Location: 3300 Dufferin Street, North York
Developer: Terracap
Architect: TACT Architecture Inc.
Whether you love Yorkdale Shopping Centre for browsing luxury goods at Holt Renfrew or taking the kids to the LEGO store, this North York mall is one of Toronto’s most popular shopping destinations.
It’s also a favourable landmark for developers who want to take advantage of proximity to local amenities and shopping conveniences. In recent years, we’ve seen proposals for condo projects with parkland and purpose-built rental buildings near Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Now, a recent development application slated for the area could deliver another round of new homes just minutes from the mall.
In late December, an official plan, site plan approval and zoning by-law amendment application was submitted to the City of Toronto to create a 28-storey mixed-use building with 351 units at 3300 Dufferin Street in North York. The developer, Terracap, has also worked on Four Eleven King and The Clair Residences with fellow developer, Great Gulf.
The development site is located on the west side of Dufferin Street and Bentworth Avenue. Spanning a little over an acre in size, the lot is occupied by a parking lot and a one-storey commercial building that is in use by a Starbucks, Firehouse Subs and Bar Burrito location.
The commercial building would be demolished to make way for the new mixed-use building. The main entrances to the high-rise would be built off of Dufferin Street, in addition to approximately 993 square metres of retail space that fronts onto the major road. The building would feature a podium component and a significant tower element above, designed with a terraced articulation for visual interest.
“The prominent tower proposed at this location will create a vista / focal point for travelers heading southbound on Dufferin Street towards Lawrence Avenue West,” explains the application’s planning rationale by MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited.
A 416 square-metre privately-owned, publicly accessible space (POPS) with seating and circular landscaping would be included at the northeast corner of the site. Meanwhile, roughly 327 square metres would be set aside as a public parkland dedication at the south end of the building.
Of the 351 condo units in the high-rise, the breakdown would include 201 one-bedroom, 112 two-bedroom and 35 three-bedroom units, plus three two-storey live-work suites.
Indoor amenity space would be included on the sixth and seventh floors. Outdoor amenity areas would be incorporated on the same levels, in addition to floors 27 and 28. Two green roofs would also be included in the development.
A driveway in the northwest corner of the site would lend vehicle access to the building’s drop-off area and three-level underground parking garage, which would provide 228 spaces. A total of 277 bicycle parking spots for long- and short-term use are also proposed in the project plans.
Near the Yorkdale neighbourhood, sales are underway for The Dylan Condominiums while construction is expected to reach completion soon at 7 On The Park Condos.
