Location: 2499 Victoria Park Avenue, Toronto
Developer: SmartCentres
Architect: Rafael Bigauskas Architects Inc.
A commercial plaza in Scarborough’s Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan community could be overhauled into a new condo development.
Last week, a rezoning and site plan approval application was submitted to city planners to develop an 11-storey, mixed-use project at 2499 Victoria Park Avenue. Spanning a total gross floor area of 344,628 square feet, the proposed development would house ground-floor retail space and 354 residential units, including integrated grade-related townhouse suites.
The rectangular development site in question is located on the east side of Victoria Park Avenue between Farmcrest Drive and Meadowacres Drive, just north of Highway 401. The lot covers an area of 54,529 square feet. A commercial plaza with a surface parking, pub, retail stores and fast-food drive-through restaurants currently fills the lot.
The proposed mixed-use complex would replace the existing buildings with 5,511 square feet of retail space and a range of unit types that would “achieve a mix that is favorable to both individuals and families,” according to the planning rationale.
Of the 354 suites included in the application, 236 would be designated as one-bedroom units, 87 as two-bedroom units and 11 as three-bedroom units, plus 20 three-bedroom townhouses. The planning rationale details that these “family-sized units” would also consist of one- and two-bedroom units with convertible dens and two-level townhouse units that would front onto Meadowacres Drive and Farmcrest Drive.
A six-storey base would support the above floors, incorporating different materials, colours and balconies to distinguish between the building’s upper and lower portions. The retail area and residential lobby entrance off of Farmcrest Drive would exist on the ground floor, accompanied by a mezzanine level which would contain parking, storage lockers and the second level of the grade-related townhouses.
The second floor contains storage locker areas and residential units facing onto the streets in addition to an internal above-grade parking area. On the floor above, 6,178 square feet of indoor amenity space would provide direct access onto 8,288 square feet of outdoor amenity area, framed by residential units. The “U-shaped” fourth floor would incorporate more indoor amenity space, plus double-loaded residential units. Floors five to 11 would contain primarily residential suites. Approximately 15,779 square feet of amenity space is allotted for the development.
A total of 177 parking spaces would be added to the lot, located across several levels. On the ground floor, 319 bicycle parking spaces would also be included.
In the neighbourhood, sales continue for Pinnacle Toronto East, while registration is underway for Cowdray Court.
