Official Plan Amendment Seeks Mixed-Use Future for Junction Site

An Official Plan Amendment (OPA) application has been submitted to redesignate lands at 108–162 Vine Avenue in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. Unlike typical development filings covered on UrbanToronto, the proposal does not include a concurrent Zoning By-law Amendment, meaning no site-specific height, density, or massing permissions are being requested at this stage. Instead, the application is intended to establish a new land use framework.

With conceptual designs from Giannone Petricone Associates, these towers remain illustrative massing proof-of-concept only, serving to demonstrate potential built form outcomes if the redesignation proceeds. The move reflects a broader planning shift across the Junction and Stockyards area, where industrial and employment lands are gradually being converted to mixed-use districts.

Looking northwest to a massing concept for 108 Vine Avenue, designed by Giannone Petricone Associates

The subject site spans six properties at 108, 128, 134, 136, 142–144, and 162 Vine Avenue, occupying a combined 1.10ha on the north side of Vine Avenue, west of Keele Street in the Junction. Existing uses include small-scale commercial tenants, including The Sweet Potato grocery store, as well as studio lofts, two semi-detached dwellings, and surface parking. To the south, the block is lined with two- and three-storey houses, while the north edge abuts the CPKC Galt Subdivision rail corridor. 

An aerial view of the site and surrounding area, image from submission to City of Toronto

The planning history stretches back more than a decade. Under OPA 231, adopted in 2013 and partially approved in 2015, the properties were designated Core Employment Areas with a Site and Area Specific Policy, SASP 442, permitting retail up to 2,000m². Earlier requests from the landowner, Vine Avenue Holdings Limited, to introduce residential uses were rejected at the time, with City staff recommending that the lands be preserved for employment activity.

During the City’s 2020 Municipal Comprehensive Review, the owner sought once again to convert the site to Mixed-Use Areas, but staff again recommended retention of the employment designation. Since then, however, surrounding lands have undergone significant change through a series of OPAs (537, 591, and 653) that converted much of the Stockyards and Junction employment blocks to mixed use.

Now, Bousfields has submitted an OPA application to the City of Toronto on behalf of the owner, Vine Avenue Holdings Limited, seeking to redesignate the lands from Core Employment Areas to Mixed Use Areas and Parks. The request would replace the existing SASP 442. Height, density, and massing permissions would only be determined through a future rezoning process.

Looking northeast to the central proposed park and open space as part of the concept for 108 Vine Avenue, designed by Giannone Petricone Associates

To illustrate the site’s long-term potential, a conceptual scheme shows three towers of 19, 22, and 28 storeys rising above podiums with retail and above-grade parking. The plans incorporate a 30m setback and crash wall along the adjacent rail corridor, while also dedicating land to extend and expand the Vine Avenue Playground to the west. 

Conceptual site plan, designed by Giannone Petricone Associates

The site sits about 1.6km north of Keele station on Bloor Line 2, and around 2km northwest of Dundas West station, where besides the Bloor Line, GO Transit and the Union Pearson Express also serve Bloor station. The stations can be reached by TTC buses plying Keele and Dundas streets. To the north is the St Clair streetcar, while looking ahead, St Clair–Old Weston GO station is planned about 700m to the northeast, bringing Kitchener line service within walking distance. Cyclists benefit from dedicated lanes on Annette Street to the south, with connections to Runnymede Road, and access to the West Toronto Railpath.

An aerial view of surrounding transit context, image from submission to City of Toronto

The Junction and Stockyards continue to attract  mid- and high-rise development, with multiple projects advancing nearby. To the south, construction is underway on the 8-storey Pacific Residences, while another 8-storey proposal at 2978–2988 Dundas West has been filed. East of the site, the 5-storey Junction SQ Condos and 11-storey 403 Keele Street are both rising, with the larger 43 Junction aiming to deliver six towers between 18 and 35 storeys. To the northwest, 87 Ethel Avenue proposes four towers of 31 to 34 storeys, and closer to the planned GO station, proposals include 290 Old Weston (29 storeys), 611 Keele (33 storeys), Juno Residences (28 and 35 storeys), and 1799 St Clair West with three towers from 30 to 45 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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