Woodcliffe Properties, known for their efforts in heritage preservation such as at the Gooderham Flatiron Building, has submitted a settlement offer for their proposal at 1196 Yonge Street. Designed by KPMB Architects, it calls for a 32-storey mixed-use building in Toronto’s Summerhill neighbourhood, a two-minute walk from Summerhill station on Yonge Line 1. It marks a departure from earlier plans by integrating heritage conservation efforts.

Front Elevation of 1196 Yonge, designed by KPMB Architects for Woodcliffe Properties

While the proposal currently comprises the settlement offer letter and initial architectural drawings of elevations and floor plans, a more fleshed-out proposal and renderings can be anticipated in the future. Currently, the site on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Birch Avenue encompasses six properties, featuring a mix of two to four-storey buildings, predominantly residential with ground-level retail.

Looking northeast to the current site, image retrieved from Google Maps

As per the settlement offer letter, the developer filed a rezoning and Site Plan Application in 2021, with the City of Toronto raising concerns regarding the proposal's size and lack of preservation for the site's potential heritage value. Initially, the existing buildings were not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act but were subsequently designated under Part IV of the Act in September, 2022. 

The proposal now calls for the retention of key architectural features along Yonge Street and Birch Avenue. The north side would retain the principal elevations in situ, with significant portions of the south side undergoing demolition and reconstruction of the principal and secondary elevations, except for the three-storey tail at 8 Birch Avenue.

Since the time of the first submission, the site now falls within what is designated as the Summerhill Major Transit Station Area, where the Province and City now advocate for denser development. The settlement proposal, therefore calls for a 32-storey tower standing 114m and housing 130 residential units, a substantial increase in density compared to the initial 14-storey proposal with 67 units. The design has a Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 19,821m², accommodating a mix of market-rate rental and condominium spaces along with 250m² of ground-floor retail space.

Looking northwest to the previous design, designed by KPMB Architects for Woodcliffe Properties

There would be 260m² of indoor and 215m² of outdoor amenities. A four-level underground garage would facilitate 140 vehicular and 130 bicycle parking spots. With two elevators, there would be a ratio of one for every 65 units, providing efficient travel for residents within the buildings.

Ground floor plan, designed by KPMB Architects for Woodcliffe Properties

The development is part of a broader trend of vertical expansion along Yonge Street, particularly within the MTSAs around its subway stations. To the north, 1220 and 1223 Yonge Street are proposed at 22 and 49 storeys respectively. In addition, 49 Jackes Street calls for 29 storeys, and the 31-storey Rosehill Tower is under construction. To the south, The James at Scrivener Square is under construction rising to 21 storeys. Closer to Rosedale station, 931 Yonge Street calls for 31 storeys. Near St. Clair station, proposals include the 49-storey 1366 Yonge Street, and the 50-storey developments of The Hill Condos, Yonge & Rosehill, 45 St. Clair West, and The Notable.

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database files, 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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