{"id":20850,"date":"2023-08-17T11:14:28","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T18:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/dundas-church-proposal-shortened-for-helicopter-flight-path\/"},"modified":"2023-08-17T11:14:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T18:14:29","slug":"dundas-church-proposal-shortened-for-helicopter-flight-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/dundas-church-proposal-shortened-for-helicopter-flight-path\/","title":{"rendered":"Dundas & Church Proposal Shortened for Helicopter Flight Path"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Revised plans for 100 Bond Street<\/a>\u00a0in Downtown Toronto reduce the height to 23 storeys from its initial proposal of 30 storeys in June, 2021<\/a>\u00a0(an interim proposal of 29 storeys was made in March, 2023). This change is driven by the need to protect a flight path for the helicopters using the helipad atop\u00a0St Michael\u2019s Hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

West elevation and revised helicopter contour flight limit, image from submission to City of Toronto<\/span><\/p>\n

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The site, less than a 300m walk from Dundas station on Yonge Line 1, spans 54 through 74 Dundas Street East and 98-100 Bond Street.<\/p>\n

An aerial view of the site and surrounding area, image retrieved from Google Maps<\/span><\/p>\n

It currently houses four low-rise commercial buildings, including the Imperial Pub, retail outlets, restaurants, and offices.<\/p>\n

Looking northeast to the current site, image retrieved from Google Street View<\/span><\/p>\n

The revised Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control application notes that the reduction in height specifically addresses the revised helicopter path contour height, which has been changed from 178m to 158m above sea level. The revised proposal details a mixed-use building with a 6-storey podium standing 67.45m. This allows for a 3.0m buffer within the revised helicopter contour height limit, in contrast to the previous 30-storey tower proposal with a height of 84.22m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking northeast to the previous 30-storey design, designed by Rosario “Roy” Varacalli for Bazis<\/span><\/p>\n

The federal government, through Transport Canada, has jurisdiction over aeronautics. Recognizing the importance of these helipads, Transport Canada delegated the power to the City to regulate the use of lands in the vicinity of hospital helipads<\/a>. This move, approved by City Council in July 2016, ensures that developments do not impede the crucial services these helipads provide.<\/p>\n

St Michael’s Hospital helipad flight paths, image from City of Toronto<\/span><\/p>\n

The flight paths for St Michael’s Hospital extend north, west, and east from the facility. This proposal is also under the east flight path for the Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids)<\/a>, but it is further away and therefore the protected area is higher here that the St Michael’s north flight path is.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hospital for Sick Children helipad flight paths, image from City of Toronto<\/span><\/p>\n

The development’s evolution began with an initial proposal of approximately 287 residential units. After receiving feedback and making subsequent revisions, the number of units increased first to 311, then to 370, before now settling on the current proposal of 336 units. This proposal has a total residential gross floor area of 18,525m\u00b2, which is nearly 3,000m\u00b2 less than the previous plan.<\/p>\n

West elevation and revised helicopter contour flight limit, image from submission to City of Toronto<\/span><\/p>\n

The revised proposal, led by developer Bazis<\/a> and designed by architect Rosario “Roy” Varacalli<\/a>, includes three elevators, averaging 112 units per elevator. The design also incorporates approximately 666m\u00b2 of indoor and 336m\u00b2 of outdoor amenity area, and provisions for 240m\u00b2 of retail area at-grade, enhancing the pedestrian experience.<\/p>\n

Ground floor plan for 100 Bond Street, image from submission to City of Toronto<\/span><\/p>\n

Similar to the previous proposal, the design omits residential and visitor parking, but allocates two spots specifically for car-share parking. The two underground garage levels would house 303 long-term and 68 short-term bicycle spaces, in contrast to the 310 and 35 spaces from the previous plan.<\/p>\n

East elevation of 100 Bond Street, image from submission to City of Toronto<\/span><\/p>\n

100 Bond Street shares the block with Toronto Metropolitan University, which is experiencing a housing crunch for its students. While not being built as a dedicated\u00a0 student dormitory, 100 Bond has a higher than average number studio units which are likely to be bought by investors looking to rent units to students.<\/p>\n

Looking southeast to 100 Bond Street, image from submission to City of Toronto<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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UrbanToronto has a research service,\u00a0UrbanToronto Pro<\/a>, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area\u2014from proposal through to completion. We also offer\u00a0Instant\u00a0Reports<\/a>, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter,\u00a0New Development Insider<\/a>, that tracks projects from initial application.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n