Crews / Tangos development proposal approved by City Council

February 5, 2025 - City council has refused the latest developers plan to increase the building to 48-storyes!  While this is a win for the community on building height, the site remains in flux.  Read more here

History:
City Council has approved the development application for 506 Church Street (Crews / Tangos).  The City Staff final report regarding the 14-storey, 165-unit mixed-use condo building is here.   However,  In mid-2024 there were indications that the developer may resubmit the application.

Some extracts from the Report: 
The current proposal incorporates numerous revisions from the original application as summarized below: 
- reduced building height from 15-storeys to 14 storeys;  
- reduced density from 8.08 to 7.47 times the area of the lot;
- refined streetwall height and massing to respond to the low-rise context of the Church Street Village;
- introduction of a step back from the north property line above the 10th storey to improve massing;
- reduced unit count from 173 to 165 units, and maintained proportion of two bedroom units at 38% and three bedroom units at 10% of the total units; 
-  increased amenity space from 3.8 to 4.63 square metres per unit; 
- reduced parking count from 40 to 32 parking spaces; 
- refined the layout of the non-residential space at the ground floor to accommodate desired entertainment uses. 

The developer will pay Section 37 benefits of $1,700,000 to go toward local streetscape and laneway improvements. 

Throughout the application process, local residents and stakeholders have emphasized the importance of preserving this part of Church Street as a place for 2SLGBTQ+  people to come together. 

According to the developer, the ground floor non-residential space has been configured in cooperation with the current operator of Crews and Tangos to permit a potential return to the site following construction of the new building. In addition, City staff in Economic Development and Culture are developing a Cultural Districts Program to support cultural districts across the city, including the Church-Wellesley Village. 

In August, City Council issued a notice under the Ontario Heritage Act, designating the building housing Crews and Tangos as heritage properties in order to assure its protection during and after construction. 

More background and details can be read in the Staff Report. 

In mid-2024 there were indications that the developer may resubmit the application.