Location: 46 Laing Street, Toronto
Developer: Oben Flats
Architect: RAW Design
In Toronto’s East End, the vibrant Leslieville neighbourhood is known for its brunch spots, local boutiques and ample green space. Unsurprisingly,new home builders have flocked to the community in recent years, making Leslieville one of the most active development areas in the city’s East End these days.
There are currently 10 new construction projects in Leslieville that are planned, under construction or recently completed, according to data from BuzzBuzzHome. By comparison, nearby neighbourhoods such as The Beaches and Playter Estates currently have three and two active projects in the same categories, respectively.
And now, a recently proposed townhome development for the lower half of Leslieville would add seven units to the community’s burgeoning roster of new homes.
In mid-April, a Zoning Bylaw Amendment application was submitted to city planners to build a block of seven townhome units that would range from three- to four-storeys in height at 46 and 48 Laing Street. The developer, Oben Flats, finished work on a similarly-sized townhome project in Bickford Park during the summer in 2015, called Oben Flats Harbord Towns.
According to the application’s planning rationale by Bousfields Inc., the development site would consolidate two properties, 46 and 48 Laing Street, which are located on the northwest corner of Laing and Sears streets. The rectangular corner lot spans approximately 6,361 square feet, and is occupied by two semi-detached, two-storey homes.
The plan is to redevelop the site into a row of seven freehold townhome units on seven independent lots for a gross floor area of 13,196 square feet, the rationale says. The three- to four-bedroom townhomes would range from 1,535 square feet to 2,255 square feet in size.
Townhome One, the largest of the seven units, would be located at the east end of the building. The layout of the four-storey, four-bedroom home would be arranged to “provide the future owner with flexibility,” which includes configuring the ground floor to work as an additional living and sleeping space. The future owner would also be able to convert the floor into a secondary suite if they wish, according to the rationale.
Next door, Townhomes Two to Five would front onto Sears Street, and contain three bedrooms across 1,956 square feet of living space and a built-in parking space in each. The final two units, Townhomes Six and Seven, would anchor the west end of the building. No parking would be provided for either three-bedroom unit, which would be sized at 1,535 square feet and 1,579 square feet, respectively.
While no communal amenities are included in the proposal, private outdoor space is provided through a mix of screened patios, balconies and terraces located on the fourth level of the homes. Six bicycle spots would be available in the built-in garages and along the western edge of the site.
In the neighbourhood, sales are underway at Queen & Ashbridge Condos, while construction continues at Wonder Condos.
