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An application to redevelop a site at 9 Dawes Road in Toronto’s East End has seen an evolution that mirrors the area it is poised to join. Minto Communities GTA have submitted the third Site Plan Approval application for the site southeast of the corner of Dawes Road and Danforth Avenue, and at the same time have filed with the Committee of Adjustment to increased the approved density and height on the site, looking for approval for two mixed-use towers, with heights of 27 and 33 storeys.
The Danforth neighbourhood site, covering an area of 4,995.7m², is an assembly of two parcels at 9 and 25 Dawes Road. The land currently houses a building supply warehouse and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11. It is positioned for increased density and vertical development, in line with other projects in this transit-oriented area; Danforth GO station is just to the south (this would be steps from a new east entrance to it), while Main Street station on Danforth Line 2 is a couple blocks to the northwest.
Wallman Architects' proposed design includes two towers with heights of 92.51m and 110.76m. They would each contain 324 residential units, with the towers connected by a shared 5-storey podium. There would be a 4-storey frontage along Dawes Road.
The project's evolution can be traced through its previous submissions. In 2019, the RAW-designed proposal for Streamliner Properties envisioned a north tower of 24 storeys and a south tower of 30 storeys/97.01m, totalling 684 residential units. That was eventually approved at 26 and 27 storeys and 646 units.
Fast forward to 2023, with Minto as the new developer and Wallman now the architects, their first Site Plan Approval application called for 27 and 28-storey towers with 648 units.
Now the Committee of Adjustment application, the latest iteration if approved would now have 27 and 33-storey towers of 92.51 and 110.76m in height, and accommodating 772 residential units. With three elevators per tower, this results in approximately one elevator for every 129 units (but service would be quicker in the shorter North Tower and slower in the taller South Tower). The proposed combined Gross Floor Area (GFA) of around 50,181m² allocates 48,663m² for residential space and 1,518m² for non-residential use.
With an indoor amenity area of 1,678m² and outdoor amenities covering 1,411m², the site would incorporate multi-purpose spaces, social areas, fitness facilities, and work-from-home areas. Moreover, the development would be pet-friendly, incorporating features like an exterior dog run, pet relief areas, and a pet-wash station.
As part of the neighbourhood's growth, a notable focus of the site is the public realm of 420m² dedicated to a POPS (Privately-Owned Publicly-accessible Space) fronting Dawes Road and one of the indoor amenities, a co-working space.
Within two levels of underground garage the development would provide 164 resident parking spots, plus 47 visitor spaces. Additionally, there would be a robust bicycle infrastructure with 695 long-term and 77 short-term bicycle parking spaces, responding to the City's requirement to accommodate sustainable transportation options.
The site is located just an 8-minute walk from Main Street station on Danforth Line 2 (which also serves multiple buses and the east end of the Carlton streetcar) and a 9-minute walk from the existing west entrance to Danforth GO station. A new east entrance to that station would put it just a minute's walk away.
The development at 9 Dawes Road is one of many proposals and active projects that are set to transform the area. Adjacent developments include The Dawes currently under construction across the road to the west (24 and 39-storey towers), and the proposed 8 Dawes Road at the south end of Dawes (38 storeys). Further west, closer to Main Street station, the proposals get taller. 2681 Danforth Avenue is looking for 33 and 44-storey towers, while a proposal for 2575 Danforth Avenue aims even higher, with five buildings ranging from 15 to 55 storeys. These developments reflect the growing demand for housing and the area's designation as a Major Transit Station Area.
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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