Downtown Toronto’s strip of bars, restaurants and clubs along Adelaide Street West could welcome a 60-storey rental tower neighbour with a new paramedic post and community amenities.
In May 2021, Livabl reported that CreateTO and CentreCourt had created a joint venture to redevelop private and city-owned lands used by Fire Station 332 into a mixed-use project with over 600 residential units. The firehall, located at 260 Adelaide Street West, was anticipated to be moved two streets south to Metro Hall and replaced by an EMS post.
Now, we’re getting a look at what this new development will entail.
On December 17th, a zoning by-law amendment application was submitted to the City of Toronto to build the 60-storey rental tower at 254-260 Adelaide Street West with 848 units. CentreCourt is known for several of its downtown developments, including the recently-launched 252 Church, the first Toronto condo sales launch for 2022.
The rectangular development site is located mid-block on the north side of Adelaide Street West between Duncan and John streets. Nelson Street borders the site to the north, along with two public laneways to the east and west. Two buildings occupy the site, including the two-storey concrete firehall at 260 Adelaide Street West and a one- to two-and-a-half storey commercial building at 254 Adelaide Street West used by restaurants.
The tower, positioned in the middle of the site, would be supported by an eight- to 12-storey base structure featuring a “contemporary design,” that will complement the existing warehouse buildings in the area. The base structure consists of various stepped levels to create a cantilever effect over its ground and mezzanine levels.
The ground floor of the tower would provide a residential lobby from Adelaide Street West, as well as three retail spaces totaling 749 square metres in gross floor area. Along Nelson Street, 142 square metres of community space would be included alongside 233 square metres for the paramedic post. The retail spaces, community area, paramedic space and portions of the lobby would feature double-height ceilings thanks to the open mezzanine level above. A secure bicycle storage room with 763 stacked spaces would be incorporated on this level.
A mid-block connection would cut through the site’s northwestern corner, lending access from Nelson Street to Adelaide Street West.
“It is the intent that this mid-block connection increase permeability and circulation through the site, and serve as a link between the planned public park to the north of the site (i.e. on the north side of Richmond Street) to the expanded public realm along John Street,” explains the planning rationale.
The building’s eastern portion would be used by a parking garage ramp, loading space and an ambulance area which can be accessed by the public laneway to the east of the site. A two-level underground garage would house 97 parking spaces, plus additional 176 bicycle spots for visitors on Level P1.
Of the 848 units proposed for the tower, the breakdown includes 52 studios, 582 one-bedroom, 127 two-bedroom and 87 three-bedroom suites, which would be tenured as rental homes according to the project data sheet.
The application states that “adaptable design measures,” will be used to convert smaller units into larger residences. This would alter 28 of the one-bedroom suites to two- or three-bedroom units to accommodate 40 per cent of the residences as multi-bedroom homes in the tower. Up to 30 percent of the units would be reserved for affordable housing, according to the application documents.
Additional community space, plus indoor and outdoor residential amenity areas, would be included on the second floor of the project. Levels three to eight and 10 to 12 would be used for residential units, and the ninth floor reserved for amenity facilities and additional residences.
In the neighbourhood, registration is open for Gehry Condos while sales are underway at Natasha The Residences.
