Location: 471 Queen Street East, Toronto
Developer: Lamb Development Corp.
Architect: A & Architects
A former rowhouse lot that was gutted by two fires in Toronto’s Corktown neighbourhood is slated for redevelopment if a new application is approved by the City.
In November 2020, a rezoning application was submitted to city planners to construct a 15-storey mixed-use building with 143 condo units at 471-479 Queen Street East. Brad J. Lamb’s Lamb Development Corp, the project’s developer, has a large number of condo projects across Toronto, some of which are currently in registration, including The Bread Company Condos and Bauhaus Condos.
The rectangular development site is situated on the south side of Queen Street East, flanked by Bright Street to the west and Sumach Street to the east, and bordered by a private laneway to the south. Spanning 8,385 square feet, the site is home to a ‘dilapidated,’ three-storey converted rowhouse.
Four two-storey rowhouse buildings also previously occupied the site. In 2018, a fire heavily damaged the four buildings which were primarily in use as office and residential space, the planning rationale by Bousfields Inc. explains. A second fire broke out in June 2020, resulting in an order from the city’s fire department to remove the four buildings at 471-475 Queen Street East. The rowhouse at 479 Queen Street East is the only building still standing, now vacant after being formerly occupied by one residential unit and a ground-floor furniture shop.
The development application seeks to redevelop the site with a 15-storey tower that houses 2,292 square feet of retail space at-grade within 93,140 square feet of gross floor area.
The new building would start with a seven-storey base, with large arched windows adding a distinct architectural feature to the ground floor, mezzanine and second floor. Approximately 2,023 square feet of double-height retail space will front Queen Street East in the building’s northeast portion, while an additional 269 square feet will be allotted as retail back-of-house area.
The residential vestibule and lobby would occupy the northwest area of the building. Three amenity rooms totaling 753 square feet would be included on the partial mezzanine level, while five condo units would be built on the second floor facing Queen Street East in addition to indoor and outdoor amenity areas.
Of the 143 units proposed, the breakdown would include 76 studios, eight one-bedroom, 20 one-bedroom-plus-den, 23 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom units.
In the neighbourhood, construction continues at home (Power + Adelaide), while sales are underway at 28 Eastern.
