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Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood is seeing an influx of construction and development projects, with both mid- and high-rises in the mix. One of the proposals in the area is at 243-247 Davenport Road. Designed by Richard Wengle Architect for DC Dev Corp, the Zoning By-law Amendment application seeks to build a 16-storey condominium building with retail at street level west of Avenue Road, within a good walk of four subway stations.
The application seeks to repurpose a parcel of land currently occupied by two three-storey commercial/retail buildings. This assembly of 245 and 247 Davenport Road occupies an area of 1,176m². The Annex neighbourhood south and west of it is characterized by an increasing mix of low-rise, mid-rise, and tall buildings that line its main roads, while its interior is marked by quaint neighbourhoods adorned with single detached and semi-detached dwellings. The proponent argues that its unique blend of urban and residential elements makes the Annex an ideal location for a project of this nature, seeking to enrich the community with its mixed-use design.
The proposal would stand 64.69m high, accommodating 66 residential units across 15 of its 16 storeys, the first five forming a podium. The proposed Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 8,056m² encapsulates 7,769m² of residential space and 287m² of area for commercial activities, with the latter located on the east side at grade.
The project includes 173m² of indoor and 145m² of outdoor amenities, found at grade and on the upper mezzanine floor. The development would be serviced by two elevators, resulting in one elevator for every 33 units, well within the City of Toronto threshold of one elevator per 100 units. The underground garage, spanning four levels, is set to offer 36 residential and 10 visitor spaces. Additionally, there would be 115 long-term and 14 short-term bicycle parking spots.
According to a Heritage Impact Study completed by ERA Architects, heritage properties to the south of the site that are part of the East Annex Heritage Conservation Area would not be negatively impacted. 243 and 247 Davenport Road are Modernist buildings, the latter having been designed by early iconic Modernist Canadian architect Peter Dickinson. It is not included on the City's Heritage Register.
Served by TTC bus routes and situated within an 800m radius of four subway stations — Rosedale, Dupont, St George, and Bay, the site is poised to leverage Toronto's transit network.
Like much of Toronto, The Annex’s landscape is changing with several development applications indicating a trend toward greater density and height. Nearby mid-rise submissions include 183 Avenue Road and 126 Avenue Road at 10 and 12 storeys respectively. West of the site, The Bedford is proposed at 13 storeys. Taller recently completed projects include Pears on the Avenue and AYC Condos, with 20 and 27 storeys respectively. Immediately northeast of the site on the other side of Davenport, an application for 148 Avenue Road calls for a 35-storey tower.
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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UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
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