A condo proposal that has been in limbo for some nine months now has hit the City of Toronto’s desk once again. Gairloch Developments is behind a 46-storey tower that stands to bring more than 400 new condo units to 1802 Bayview Avenue in Leaside — pending the City’s cooperation, of course.
According to a planning rational addendum that went to the City last month, zoning by-law amendment (ZBA) and site plan control (SPA) applications that were spearheaded by Gairloch last June have, by and large, fallen on deaf ears (despite being “deemed complete” by city staff shortly after the initial submission).
There were attempts on the developer’s part to move the project along. The letter says that the ZBA and SPA applications were appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal in late September 2023 “due to City Council’s non-decision on the applications within the statutory timeline.”
architects—Alliance
An official plan amendment application is now in the mix — that was filed at the end of February — the purpose of which is to re-designate the site from “secondary zone” to “station area core” of the Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan. In part, this is based on the site’s situation on a corner lot and along the Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East corridors.
The particulars of the proposal are unchanged from the June 2023 submission. Gairloch is still planning for 46-storeys, 419 condo units, and a 384-sq.-m retail component along Bayview Avenue. Condo units are planned around the perimeter of the tower, and the narrow floorplate will ensure that all units benefit from natural light and exterior views.
The project will bring together no shortage of striking design elements hatched by architects—Alliance, including a slender tower element (clad in curtain walls and pierced metal balcony screens), stacked atop an angular podium (wrapped in alternating ribbons of glass and recessed terra cotta panels), and resting on a double-height base (characterized by framed panels of glass and pierced bronzed metal).
architects—Alliance
The renderings also depict a 90-degree cut-away at the southeast corner of the development, which is a design choice meant to improve pedestrian safety by creating clearer sight lines between Roehampton and Bayview avenues.
Pending the City’s go-ahead, the project will come together through a partnership between Gairloch and Toronto private equity firm Harlo Capital, which was announced last summer. This project could mark a few milestones for Gairloch, including the third successful partnership between Gairloch and Harlo, as well as Gairloch’s fourth development endeavour in the Leaside area.
"Gairloch has been bringing new multi-residential developments to Leaside for years and is invested in the future of the neighbourhood," Founder and President of Gairloch, Bill Gairdner, told STOREYS last year in a statement. "We certainly feel like we have a good grip on the development challenges in this neighbourhood."
