In Toronto's Forest Hill Village, a boutique mid-rise condominium proposed within walking distance of St Clair West station diverges from the usual verticality and density in Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA) with a modest seven storeys. Designed by Richard Wengle Architect for DealCore Properties, the building would offer 24 spacious three-bedroom units.

Looking southeast to 1 Thelma Avenue, designed by Richard Wengle Architect for DealCore Properties

The development site at 1 through 19 Thelma Avenue comprises an assembly of 10 properties, with a total area of approximately 1,486m². Currently, the site contains two single detached houses and eight semi-detached houses, which are all vacant and in various states of disrepair. The subject site previously contained 11 rental units, with the previous land owner submitting a Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion Application in 2020, with an addendum proposing the off-site replacement of these 11 rental units within a new apartment development on Bayview Avenue.

Looking south to the current site from Thelma Avenue, image from submission to City of Toronto

The site is situated in a predominantly low-rise residential neighbourhood, characterized by detached dwellings and low-rise apartment buildings, with higher-density developments located further south towards St Clair Avenue West.

The combined Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application calls for a 7-storey residential condominium standing 27.85m in height and with 24 units, ranging in size from 184m² to 283m². The Gross Floor Area (GFA) is planned to be 5,737m², set to be entirely residential, resulting in a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 3.86.

Site plan, designed by Richard Wengle Architect for DealCore Properties

Amenities would be located on the seventh storey at the mechanical penthouse level, including 125m² of indoor and 58m² of outdoor space. With two elevators resulting in one for every 12 units, residents would have minimal wait times.

Ground floor plan, designed by Richard Wengle Architect for DealCore Properties

Parking provisions include a two-level underground garage with a total of 55 vehicle parking spaces, of which 48 are designated for residents and 7 for visitors. The development would also feature 36 bicycle parking spaces, with 7 short-term spaces located at the front of the building and 29 long-term spaces within the underground garage. In line with Toronto Green Standard requirements, the vehicle parking spaces would be equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging outlets, promoting sustainable transportation options.

The site is served by the Spadina Road bus, which runs just west of the site, the Avenue Road bus, and the 512 St Clair streetcar. St Clair West subway Station on Line 1 is situated roughly 800m southwest, providing easy access to Downtown, or Yorkdale and beyond. The area also features cycling infrastructure with on-street shared cycling connections on Russell Hill Road for north-south travel and Heath Road for east-west travel, with connections to multi-use trails through Cedarvale Park, to the west.

An axonometric view looking southwest to 1 Thelma Avenue, image from submission to City of Toronto

There is greater density in development applications closer to the subway station, while this submission's height is in line with its immediate surroundings, resulting in a mix of low, mid, and high-rises. Southwest of the site, proposals for 382 and 390 Spadina Road include buildings of 3 and 6 storeys, respectively, while the South Forest Hill Residences under construction will feature towers of 20 and 21 storeys. Southward, closer to St Clair Avenue West, 271 Russell Hill Road is under construction with a 4-storey building, and 429 Walmer Road is proposed to rise to 20 storeys. To the west, proposals for 1563 and 1601 Bathurst Street include buildings of 3 and 8 storeys. Additionally, near St Clair West station, 91 Raglan Avenue is proposed at 26 storeys, and Raglan House is under construction, set to reach 28 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:  Crozier Consulting Engineers, Harlo Capital, MHBC Planning