Coming close to a doubling of its previous scale, a resubmission for 1705 Weston Road proposes a 43-storey mixed-use development, a significant boost from a 23-storey submission in 2020. Designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects for Altree Developments, the site is a one-minute walk from the south entrance to Weston GO and UP Express station. The application notes that the added height and density, with nearly 2.5 as many units as before, align with Provincial goals for projects within Major Transit Station Areas, and mirrors recent applications in Toronto’s Weston neighbourhood, as well as responding to the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan.
The site is an assembly of four lots, spanning 3,829m². Located at 1693-1709 Weston Road and 10 Victoria Avenue East, it houses four low-rise buildings, which include 15 rental dwelling units, all earmarked for full replacement in the new development. The Victoria Avenue frontage is broken up by 6 and 8 Victoria, which are not part of the assembly. Surrounding the site are a mix of residential and commercial zones, including low-rise structures and emerging high-rise developments.
In December, 2017, an initial Zoning By-law Amendment was filed for a 25-storey tower, at that time designed by Core Architects for Old Stonehenge Development Corporation. In July, 2020, the acquisition of 1693 Weston Road expanded the development's footprint while a new application called for 23 storeys, revised to 24 storeys in 2021. In June, 2021, a Section 37 agreement (used for community benefits charges) secured a cash contribution from the developer, earmarked in part for affordable rental dwelling units.
In August, 2024, the latest Zoning By-law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition applications call for a 43-storey tower that would stand 149.6m, compared to 84.55m in 2020. It would include 549 residential units, more than double the previous 227 units, including 15 rental replacement units on the second floor and 6 affordable housing units on the third floor.
The total Gross Floor Area (GFA) is now proposed at 33,933m², with 505m² dedicated to retail spaces at grade as part of the six-storey base. This marks a significant expansion from the previous total GFA of 18,630m², and results in a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 8.86.
There would be 1,192m² of indoor and 1,600m² of outdoor amenities. With four elevators, there would be approximately one for every 137 units, indicating significantly longer than preferable wait times for residents.
Two levels of underground parking would provide 55 spaces for residents and 31 for visitors, alongside bicycle parking arrangements featuring 495 long-term, 110 short-term, and an additional 10 short-term spaces on the Weston Road right-of-way. These figures show an increase from the 106 total parking spaces provided in the 2020 proposal.
The site is just 80m from the south entrance of the Weston station on the Kitchener GO line, and provides the UP Express service directly from Pearson Airport to Union Station. Residents would also benefit from access to local bus routes operating along Weston and Lawrence avenues. For cyclists, the Humber River Recreational Trail can be quickly accessed.
Several other proposals are active in the area. To the south of the site, they include 1552 and 1681 Weston Road at 8 and 11 storeys respectively. Further south, 300 Sidney Belsey Crescent calls for four buildings, ranging from 20 to 24 storeys. As one approaches the station, the developments become taller and denser: Hickory Tree Towers is proposed at 38 storeys, 1800 Weston Road at 40 storeys, and 1821 and 1830 Weston Road both at 45 storeys. At Lawrence Avenue West and Weston Road, 1956 Weston Road proposes towers at 29 and 35 storeys, South Station at 40 storeys, and the Weston Park Development would feature 46 and 50 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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