those capabilities with our community. The UrbanToronto Pro Instant Reports is just one of the ways our data can be applied to provide quick and convenient insights on the development trends of any area in the GTA, with filters for Wards MLS Zones, and Custom Areas.