Location: 500 Duplex Avenue, Toronto
Applicant: Streamliner Properties Inc.
Architect: IBI Group
A new development proposal for a site just north of Toronto’s bustling Yonge and Eglinton intersection could deliver new housing and greenspace to the community.
Last week, a Zoning By-Law Amendment application was submitted to city planners to construct two mid-rise, infill residential buildings at 500 Duplex Avenue. In addition to a new public park, the proposal would see the creation of over 600 new condos while retaining existing rental housing on the lot.
The development site in question is located on the west side of Duplex Avenue between Montgomery and Roselawn avenues, slightly northwest of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue West. The C-shaped lot spans approximately 1.01 hectares. A 34-storey rental apartment building with 321 units fronting onto Duplex Avenue is situated in the middle of the site, accompanied by nine three-storey standalone townhouses, a surface parking lot and a tennis court.
The proposal would involve the “infill redevelopment” of the northern and southern portions of the site, according to the application’s planning rationale by Bousfields Inc. Two mid-rise buildings would be created while maintaining the existing apartment tower and retaining all but two of the units in the high-rise, for a total of 319 apartments.
According to the application’s project data sheet, the 621 new units would be tenured as condos.
The breakdown would include 286 one-bedroom, 269 two-bedroom and 66 three-bedroom units. Combining the retained 319 apartments on site, the total number of residential units in the project would equal 940 suites.
The new buildings would consist of a 15-storey tall mid-rise, referred to as Building A, and an 11-storey mid-rise called Building B. These structures would take over the areas currently occupied by the surface parking lot, a driveway and the townhouses. Both structures would connect into the north and south façade of the existing apartment tower via a six-storey base building, forming a U-shaped structure. A landscaped space and a 9,874-square-foot public park fronting onto Montgomery Avenue would be created along the development’s western side, framed by the adjacent Montgomery Apartments, as per the planning rationale.
At the south end of the site, Building A would house 310 of the new units, ten of which would be built on the ground floor in addition to indoor amenity space. The ground floor would also be shared by internal corridors that would connect the existing apartment tower to Building B. Situated closest to Roselawn Avenue, Building B would contain 311 units. Twenty-three units would be located on the ground floor of Building B, plus two indoor amenity spaces.
A 17,135-square-foot outdoor amenity courtyard would be incorporated at the rear of the site, described as “the main feature of the redevelopment.” This courtyard would showcase a linear pond, a splash pool and a water feature, plus smaller outdoor spaces for group gatherings with cabana-style areas, lounge seating and barbeques.
Two additional outdoor spaces with seating and entertaining areas would also be added on the east side of the existing apartment building.
The proposal would provide three levels of underground parking, the second level of which would connect into an existing garage for a total of 527 parking spaces. Meantime, 775 bicycle parking spaces for long- and short-term use would also be slated for the site.
In the neighbourhood, registration is open for The Millwood Condos, while sales continue at The Rose Club.
