Location: 1354 Queen Street West
Developer: Kingsett Capital
Architect: Giannone Petricone Associates Inc.
In Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, a series of commercial and vacant buildings could be revamped into a mixed-use mid-rise with 117 condo units.
In late September, an official plan amendment and rezoning application was submitted to city planners to construct a nine-storey condominium development at 1354-1360 Queen Street West and 8-14 Brock Avenue. The developer, Kingsett Capital, is behind other notable Toronto new construction project proposals, including the high-rise rental complex pitched for the Ontario Power Building at 700 University Avenue.
The rectangular development site sits on the northwest corner of Queen Street West and Brock Avenue, bordered by Abbs Street to the north. Covering approximately 19,905 square feet, five two- and three-storey buildings currently occupy the site, which harbours a total of five residential units.
The largest three-storey structure at 1354 and 1356 Queen Street West is mixed-use with vacant ground-floor retail space and four rental units, while the two-storey detached building at 14 Brock Avenue is currently tenanted. The remaining buildings are vacant or under commercial use.
The proposed nine-storey project would house 117 residential units, plus two retail spaces fronting Queen Street West, grade-related townhouse units and a community space. Of the 104,403 square feet of total gross floor area, approximately 98,603 square feet would be dedicated to residential use and 4,817 to retail.
Designed by Giannone Petricone Associates, the mid-rise would integrate the south facade of 1358-1360 Queen Street West into the building’s base. This would “preserve the architectural rhythm of the commercial spaces along Queen Street West and maintain the unique character of the street,” according to the planning rationale, prepared by Bousfields Inc. The four-storey base building features a contemporary, three-storey component that meshes with the existing structure and wraps around the corner to Brock Avenue.
Two three-storey townhomes containing three bedrooms each would be built at the rear of the site with direct access from Brock Avenue along with the community space. A diagonal entrance would provide access to the ground-floor retail unit on the southeast corner of the lot. The ground floor would also include storage and locker rooms, plus the residential lobby, which is accessed from Brock Avenue.
Between the 117 residential suites, 81 would be set aside for one-bedroom units, 23 for two-bedroom units and 13 for three-bedroom units. About 110 of these residences are expected to have access to a private outdoor terrace or balcony, while the other seven suites would have Juliet balconies.
Of the approximately 5,037 square feet of amenity space proposed for the project, two indoor amenity spaces would be added on levels three and four. Both spaces connect to outdoor terraces. Outdoor amenity space is also slated for the top level.
A single-storey underground parking garage with 38 spaces would be accessible off of a public lane from Abbs Street, leading to a loading area and two car elevators behind the townhomes. Car elevators are proposed instead of ramps to maximize efficiency given the small floor plate, explains the planning rationale. About 118 bicycle parking spaces would also be available on the lot.
In the neighbourhood, sales continue for XO Condos and 57 Brock Condos.
