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Toronto's Eglinton West is on the cusp of a transformative leap as Hullmark, in partnership with BGO, has submitted updated plans for Beltline Yards. The mixed-use community, situated near the upcoming Caledonia TTC and GO interchange station, will feature residential spaces, commercial hubs, and public areas, all designed to honour the site's industrial heritage.
The design by Allies and Morrison has seen a 19.5% increase in residential space compared to the conceptual proposal from last year, to address Toronto's pressing housing needs. Planned to be built over three phases, the number has grown from 1,946 to 2,390 new homes, with the residential Gross Floor Area (GFA) expanding from 130,064m² to 155,421m². With nine buildings across five blocks, the tallest tower has been increased from 42 to 55 storeys.
Beltline Yards' design is guided by a series of core principles to shape its identity and how it fits into its surroundings, including emphasizing a true mixed-use community that remains active throughout the day and into the weekends. The developers also intend its change of scale to align with the site's growing transit connections. The project features a composition of mid-rise and high-rise buildings, optimizing density while maintaining a human scale at street level.
“Beltline Yards is a special project for us and is representative of our longstanding exploration of how to design great places with high density," said Alfredo Caraballo, Partner at Allies and Morrison. "As architects, we have dealt with the very interesting specificities of this site: how it relates to the York Beltline so the landscape connects to a wider network; how it relates to the industrial uses around it so a culture of making and light industry remains as an intrinsic part of the character; how it relates to the public transport transformation of the area so that it unlocks many opportunities to live and work here. All these result in a design response that could only be here – a place ‘of its place’.”
Employment space, which has been carefully considered for the development, has also had adjustments made to its allocation to reflect both current market demands and the vision for the site. Flexible floor-plates are designed to meet light industrial, office, and commercial uses for a community where people can live, work, and engage in cultural activities all within the same neighbourhood.
Employment space overall is decreasing from 27,870m² to 22,496m², a change made to limit the amount of non-residential space above the first floor while allowing for a minimum of a 1-to-1 replacement of existing non-residential space. The site will still provide a vibrant mix of 6,060m² of retail space, 6,020m² of office space, and 10,416m² dedicated to light industrial uses. There will also be 981m² of community space, with its ultimate use to be determined through discussions with the City based on the area's needs, though a library or daycare is currently being contemplated.
The buildings vary in height and form but maintain a consistent aesthetic. From the 12th storey upwards, floor plates allow for variation in the building typologies. By developing a family of buildings that share common architectural elements like materiality, colour, and design details, the developers strive for a cohesive visual identity. Utilizing the concept of "stacking,” buildings are designed to evoke stacked warehouses, offering identifiable silhouettes and providing opportunities for terraces and cut-outs. Buildings were designed from the inside out, focusing on functionality for the end user and simplicity and repeatability for construction.
The development will also include 3,818 bicycle parking spaces, more than the City's requirement. There will also be dedicated cycling ramps to access bicycle parking and repair stations throughout the site.
“We love this site’s history of making in Toronto and the changing diversity of the neighbourhood," said Angie Jim Osman, Partner at Allies and Morrison. "We learned from its locals the special ingredients that nurture its spirit and build on its legacy. By amplifying the Beltline with adaptable yards, green spaces and characterful buildings, we designed a connected place. As a Canadian, it is important to me that it is a meaningful place where this community can flourish, make their craft and live with their families, invigorating and contributing to this neighbourhood for its success long term.”
A key aspect of the project is the "spaces first, then buildings" approach, which prioritizes the creation of a network of open spaces before structuring the urban form. Ground floors feature large canopies and areas of sheltered outdoor seating, encouraging street-level activity and interaction with the surrounding open spaces.
The development features a variety of outdoor areas, including the existing York Beltline Trail, a new public park, and several POPS (Privately-Owned Publicly-Accessible Spaces) such as Beltline Yards, The Grove, Beltline Court, and the Covered Yard.
Beltline Yards in fact dedicates close to 50% of its ground plane to POPS, including both large communal areas and intimate pockets, each with its unique character. For example, Station Square provides a designated spot for commemorating the history of the Beltline Railway, while the Yards offer dynamic spaces for community and cultural activities, allowing makers and artists to showcase their work.
The landscape design by SvN establishes a transition from the naturalized woodlands of the York Beltline Trail into the site, creating woodland enclaves between buildings. These green spaces reinforce the concept of post-industrial regeneration. Hullmark and BGO are hoping to improve the York Beltline Trail itself, in collaboration with the City, creating inviting pathways and improved accessibility.
Design elements will commemorate key historical landmarks, such as the Beltline Railroad, Fairbanks Junction, the Hilroy Paper factory, and the Canada Goose manufacturing plant. Custom paving and structural elements will pay tribute to these important chapters in the site’s history. Hullmark has been working with local makers and artists to install on-site branding, murals, and other activations on the existing site. These activations are being installed over the next few weeks for the local community and to prepare the area for change.
"Beltline Yards is an example of the next iteration of what planners like to call mixed-use," said Jonathan Tinney, Principal at SvN. "Moving beyond simply putting retail below apartments, this project will integrate manufacturing, community spaces, parks and retail with homes for more than 3,000 people -- creating a microcosm of the City of Toronto all in one walkable, transit-connected place."
Hullmark is proposing to purpose the existing chimney on the site, which will be central to the public park, commemorating the site's industrial past and acting as a natural wayfinding marker.
Beltine Yards further embraces the natural world when it comes to sustainability, with all buildings planned to be climate-controlled through geothermal energy systems. Hullmark and BGO are exploring additional district energy opportunities, such as sewer heat recovery, to further reduce the development's carbon footprint.
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: | BGO, SvN |
