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In Toronto’s historic Corktown neighbourhood, a new Zoning By-law Amendment application has been submitted for 517 Richmond Street East, west of Parliament Street and close to the future Moss Park and Corktown stations on the Ontario Line 3. It is one of an increasing number of developments proposed as purpose-built rental housing in the city, and like most recent submissions of its size, within walking distance of future rapid transit stations.
This proposal, for a 35-storey mixed-use rental apartment and retail building standing 112.17m, is from Colonia Treuhand Holdings. Sweeny &Co Architects's design looks to bring a contemporary touch to the southeast corner of Richmond and Berkeley streets.
The design presents a 35-storey point tower beside a podium ranging from 5 to 11 storeys. The massing strategy places the tower along the Richmond Street frontage to lessen the impact on the heritage character of Berkeley Street.
The tower would house 525 residential units, with residents having access to 947m² and 1,167m² of outdoor and indoor amenities respectively, situated on the first, second, and twelfth floors. The building would be serviced by five elevators, resulting in on elevator for every 105 units, indicating not overly long wait times.
The design's total Gross Floor Area is 34,187m², out of which 735m² is dedicated to commercial use at-grade, adding vitality and a pedestrian-friendly aspect to the street level.
The land comprises an assembly of parcels occupying 517 through 523 Richmond Street East, and covers approximately 3,500m². It currently includes a blend of surface parking, two- and three-storey commercial buildings, and heritage structures.
The proposal respects the site's historical significance, with the listed heritage buildings onsite to be retained in-situ and integrated into the new development, overseen by MHBC Planning. The properties at 111 and 115 Berkeley Street are notable for their 19th-century Georgian and Victorian Bay and Gable architectural styles, with their facades and architectural elements to be maintained.
An integral component of the development is the inclusion of a POPS (Privately Owned Publicly accessible Space). This 329m² area, located just south of the retained heritage buildings on Berkeley Street, an effort to enhance the public realm, is envisioned as an urban forecourt, designed to serve as a vibrant public gathering space that facilitates movement and encourages street-level activity.
Two levels of underground garage would provide 109 motor vehicle parking spaces, all equipped with electric vehicle supply equipment. In addition, the design features 475 long-term and 59 short-term bicycle parkig spots, responding to the City’s requirement for sustainable urban living and active transportation infrastructure.
The location of this proposal places it within easy access to important transit routes, including the 504 King and 501 Queen streetcar routes, and is notably close to the future Ontario Line 3's future Corktown and Moss Park stations, within 250m and 400m walking distance respectively.
Immediately across the street to the north is 494 Richmond Street East, also from Colonia Treuhand Holdings, and matching 517 Richmond's proposed height at 35 storeys. In a broader context, 517 Richmond joins a growing cluster of projects and proposal that are transforming Toronto's East Downtown. To the west, Berkeley House is proposed at 20 storeys, while to the south, East United Condos stands at 24 storeys. Nearby, 550 Adelaide East is proposed at 29 storeys. Eastward, a significant development at 134 Parliament Street is proposed at 44 storeys.
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: | Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, MHBC Planning, NAK Design Strategies, Sweeny &Co Architects Inc. |
