Church Wellesley Update
News from the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association
City Council has approved Kingsett Capital's development proposal for two towers of 78 and 75 storeys at 475 Yonge, between Wood and Alexander Streets. The proposal includes a small park on the east side of the property and a privately owned publicly-accessible space between the two towers, connecting the park and Yonge Street.
The plan to replace the Couryard Marriot Hotel dates back to 2017, when the City approved Kingsett's original proposal for two towers of 58 and 48 storeys. In 2021 Kingsett submitted a new application for the much taller towers. A community consultation took place in June 2022. In November 2023, City Council adopted the approval recommendation: https://tinyurl.com/nrw47rjv For more information: City Staff Preliminary Report (Dec. 2021) https://tinyurl.com/4kp97vzn City Staff Approval Report (Sept. 2023) https://tinyurl.com/55dxbpze Development Application Information Centre https://tinyurl.com/3s8btafn Urban Toronto: https://tinyurl.com/ycn3kszb In October 2022, Carlyle Communities applied to build a 49-storey condominium tower at 33 to 37 Maitland Street. The proposal would demolish the existing rental building at 33 Maitland Street, while keeping the front portion of the existing building at 37 Maitland Street, incorporating it into the base of the tower.
In March 2023, the developer appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. In July 2023, City Council adopted recommendations to state its intention to designate the properties at 33 and 37 Maitland Street under the Ontario Heritage Act. In September 2023, City staff issued an Appeal Report recommending the City oppose the application at the Ontario Land Tribunal and continue discussions with the developer to resolve outstanding issues: https://tinyurl.com/wbp8fzjc For more information: Development Application Information Centre: https://tinyurl.com/5y34jcu6 Ontario Land Tribunal: http://tinyurl.com/4jyuw36x Urban Toronto: https://tinyurl.com/2p8bu9av In August 2022, Originate Developments submitted a proposal for a 58-storey, 690 unit condo tower at 102-120 Earl Place and 561 Jarvis Street. The new building would replace a block of ten three-storey condominium townhomes on Earl Street as well as the three-storey rental apartment block at 561 Jarvis Street.
In February, 2023 a Community Consultation Meeting was hosted by City staff. In March 2023, the developer appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, having resubmitted the application. The resubmission added a parkland dedication at 6-8 Huntley Street. City Staff released an Appeal Report in August 2023, recommending that the City oppose the application at the Ontario Land Tribunal and continue discussions with the developer to resolve outstanding issues: https://tinyurl.com/mw6j8hzn For more information: Development Application Information Centre: https://tinyurl.com/ynfsraz8 Urban Toronto: https://tinyurl.com/yncmrjhj In July 2023, City Council approved ONE Properties' revised application for the proposed tower at 64 and 66 Wellesley Street and 552-570 Church Street. The revisions are in response to final negotiations with the City Planning Dept., following the January 2022 City Staff Preliminary Report and the June 2022 Community Consultation.
The proposal is for a 28-storey tower stepping back from Church Street. The laneway that once separated the Church building from the Wellesley building has been eliminated and the corner at Church and Wellesley has been rounded. For full timeline and links to documentation, see our dedicated article. In late 2021 Republic Developments proposed a 54-storey condominium tower at 15 Charles Street East, currently occupied by the Anndore House hotel and Constantine restaurant, adjacent to George Hislop Park.
The proposed tower included a six storey podium, 549 units, retail space at street level and 65 parking spaces. The developer also owns the property directly to the south, at 16 Isabella, and proposed a 150m² park space that would enlarge George Hislop Park. The developer appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. The City agreed to a Settlement Offer in June 2023 that will see a 66-storey tower with a slightly smaller footprint, creating a larger setback from the park. Details can be found in the links at the end of the City Council adoption minute: https://tinyurl.com/3kytscpu More Information: March 2022 City staff issued a Preliminary Report https://tinyurl.com/4y3khw5w June 2022 City staff issued a Report for Action: https://tinyurl.com/y7pfskzv June 2023: Settlement Offer: https://tinyurl.com/3kytscpu Urban Toronto: https://tinyurl.com/2p8b4rm8 Development Application Information Centre: https://tinyurl.com/v77shktp In July 2023, Capital Developments received approval from City Council to demolish the 14-storey apartment building at 88 Isabella Street and replace it with a 62-storey condominium tower.
The site is one building east of Church Street, adjacent to Al Sparrow Lane. The existing apartment building has 82 units. The new tower will include 720 residential units, 82 of which will be rental replacement units. Details about the proposal can be found at the City's Development Application Information Centre and the Staff Decision Report. [Update: In November 2023 Capital Developments received approval for a 69-storey building next door at 90-94 Isabella] On May 2, BV Realty Partners proposed to demolish the houses from 2 to 12 Cawthra Square and to redevelop the site with a 45-storey residential tower, including a 3-storey podium. The proposal is for 488 residential units.
The proposed building would tower over the northeastern corner of Barbara Hall Park. As proposed it is very dense, set close to the street, and would see mature trees fronting the existing houses removed. Significant new shadow would fall on Gloucester Street. There is no provision for on-site parkland dedication. The City has 90 days to respond to the application. If it does not the developer can appeal directly to the Ontario Land Tribunal. The City is moving to have 6-12 Cawthra Square listed on the Heritage Register. You can review the development application documentation, including the architectural plans, the block context plan and the shadow study by clicking "Supporting Documentation" at the Development Application Information Centre page for this application. On the same page, you can register to be notified of a community consultation and submit your comments on this project. The development proposal for the the southeast corner of Isabella and Yonge (619-637 Yonge; 7-9 Isabella) has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. In November 2021, Colliers Strategy and Consulting (on behalf of YI Developments Limited) submitted an application for a 57 storey tower at the site. The Yonge Street frontage would be retail space, with the residential entrance on Isabella Street, and servicing, parking and loading accessed via Gloucester Lane. The site is within the Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District, which the City of Toronto designated in 2016 under the Ontario Heritage Act. However, a group of developers, including YI Developments, has appealed The Heritage Conservation District Plan to the Ontario Land Tribunal. The current development proposal calls for the demolition of the existing buildings. City staff released a Preliminary Report with recommendations in January 2022. In July 2022, the Toronto Preservation Board recommended that City Council designate the existing buildings as heritage properties. In August 2022, the City issued a Notice of Intention to designate the buildings as heritage properties. In May 2023 the developer appealed the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal. A hearing has been set for August 2024; however it is likely that the City and developer will come to a settlement agreement before then. Application Information Centre:
https://tinyurl.com/57rvbt6s Ontario Land Tribunal https://tinyurl.com/ycxcrym3Development Urban Toronto: https://tinyurl.com/yckr9fd2 The Beer Store site at 572 Church Street has been put up for sale for $13,250,000. There has been no activity on this site since an August 2019 Settlement Offer was agreed to that would have seen a 12 storey condominium built there.
In mid-2017, the developer proposed a 16-storey condominium, replacing The Beer Store and its parking lot. The City rejected the proposal. The developer appealed to the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal. A Settlement Offer which would see a 12 storey building with a 44 degree viewing angle was agreed upon in August, 2019. The sales document provides details of the approved proposal, but there is still a possibility that a new owner may submit a new development proposal. For more information: City Staff Preliminary Report: https://tinyurl.com/ybepxspc Local Planning Appeal Tribunal: https://tinyurl.com/yader7a2 Urban Toronto: https://tinyurl.com/ycnbv97m The City hosted a virtual community consultation meeting on March 1, 2023 for residents to learn about the Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods Study and to communicate what is valued about Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhood-designated lands in the Upper Jarvis Area and what changes may be desirable.
The meeting included a presentation, a Question & Answer session, a discussion of the physical elements that define the Upper Jarvis Area and priorities for its future. Further consultations will be taking place, with the goal of creating an Upper Jarvis Planning Framework. |