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A mid-rise proposal for the northwest corner of Avenue Road and Bernard Avenue in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood has taken a lateral step to the west, as Taheri Development has revised plans for the 11-storey mixed-use building. Designed by Icon Architects, this second resubmission shifts from partial retention of the onsite buildings within the East Annex Heritage Conservation District (HCD) to full demolition.
The site spans 126, 128, and 130 Avenue Road. It is currently occupied by two low-rise mixed-use buildings built in the 1930s, each with retail at grade and residential above. Previously slated to be incorporated into the podium, the existing are now proposed to be removed entirely to allow for a widened sidewalk along Avenue Road, following a request from City staff. While within the HCD, the existing buildings are not identified as holding heritage significance. Ward 11 Councillor Dianne Saxe has previously acknowledged the challenges of relocation for the row of flower shops that have operated for years onsite, noting the disruption it poses to independent businesses.
This proposal was first submitted in early 2023 as a 12-storey mixed-use building, as a Zoning By-law Amendment and a Rental Housing Demolition application. The surrounding context includes low- and mid-rise buildings along with high-rise proposals. Following a community consultation and meetings with the Annex Residents Association, a first resubmission in March, 2024 introduced design refinements while preserving the facades of the existing buildings. City staff later requested a deeper setback along Avenue Road, prompting this second resubmission submitted by WND Associates Ltd on behalf of the developer.
A revised Heritage Impact Assessment by ERA Architects supports the buildings’ demolition, citing limited cultural value and the opportunity to improve the streetscape. The updated design draws from the district’s character through a red brick palette and setbacks that transition to the low-rise residences to the west.
The revised proposal calls for a 41.14 m-tall mixed-use building containing 60 residential units, including 11 rental replacement suites, similar to the previous iterations. Two elevators are planned, or one for every 30 units, promising prompt service. The total Gross Floor Area has increased slightly to 4,138m², with 3,968m² for residential uses and 170m² for ground-floor retail, for a marginal rise in Floor Space Index from 5.47 to 5.48 times coverage of the 756m² lot.
Amenities entail 114m² of indoor and 131m² of outdoor areas. Indoor amenities would be located on the third floor, with a rooftop terrace positioned along the eastern edge of the building. Below grade, two underground levels would house 18 resident parking spaces, unchanged from the previous submission. Bicycle parking has increased to 66 spaces, up from 60 in the earlier design, including 54 long-term and 12 short-term stalls.
The site is within a 10-minute walk of St. George, Bay, and Rosedale stations on Lines 1 and 2. TTC bus routes also provide north-south and east-west service closer to the site. Cyclists are served by a growing network of infrastructure, including bike lanes on Davenport and Bedford, and cycle tracks along Bloor Street.
The proposal joins the growing intensification in the area. To the south, 110 Avenue Road and The Webley are proposed at 9 and 12 storeys, while 89 Avenue Yorkville and One Thirty Eight are under construction at 20 and 31 storeys, respectively. To the east, the Belmont House Addition and 100 Davenport are planned at 11 and 19 storeys. West of the site, 321 Davenport is under construction at 9 storeys, while The Bedford is proposed at 13, 247 Davenport at 16, and Designers Walk at 22 storeys. To the north, 183 Avenue Road proposes 10 storeys, while a 35-storey tower is planned at 148 Avenue Road.
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: | Counterpoint Engineering, ERA Architects, Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Icon Architects, LEA Consulting, Tarra Engineering & Structural Consultants Inc, WND Associates Ltd |
