Location: 45 The Esplanade, Toronto
Developer: Republic Developments
Architect: IBI Group
Earlier this month, news broke that a development application had been submitted for 45 The Esplanade, currently the location of Novotel Toronto Centre.
Now, with the online application documents available for public viewing, we’re getting a first look at what those development plans entail.
On December 29th, a site plan approval, official plan and zoning by-law amendment application was submitted to the City of Toronto to construct a two-tower, 36-storey mixed-use building at 45 The Esplanade. This marks one of many proposals Toronto-based Republic Developments has put forward in recent weeks.
The development site is located in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood on the south side of The Esplanade, just east of Yonge Street and west of Church Street. The site is currently occupied by the nine-storey Novotel Toronto Centre, which has been leased to the City of Toronto since February 2021 as a temporary 254-room shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shelter is operated by Homes First Society.
As mentioned in previous reporting by Livabl, current online information from the City says that response efforts will be in place until “at least the end of April 2022.” Since the shelter’s opening, concerns have been raised over safety and crime in the area.
“To facilitate the development, the existing hotel will be demolished,” states the application’s planning rationale.
As part of the development proposal, two 36-storey towers would be constructed, inclusive of a seven-storey shared podium with residential, hotel and retail uses. The entrances to the site would be provided off of The Esplanade.
Between the towers, 682 residential units would be created, broken down by 388 one-bedroom, 226 two-bedroom and 68 three-bedroom residences. As per the application’s project data sheet, the units would be tenured as condos. An additional 138 hotel suites would also be added to the project.
Approximately 585 square metres of retail space would be included on the ground floor. Indoor amenity space would be located on the ground floor, fifth, sixth, and eighth floors, along with an outdoor terrace on the eighth level.
Three levels of underground parking with 210 spaces would be provided, the majority of which would be reserved for residents. Vehicle access to the garage and loading area would be initiated from a laneway off of the west side of The Esplanade to behind the development. A total of 618 long-term and 68 short-term bicycles parking spaces would also be available.
In the neighbourhood, sales are ongoing for the penthouse collection at 88 Scott while registration is open for The Whitfield.
