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Prevailing development trends in Toronto tend to favour the construction of high-density nodes clustered around public transit and highways, and one highway, in particular, is quickly transforming into a new high-rise corridor. The stretch of Highway 427 through Etobicoke between the 401 and the QEW/Gardiner is gradually being populated with new tower communities along both its east and west boundaries, and there are plenty more in the development pipeline, promising to transform this significant artery into an impressive canyon of skyscrapers.
One such project is located at 555 The West Mall, just southwest of Highway 427 and Rathburn Road interchange, where Starlight Investments plans to construct a new 21-storey rental tower on their property. The new building will join an existing 14-storey tower on the site and represents an intensification of a mid-century tower-in-the-park apartment block. Located north of the existing building, the new tower will replace a one-storey parking garage and under-utilized space on the property.
The development was first proposed in 2016 as a 24-storey tower but was subsequently appealed to the OMB. A settlement was reached with the City in 2019, and the project has progressed since. The current form is notably similar to the original proposal albeit with slightly different statistics, and still features an eye-catching design from Architecture Unfolded.
The tower will rise 21 storeys and will contain 249 rental units in a mix of types and sizes, with a unit breakdown of 23 studios, 146 one-bedrooms, 9 one-bedroom-plus-dens, 61 two-bedrooms, and 22 three-bedrooms. A new retail space will be located at grade and will new and existing residents as well as the wider community. The tower will also include a 4-storey underground parking garage accessible to residents of the existing tower.
The new building comes with a host of new indoor amenities, all of which will be available to residents of the existing building. Amenities include coworking spaces, a meeting room; a gym; a lounge and gathering space; a pet spa and a community kitchen for the residents’ use. Outdoor amenities include a private rooftop patio area for residents, a private mini soccer field, a children’s playground and an outdoor seating area with barbecues.
Community integration and additional green space were focal points of this project. A pedestrian pathway leading directly to Rathburn Road has been incorporated as part of the new community development, along with several walking paths throughout, these measures will be complemented by a tree canopy and significant shrubbery surrounding the project.
The architecture of the building features a unique design from Architecture Unfolded, with staggered balconies and an angled volume that breaks free of traditional rectangular forms. The building will be clad with black and white metal panels and fritted glass balcony railings accentuating the unique massing.
According to project architect Mark Zwicker, the incoming tower boasts two very distinct sides; the south side will have a rigid geometry that responds to the punched windows of the existing building while the north side of the building features jagged balconies that are accented by perforated metal railings. Zwicker said the building is designed to be seen from a greater distance than most urban buildings. While the scale, especially at the base, is intentionally larger than a building typically would be set closer to the street.
555 The West Mall received final Zoning Bylaw Amendment approval in May, 2022 and Notice of Approval Conditions in April, 2023. The company is anticipating a September, 2023 construction start. Starlight Developments continues to expand its presence and are taking on larger and more significant developments, continuing to make its mark on the urban landscape of Toronto.
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.
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| Related Companies: | Astro Excavating Inc., Bousfields, EQ Building Performance Inc., MHBC Planning, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering, Starlight Investments, Vortex Fire Consulting Inc. |
