Rising ambitions continue on Sheppard Avenue East at Victoria Park Avenue as a new 50-storey tower is proposed by Hazelview Investments. Designed by architects—Alliance, the mixed-use development would be the tallest proposed or currently under construction in the immediate area. The site is within the Protected Major Transit Station Area (PMTSA) of a future Victoria Park station, either on a Sheppard Line 4 Subway Extension or Shepoard East LRT, whichever option is eventually built.

Looking north to the podium, designed by architects—Alliance for Hazelview Investments

2912–2926 Sheppard Avenue East occupies a lot on the north side of Sheppard, approximately 40m east of Victoria Park Avenue. Currently developed with a two-storey commercial plaza and its surface parking, it sits in the southwest corner of Scarborough's L'Amoreaux area,and  just to the northeast of the Consumers Road Business Park in North York, where surface parking lots and low-rise commercial uses are increasingly giving way to high-density redevelopment. 

Looking northwest to the current site, image retrieved from Google Maps

The proposal is one of a number of efforts to intensify sites along Sheppard Avenue in North York and Scarborough. To the southwest in the Consumers Road Business Park, once dominated by low and mid-rise commercial buildings surrounded by vast surface parking and lawns, following the adoption of Official Plan Amendment 393 and the ConsumersNext Secondary Plan, that area was earmarked for mixed-use redevelopment. Properties along Sheppard Avenue to the east that were developed with similarly suburban building typologies have been seeing redevelopment applications to intensify their sites as well.

An aerial view of the site and surrounding area, image from submission to City of Toronto

Bousfields has submitted an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application to the City of Toronto on behalf of the developer for a tower soaring to a height of 164.3m. It would rise atop a 6-storey podium extending the full depth of the site, with the tower massed in a north-south slab configuration. The proposal has a total Gross Floor Area of 43,369m², with 43,089m² of residential space, plus 280m² of retail fronting Sheppard Avenue, making for a Floor Space Index of 12.04 times coverage on the 3,602m² lot. There would be six elevators to serve 590 residential units, approximately one for every 98 units, indicating reasonable service times.

Ground floor plan, designed by architects—Alliance for Hazelview Investments

While the tower's placement and setbacks conform to the City’s required separation distances, the proposed floor plate of approximately 850m² is larger than the City’s guideline of 750m², intended to minimize shadows around towers. Amenity spaces would be located at grade and on the seventh floor, with 1,180m² indoors and 1,199m² outdoors.   

Site plan, designed by architects—Alliance for Hazelview Investments

A four-level underground garage would provide 295 parking spaces for residents and 62 for retail use. The proposal also includes 478 bicycle parking spots for residents and 70 for visitors or retail users. Cyclists are served by an east-west cycle track along Huntingwood Drive some blocks to the north, and a signed bike route on Ridgecrest Drive connecting Finch Avenue to Huntingwood. 

While TTC and YRT bus routes currently operate along Sheppard Avenue East and Victoria Park Avenue, long-term transit plans include either the Sheppard East LRT or a Sheppard Line 4 Subway Extension, both being studied by Metrolinx. 

Looking northwest to the tower, designed by architects—Alliance for Hazelview Investments

Multiple high-rise projects and proposals are poised to transform neighbouring blocks. 2933 and 2993 Sheppard East are proposed at 18 and 22 storeys, respectively, while the 14-storey 2992 Sheppard East is under construction. Further east, Pinnacle Toronto East is nearly complete with towers ranging from 11 to 30 storeys. South of the site, 2450 Victoria Park is proposed at 29 storeys. West of Victoria Park, the LSQ masterplanned community calls for nine towers from 7 to 43 storeys, with LSQ1 and LSQ2 just starting construction. Further west, Parkside Square is under construction with four towers ranging from 11 to 43 storeys. Other nearby proposals include 1 Heron’s Hill Way at 34 storeys, four 45-storey towers at 245 Yorkland Boulevard, and a two-tower plan at 155 Consumers Road rising to 35 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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Related Companies:  architects—Alliance, Bousfields, Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Hazelview Investments, LEA Consulting, MCW Consultants Ltd, STUDIO tla