Location: 1303 Yonge Street, Toronto
Developer: Aspen Ridge Homes
Architect: BDP Quadrangle
A corporate office building used by Cineplex could be redeveloped into a shiny mixed-use mid-rise between two TTC stations.
In mid-April, an official plan and zoning by-law amendment application was submitted to the City of Toronto to construct a 10- to 11-storey mixed-use development at 1255-1257 and 1303 Yonge
Street. The architect on the project, BDP Quadrangle, is behind several Toronto-based projects, including Reina Condos and Canary House Condos.
The development site in question is located on the east side of Yonge Street and on the south side of Jackes Avenue, a few streets south of St Clair Avenue West between the Summerhill and St Clair TTC subway stations. Composed of two properties, the rectangular project site spans approximately 3,144 square metres, fronting mostly onto Yonge Street.
A four-storey, 1980s office building used primarily by Cineplex occupies the site at 1303 Yonge Street, along with a two-level underground parking garage. A three-story commercial building is located on the second property, 1255-1257 Yonge Street, and is used as a Cineplex Store with one level of underground parking. A driveway connected to Yonge Street separates the two buildings.
According to the application’s planning rationale, the existing buildings were the location of Cineplex Entertainment’s corporate office. The company is in the process of consolidating its operations, and declared the development site surplus before listing it for sale. The current owner bought the site from Cineplex and has put forward the development application.
The proposed project would see the creation of an 11-storey, mixed-use mid-rise building with a lower mezzanine level. Of the building’s 20,055 square metres of gross floor area, over 4,100 square metres would be dedicated to office space and another 219 square metres for retail facilities.
A variety of architectural setbacks would create a stepped design on the upper levels of the mid-rise. According to the application’s architectural drawings, the building’s exterior would comprise bronze-coloured accent metal panels, granite and terracotta panels.
At the south end of the building, a mezzanine floor would be located partially below and partially above the ground, with the upper portion used by offices. Retail space with an outdoor plaza would be included on the ground floor at the corner of Jackes Avenue and Yonge Street. Residential and amenity uses would be incorporated from the second floor and up.
A total of 102 residential units are proposed for the building, which exclusively includes three-bedroom residences. Two-storey, three-bedroom suites would be made available on the ninth and tenth floors. About 574 square metres of amenity space is proposed for the mid-rise’s second floor for indoor and outdoor uses. Each unit will have access to private terraces and balconies.
A driveway from Jackes Avenue would provide vehicle access to a loading area and two residential drop-off spaces. Another driveway at the south end of the site near Woodlawn Avenue East would lead to the building’s underground garage, where 187 parking spaces would be created across three levels. A total of 141 bicycle parking spaces are also proposed for the project for long- and short-term use.
In the neighbourhood, sales continue at The Davies while construction continues at 36 Birch.
