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A Zoning By-law Amendment application has been submitted for a proposed mid-rise at Gerrard and Seaton streets, just east of Allan Gardens, and a 15-minute walk from College station on Yonge Line 1. The landowner, 211 Gerrard East Inc, proposes a 7-storey mixed-use rental building designed by COMN Architects. In response to the City of Toronto's push towards transit-oriented development and housing inclusivity, the owners intend to offer a portion of the 39 units as affordable housing.
The site is an assembly of properties known municipally as 211 through 219 Gerrard Street East, located at the southwest corner of Gerrard Street East and Seaton Street. It currently features a single-storey automotive body shop and surface parking. Envisioning a transformation of the 860m² area, the proposal introduces a 23.25m tall mid-rise building, with 3,393m² of residential gross floor area, and 270m² of commercial space. Featuring a 4-storey masonry base with a second step-back above the 6th storey, the design of the building resonates with the Victorian character of the neighbourhood through its red and buff brick aesthetic.
Of the proposed 39 units, the land owner has committed to providing up to 8, or roughly 20%, as potential affordable housing. The owner has applied for funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in order to deliver these units.
Additionally, plans include amenity areas of 111m² and 108m². The design features two elevators, offering a ratio of approximately one elevator for every 20 units, promising very little wait time for residents.
The development proposes about 163m² of green roof space, primarily situated atop the 7th storey. Combined with a stormwater management cistern, this green initiative aims to address potential increased rainfall. Moreover, the developer is striving to meet the Toronto Green Standards Version 4, and central to this commitment is the development's compact, walkable form.
The proposal notably eschews traditional residential or commercial parking, barring 4 visitor spaces, of which 1 is barrier-free. Instead, the blueprint underscores the value of sustainable transit, as evinced by the allocation of 44 bicycle spaces.
Owing to its proximity to the upcoming Moss Park station on Ontario Line 3, now under construction, the property is located within a Protected Major Transit Station Area (PMTSA). The PMTSA framework is an inclusionary zoning policy designed to promote transit-supportive land use planning principles, fostering both residential and employment growth.
Existing TTC routes that are short walks away include the Sherbourne bus just to the west and the Parliament bus to the east, along with the Carlton streetcar to the north and the Dundas streetcar to the south. For those inclined towards cycling, the location is adjacent to the Gerrard Street East Cycle Track and just a block from the Sherbourne Cycle Track, both connecting it to the city's broader active transportation network.
Within a 500m radius, residents can access a range of open spaces, including the likes of Allan Gardens, and Winchester Park.
The area's growth trajectory is evident, with adjacent developments such as the 7-storey The Georgian to the east and the 15-storey Oben Flats Sherbourne to the west. Southwest of the site, 294 Sherbourne is proposed at 20 storeys. The proposal notes numerous planned developments in the area, including Phases 4 and 5 of the Regent Park redevelopment along Gerrard Street East, set to house 13 new buildings.
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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