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As Toronto's metropolitan sprawl extends its reach, Brampton's Queen Street East is on the cusp of greater densification, buoyed by planned infrastructure for the Queen Street-Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. Just west of Highway 410 is the site for Bramrose Square, a proposed mixed-use proposal by Starbank Development Group and designed by Turner Fleischer Architects. This ambitious project is located within the Rutherford Primary Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) for its proximity to a stop along the BRT route.
The site at 285-295 Queen Street East encompasses a sprawling 8.75-hectare area , currently with five single-storey buildings, home to a No Frills grocery store, a Furniture Gallery, and a variety of retail and restaurant establishments. Surrounded by major thoroughfares like Highway 410 and Clark Boulevard, the area is primed for redevelopment.
15 high-rise towers from 24 to 68 storeys, and housing approximately 6,629 units, are proposed for Bramrose Square, marking a significant addition to the residential stock along Brampton's Queen Street corridor.
The development includes a comprehensive parking strategy with 8,174 spaces distributed across below-grade, at-grade, and above-grade structures, alongside provisions for 2,145 bicycle parking spots. Along with one level of underground garage and at-grade parking, the design includes a six-storey elevated parkade that would act as a noise and wind buffer from the adjacent highway. The parkade would also provide the opportunity for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Spanning a total Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 539,417m², the project weaves together residential, retail, and office spaces. About 525,152m² is dedicated to residential space, 4,567m² to retail, and 9,698m² to office use. Amenities are abundant, with 12,618m² allocated both indoors and outdoors.
Across the site, 26,413m² is dedicated to green space, transforming over 30% of the gross area. Central to this is a 4,200m² public park. The site is designed with long, wide avenues, aiming to create a cohesive streetscape. Staggered towers along the north edge look not only offer aesthetic appeal but also ensure improved light access. POPS (Privately Owned Publicly accesible Spaces) along these avenues a planned to accentuate placemaking opportunities, with STUDIO tla acting as landscape architect.
A buffer forest and trail, dense with native mixed deciduous and coniferous trees, would not only increase biodiversity and sequester carbon but also provide a crucial acoustic and wind buffer from Highway 410, mitigating urban heat island effects and enhancing the site's ecological footprint. A "green street" concept is included, featuring Low Impact Development techniques that mimic natural water balance, aiding in effective stormwater management. This is complemented by the implementation of municipal storm/sanitary sewers.
The sewers would be part of the second phase of construction. The development is planned in a total of seven phases, each designed to gradually transform the site while minimizing disruption to the existing community.
Bramrose Square is situated near a Brampton Transit Route bus stop at the plaza entrance, offering connectivity for residents. The forthcoming BRT along Queen Street East further enhances the area's transit framework, making throughout the GTA more accessible.
The development is part of a larger trend of densification along Queen Street. Nearby proposals, such as a 38-storey tower at 249 Queen Street East, and the 263 Queen Street East development with buildings ranging from 12 to 46 storeys. Further contributions include 32 to 38-storey buildings at 253 Queen Street East and a 48-storey tower at 10 Kennedy Road North, collectively signalling a significant shift towards high-density, mixed-use communities along the low-rise suburban commercial street.
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: | Counterpoint Engineering, LEA Consulting, Platinum Condo Deals, STUDIO tla, Turner Fleischer Architects |
