Mattamy Homes is scaling back its plans for 26 Hounslow Avenue in Willowdale, seeking a smaller building with simpler construction in North York Centre. A Minor Variance application proposes reducing the Studio JCI-designed condominium from 27 to 21 storeys. The revised design would align floor-plates to simplify the structure, a change the developer attributes to construction costs and changing market conditions.

Looking north to 26 Hounslow Avenue, designed by Studio JCI for Mattamy Homes

The site assembles 26, 28, 36, and 38 Hounslow Avenue on the street’s north side, east of Beecroft Road and approximately 100m west of Yonge Street. Its four former detached houses have been demolished. Across Hounslow Avenue are low-rise townhouses, while farther west, beyond Beecroft Road, the neighbourhood transitions to detached homes and Kempford Parkette.

Plans for the site have evolved from stacked townhouses to a 10-storey, 111-unit building, followed by a 24-storey proposal in November, 2023. City Council approved a 26-storey version in April, 2024, with a subsequent Site Plan submission counted at 27 storeys due to amenity space sharing some of the mechanical penthouse level. Now, Bousfields has submitted the Minor Variance application to the City of Toronto on behalf of the developer, looking to right-size the project for the times.

Looking north to the previous design by Studio JCI for Mattamy Homes

The revised building would rise 21 storeys to 79.28m, down from the previous 27 storeys and 89.1m. Its five-storey podium and stepped-back tower would give way to largely aligned building walls. The proposal contains 198 condominium units, 107 fewer than the previous 305, comprising 102 one-bedroom, 76 two-bedroom, and 20 three-bedroom suites. 

Site plan, designed by Studio JCI for Mattamy Homes

Gross Floor Area would decrease from 19,235m² to 15,285m², entirely residential with no commercial component. Floor Space Index would consequently decrease from 8.91 to 7.07 times coverage of the 2,160m² assembly. Studio JCI’s redesign replaces the previous 1,131m² podium floor-plate with a 915m² ground floor and 800m² plates above, increasing the upper floorplate from 750m² while simplifying the building’s structure. Two elevators would serve the building, providing one per 99 units, compared with three elevators and approximately one per 102 units in the November, 2023 proposal. When one elevator is out of service, waits will be long at times.

Ground floor plan, designed by Studio JCI for Mattamy Homes

Below grade, the garage expands from two levels to three, increasing vehicle parking from 79 to 121 spaces despite the reduced unit count. The new supply would comprise 107 resident spaces, up from 57, alongside 10 visitor spaces, two pick-up/drop-off spaces, and two car-share spaces. The application seeks to reduce the previously required visitor supply of 19 spaces to 10. Bicycle parking would decrease from 240 to 159 spaces, divided into 135 long-term resident spaces and 24 short-term visitor spaces.

Looking northeast to 26 Hounslow Avenue, designed by Studio JCI for Mattamy Homes

Finch station is approximately 530m from the site, a five- to seven-minute walk, providing access to Yonge Line 1 and connecting TTC, YRT/Viva, and GO bus services. North York Centre station is just a little further to the south. The Yonge Line 1 North Subway Extension, now under construction, will extend rapid transit north into York Region. 

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

The proposal joins a growing cluster of planned developments around North York Centre. To the northeast, 35 Holmes is proposed at 17 storeys, while projects to the north include 50 Finch Avenue East at 21 storeys, 5576 Yonge Street at 25 and 35 storeys, and 38–42 Finch Avenue West at 46 storeys. Southeast of the site, 5400 Yonge Street is proposed at 45 storeys. Farther south, Yonge & Churchill would introduce towers of 35 and 45 storeys, while 5300 Yonge Street is proposed at 48 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:  Bousfields, Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Salas O'Brien, Vortex Fire Consulting Inc.