Church Wellesley Tower

Development Watch
Church Wellesley Northwest Tower (64-66 Wellesley E. & 552-570 Church) approved by City Council

ONE Properties' revised proposal for a 28-storey tower at the corner of Church and Wellesley was approved by City Council in July 2023.

Timeline:

In early 2015, three landlords, who together owned five properties at the northwest corner of Church and Wellesley, put the buildings up for sale as a block.

Developer ONE Properties eventually acquired the buildings at 66 Wellesley Street E. and 552-570 Church Street, home to several small businesses. In early 2017, the developer held three pre-proposal community consultations. ONE Properties then submitted an application to rezone the site in order to build a 43-storey mixed-use (rental) tower.

In November 2017, the City refused the proposal. Among the reasoning was that "site specific zoning identifies that in the Church Street Village Character Area, development should reinforce the core village area as a low to mid-rise pedestrian oriented main street with street related retail uses and narrow retail frontages." (City Staff Refusal Report, Nov. 8, 2017)

Later in November, ONE Properties appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT, formerly the Ontario Municipal Board). A date for the hearing stage at LPAT is set for March 2020 (LPAT Case Details)

On November 28, 2017 a Community Consultation was held. At that time many objections to the project as proposed were aired. It was at this meeting that ONE Properties offered an alternative development proposal which would include the apartment building at 64 Wellesley Street East.  A summary of the Community Consultation feedback is contained within the City Staff Supplementary Report (Dec. 1, 2017).

On December 5, 2017 City Council made a decision accepting the City Staff Refusal Report and Supplementary Report. (City Council Decision)

In February 2018,  ONE Properties resubmitted its application to the City for a 39-storey mixed use tower containing 442 rental units, 4,800 square metres of retail space and a 320 square metre public space. The new application included 64 Wellesley Street East, on which now stands the 5-storey apartment building adjacent to Paul Kane Park.

In April 2018, City staff issued a request for direction to Council. ONE Properties had applied to demolish 6 apartments at 552-554 Church Street and 59 apartments at 64 Wellesley Street East. The report recommended that Council defer its decision on the application for Rental Housing Demolition, since the proposed development was not supported by Planning staff. The report also detailed several other issues that would require resolution should LPAT approve the revised application. (City Staff Request for Direction, April 24, 2018)

64 Wellesley Street East

In January 2019, the Senior Manager, Urban Design/Heritage, City Planning Division, recommended 64 Wellesley Street East be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The report includes reasons for inclusion and the complete Heritage Property Research and Evaluation Report. (Inclusion on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register ... 64 Wellesley Street East)

According to the report .... "Properties on the Heritage Register will be maintained and conserved in accordance with the Official Plan Heritage Policies. Designation enables City Council to review alterations to the site, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition" (emphasis added).

In February 2019, City Council stated its intention to designate 64 Wellesley Street E. under the Ontario Heritage Act. (City Council decision)

In January 2020, ONE Properties released the revised tower proposal it intended to submit to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal at the hearing scheduled for May. The proposal was for a 39-storey tower on the west side of the public lane (recently named Dapper Lane), preserving the facade of 64 Wellesley East; a mid-rise structure steps back five, seven and nine storeys from Church Street. Dapper Lane would be connected to Church Street by a publicly accessible mews and there would be retail on the first and second levels.  The proposal would result in significant shadow on Barbara Hall Park and could also set a precedent for other towers on Church Street.

In March 2020, ONE Properties resubmitted its application to the City, with some further revisions. The LPAT hearing scheduled for May was cancelled and a new one scheduled for September 2020.

In September 2020, One Properties released a revised proposal and appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (now the Ontario Land Tribunal) for a 36-storey rental tower. The hearing was held in December 2020.

On June 8, 2021, The Ontario Land Tribunal denied the appeal. Read our article about decision here.

In November, 2021 the developer submitted a new application for the site, which would see a 28-storey tower fronting Wellesley Street and a seven storey midrise fronting Church Street, separated by Dapper Lane. The new development application information is available at the  Development Application Information Centre.

In February 2022, City Staff released a Preliminary Report on the new application.

A Community Consultation took place on June 8, 2022.

In April 2023, the developer submitted revised documentation for the project, including new renderings of the building. In June 2023, a City Staff issued a Decision Report recommending approval of the application. City Council
approved the application on July 19.