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A major mixed-use proposal could bring further intensification along with community programming near Scarborough Centre. Designed by Giannone Petricone Associates for Mark’s Choice Limited, plans call for towers at 34 and 42 storeys near the Scarborough Town Centre mall and civic hub, and within walking distance of the Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) and a Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit (DSBRT) stop. The developer is exploring a potential partnership with United Way Greater Toronto, aimed at creating community-focused programming.
The site at 1774 Ellesmere Road spans 7,792m² on the north side of Ellesmere, mid-block between Grangeway Avenue and Bellamy Road North. It is currently home to a retail garden centre with a greenhouse, retail store, and outdoor plant storage.
While the south half of the site is proposed for this redevelopment, the north half, bordering the decommissioned TTC McCowan Rail Maintenance Yard, remains outside the current proposal and retains its General Employment Areas designation, pending further applications. The greater area, once fully industrial, is evolving with increasing residential and commercial activity.
Bousfields has submitted Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the City of Toronto on behalf of the developer. The proposal envisions two residential towers rising 118.8m and 143.4m above a shared podium on the western side of the site. Together, the towers would contain a combined 880 residential units. The project’s total Gross Floor Area of 55,252m² includes 54,859m² for residential uses and 394m² for retail. The Floor Space Index for the 7,792m² site is 13.06 times lot coverage.
The 5-storey podium would include retail space fronting Ellesmere Road. The towers would be served by seven elevators, four in the taller tower and three in the shorter one, resulting in a ratio of approximately one elevator per 126 units — this would require high-speed motors to ensure adequate service.
The proposal includes 2,515m² of indoor amenities, located on levels 1, 2, and 9. Outdoor amenities total 1,005m², provided at grade and on terraces adjacent to indoor spaces at levels 2 and 9. The site’s landscaping plan would include a forecourt and loggia.
Below grade, three levels of underground garage would accommodate 253 vehicular parking spaces for residents and 10 for visitors. Bicycle parking provisions include 599 long-term and 62 short-term spots.
The potential partnership with United Way Greater Toronto would establish a community-focused program onsite and may incorporate social purpose real estate for non-profits and community groups, one of the organization’s recent undertakings. Details of the partnership are expected to evolve through consultations as the development progresses.
Eight TTC bus routes serving the area around the 1774 Ellesmere Road site, including three within 60m of the site. Scarborough Centre and its regional bus terminal are located approximately 1.2km away. For cyclists, the site is located near Brimorton Drive’s bike lanes (875m north) and the Meadoway multi-use path (1.3km north).
Looking ahead, the SSE, planned for completion by 2029–2030, will bring Danforth Line 2 service within 400m of the site at the new Scarborough Centre station. The DSBRT line, proposed to run along Ellesmere Road, includes a stop 50m west at Parkington Crescent.
There are plenty of other proposals in the surrounding area. To the north, multi-tower proposals at 710, 675, and 670 Progress Avenue call for their tallest towers at 46, 49, and 54 storeys, respectively. West of the site, 1710 Ellesmere Road includes five towers spanning 29 to 55 storeys, while 1215 McCowan proposes three towers ranging from 25 to 55 storeys, and 40 Bushby includes a 59-storey tower. Further west, proposals at 158 Borough (27 and 42 storeys) and 100 Borough (five towers, 26 to 50 storeys) are underway. Notably, the Scarborough Town Centre Redevelopment envisions a master-planned community with 32 buildings, including seven towers between 50 and 65 storeys.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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