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A transformative infill development at 155 Antibes Drive is set to revitalize a 1970s Tower-in-the-Park site in North York's Westminster neighbourhood, on the west side of Bathurst Street just north of Finch. The rezoning application is expected to reach the North York Community Council this July. With collaboration from Marty Rokos, Senior Planner at the City of Toronto, the evolved plan is the culmination of developer Tenblock's team working with the community along with City staff to deliver a green, mixed-use development that aligns with the area's character while addressing Toronto's pressing need for housing.
The 1.9-hectare/4.7-acre Tower-in-the-Park style site on the northwest corner of Bathurst Street and Don Lake Gate is currently home to a 16-storey apartment building that is surrounded by surface parking and underused lawns. The design of its redevelopment incorporates feedback from numerous community consultations, and along with new buildings will bring such things as a multi-use trail and a public park in the site's northwest corner. Designed by BDP Quadrangle, with planning by Urban Strategies Inc., and landscape design by SvN, the proposal introduces three new residential buildings: two towers of 32 and 36 storeys fronting Bathurst Street, and an 8-storey mid-rise deeper within the site, complementing the existing rental building.
Collectively, the site will accommodate 1,151 units, including the 259 existing rental units which will continue to be lived-in throughout the infill process. The revised proposal strikes a balance between increased density and community integration, with the 892 new units responding to Toronto's growing housing demand while fitting into the local context of the area's developments that range from 12 to 29 storeys.
Landscaped open spaces and treed streets towards Antibes Drive, coupled with new retail and a POPS (Privately-Owned Publicly-accessible Space) along Bathurst Street, aim to create a pedestrian-friendly, vibrant public realm. The POPS, envisioned as an urban plaza and cycling transit hub with Bike Share Toronto stations and cycling amenities, will connect to the City's planned cycle tracks on Bathurst Street, under the 2022-2024 Cycling Program, supporting the neighbourhood's evolution into a cycling-friendly complete street.
Tenblock approaches this development as an opportunity to modernize the existing apartment building, upgrading amenities such as laundry and storage spaces, bicycle parking, accessibility, lighting, and security features. The surface parking and driveway will give way to enhanced landscaping, 72 new trees, a children's playground, and a community garden, encouraging interaction among residents. For those looking for even more green space, Harryetta Gardens and the expansive G Ross Lord Park are minutes away.
The proposal's commitment to active transportation is evident in the 9.1m-wide multi-use trail connecting Bathurst Street and Antibes Drive, and the ample bicycle parking, with 840 long-term and 113 short-term spaces. Tenblock is also exploring attracting a bike café tenant to the retail space, further promoting cycling in the neighbourhood. For those moving about the city by transit, the site is served by buses reaching Finch station on Yonge Line 1 within 15 minutes, while buses also operate along Bathurst, heading north and south.
Sustainability is at the forefront at the site, with Tenblock aiming to achieve a higher tier for Toronto Green Standard. Explorations into a geo-exchange heating and cooling system and an advanced building envelope demonstrate a commitment to creating an environmentally friendly urban community. As the application progresses to Community Council, City Council, and beyond, Tenblock continues to collaborate with the City through the Site Plan review process to refine and advance these sustainability features.
The journey of 155 Antibes Drive showcases the potential of sensitive infill development in transforming underused properties into vibrant, sustainable communities that enhance the urban realm while addressing Toronto's evolving housing needs.
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: | BDP Quadrangle, EQ Building Performance Inc., Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Grounded Engineering Inc., SvN, Tenblock, Urban Strategies Inc. |
