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In the face of escalating construction costs and a deepening housing crisis, developers are compelled to innovate to ensure new projects remain economically viable. In Toronto’s Bay-Cloverhill area and on the edge of the University of Toronto's St George Campus, The Daniels Corporation and Amica Senior Lifestyles have unveiled their latest plans for 95 St. Joseph Street, designed by Core Architects and Montgomery Sisam Architects. The revised plan has increased the total count from 570 to 698 units with just one additional floor, for a total of 40 storeys.
Although adjacent to the campus itself, the site is situated within the City's University of Toronto St George Campus Secondary Plan area. It spans 5,289m² and is a rectangular parcel located just northwest of the intersection of Wellesley Street West and Bay Street. Currently, the site houses the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre, built in 1949. Additionally, the site is home to a chapel designed by the renowned architect Ernest Cormier, also dating back to 1949. This chapel and the heritage facade of St. Basil's Seminary would be integrated into the new development.
Initially submitted in February, 2019, the proposal called for a 39-storey mixed-use building. A resubmission followed in January, 2022. After obtaining approval in July, 2022, further revisions have necessitated another resubmission. The Basilian Fathers of Toronto were involved as co-owners of the site for the initial application but not for the resubmission for 2022.
With the fourth Site Plan Control application, submitted in April, 2024, followed by a Minor Variance application the month after, the tower would now stand at 40 storeys instead of 39, for an increased height to 134.7m from 129.4m. The podium would remain at 12 storeys, with the new storey added to the tower. This additional storey contributes to an increased total of 698 units, up from 570, with 444 designated for residential use and 254 for institutional purposes, including assisted and independent living for seniors.
The introduction of additional studio units, which now number 210 up from 26, reflects a shift towards more compact living arrangements, and would cater to students attending the U of T and other nearby institutions. These studios, primarily starting at level 14, would range in size from approximately 30m² to 33m². This change has been facilitated by a redesign of the 13th floor, which has transitioned from an amenity space to residential use, with its mechanical room revised from partially open to fully closed. The additional storey for the tower is accommodated reducing the floor-to-ceiling height of the 13th floor.
The Gross Floor Area (GFA) would now be 47,482m², up from 46,677m². Residential GFA would now be 23,281m², an increase from 22,165m². The proposal eliminates the commercial GFA, previously set at 420m², originally intended for the chapel, which would now be part of the indoor amenities. Indoor amenities have been consolidated and would now occupy 1,270m², with outdoor amenities reduced to 78m².
The project now includes only one level of underground parking instead of two, reducing the total vehicular parking spaces from 122 to 52, which includes no residential spots and 6 visitor spaces, alongside 46 for institutional uses. Bicycle parking has been expanded with 401 long-term and 44 short-term spaces, an increase from the previous total of 345.
The site is positioned within five Protected Major Transit Station Areas, making it within easy walking distance of Museum, Wellesley, Queen’s Park, and College stations on Line 1, and Bay station on Line 2.
Other buildings are proposed or going up nearby. To the south, The G2 is proposed with 36 and 42-storey towers. North of the site, proposals for 25 and 70 St. Mary Street, as well as 1075 Bay Street, range from 40 to 59 storeys. To the east, the 34-storey Ivy is close to complete, along with the 55-storey 8 Wellesley. Proposals at 510 and 543 Yonge Street entail 59 and 68 storeys, respectively, while 619 Yonge Street proposes 70 storeys. Proposals at 645 and 646 Yonge Street both plan for 76 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: | Core Architects, Counterpoint Engineering, Entuitive, EQ Building Performance Inc., Goldberg Group, Kramer Design Associates Limited, The Daniels Corporation |
