A grocery store located on the edge of the Annex could be demolished to make way for a soaring 30-storey tower if a recently filed development application gets approved.
The application calls for the Metro and its accompanying parking lot at 425 Bloor Street West, on the southeast corner of Robert Street, to be replaced by the tower containing 418 residential units. The new units, application documents detail, would range from studios to three-bedrooms. Interestingly, a number of the smaller units would feature knock-out panels, giving them the potential to be combined into larger units. If all of the panels are removed, it would lower the total number of units in the building to 376.
As is the Toronto way, the base of the building would feature a podium. This podium, however, would vary in height between one and six storeys, with L-shaped balconies running along the top. The ground floor and mezzaine would contain 1,444 sq. m of retail space, accessed by two large entrances built along Bloor West.
On top of the podium would sit a 24-storey residential tower. Residents who live here would get to enjoy over 14,000 sq. m of amenity space, both indoors and outdoors. Unfortunately, the planning documents do not specify exactly what would be included.
An underground parking garage with 58 residential spaces and seven visitor spaces would be accessed off of Robert Street. To keep up with changing car-owner preferences, an overwhelming 60 of the 65 parking spaces will be equipped with electric vehicle outlets. And for those who don't drive, there will be 439 bicycle parking spaces.
Renderings of the proposed development reveal a fairly standard rectangular design, the harshness of which is offset by rounded edges and arched window patterns. The tower will feature plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows, many of which offer views of the historic Trinity-St. Paul's United Church.
This wouldn't be the only high-rise to go up in the immediate area, with a 35-storey mixed-use building containing 422 residential having been approved for the property directly across the street at 2 Spadina Road.
It's not entirely surprising that the area is in-demand for new large developments. Not only does Bloor West have a wide range of desirable amenities from restaurants to shopping to nightlife, but the Spadina subway is just a one-minute walk away, giving easy access to other parts of the city.
The application is currently being reviewed by City Council and is awaiting a preliminary report.
