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Spurred by the coming Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown LRT, Diamond Corp has submitted an application for a high-rise proposal in Leaside within the area designated as a Major Transit Station Area near Laird station. Designed by Superkül, a 39-storey mixed-use tower is in the planning process at 20 Brentcliffe Road.
The site is the southern parcel of a larger development block. Originally designated as Employment Areas, the block was subject to a 2013 Official Plan Amendment request seeking conversion to Mixed Use Areas. A 2015 Local Planning Appeal Tribunal ruling paved the way for high-rise residential and a public park on the northern and central portions, while the southern section remained non-residential.
Addressed to 100 Vanderhoof Avenue as well as 20 Brentcliffe Road, the site spans 4,870m² at the northwest corner of those roads. It is currently occupied by a one- to two-storey commercial building with surface parking, a remnant of the area’s low-rise, auto-oriented past. The surrounding commercial neighbourhood is witnessing mid- and high-rise residential development activity while a mix of retail and other commercial persists.
The developer has submitted Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the City of Toronto to permit a tower at a height of 126.8m, atop a five-storey podium extending along Vanderhoof Avenue. Of the total 475 residential units, 5% of the total residential Gross Floor Area (GFA) would be allocated as affordable housing for 25 years.
The 30,628m² total GFA would be divided into 29,500m² of residential space and 1,128m² of ground-floor retail. A 468m² parkland dedication at the northeast corner would expand the public park to the north, alongside a midblock pedestrian connection. At 4,870m² in area, the proposed GFA results in a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 5.63 times lot coverage, increasing to 6.95 post-parkland conveyance.
Residents would have access to 1,661m² of indoor and 986m² of outdoor amenities, primarily atop the podium on the 6th floor. The building would be served by four residential elevators or approximately one per 119 units. High-speed motors would be required for adequate service. A two-level underground garage would provide 171 motor vehicle spaces for residents, 6 shared between retail and visitors, and 1 car-share space. Provisions for cyclists include 432 long-term and 96 short-term spaces, located in an enclosed space on Level 2 and at grade.
The site is about 300m or a three-minute walk southeast of Laird station on the upcoming LRT, currently awaiting an opening date as deficiencies are addressed. A TTC bus stop 250m away at Eglinton Avenue East and Brentcliffe Road provides access to surface routes. Bike lanes along Eglinton Avenue offer dedicated cycling infrastructure, though connections remain limited outside of nearby off-street trails in the West Don Valley ravine. Looking ahead, Ontario Line 3 will have an interchange with Line 5 at Ontario Science Centre station, approximately 2.1km east, once that line, now under construction is complete in about 6 years time.
The proposal would rise amid a wave of high-rise development in Leaside. Directly north, the 28-storey Frederick Condominiums is under construction, while to the south, a two-storey retail plaza is underway at 70 Wicksteed Avenue, while to the west, 849 Eglinton East would bring three towers up to 40 storeys. Closer to Laird station, 815 Eglinton Avenue East proposes eight towers from 5 to 34 storeys. East of the site, Hyde Park Leaside envisions four towers ranging from 16 to 28 storeys, 1075 Leslie would introduce five towers alongside Auberge on the Park with towers climbing to 45 storeys, the tallest two at 49 storeys, while further east, major projects under construction include One Crosstown Towers I, II, III, and The Crest with towers reaching 39 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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