A trendy stretch of Toronto’s Queen Street West may finally see a long-awaited mixed-use development that's been in the works since 2017.
In January, a Site Plan Approval application was submitted to the City by DC DevCorp with respect to a site at the edge of Toronto’s bustling Fashion District, municipally known as 451-457 Richmond Street West.
The application includes renderings by Toronto-based architects—Alliance, depicting a 19-storey mixed-use building with tiered massing, clad in brick masonry and glazed windows, and a terrace component along the southwest facade. At its highest point, the development would extend 57 metres, which is more or less in line with neighbouring buildings.
architects—Alliance
If the proposal is realized, the development would add 140 residential units to the area. Future residents of the building would have 26 vehicle parking spaces and 62 long-term bicycle parking spaces at their disposal, disbursed across two levels of underground parking. In addition, 107 sq. m of non-residential gross floor area is proposed, to be occupied by a retail component at-grade.
architects—Alliance
The proposed development has crossed the City’s desk on numerous occasions over the years but has been confronted with no shortage of challenges. In large part, this is due to the property at 457 Richmond Street West being listed in the City’s Heritage Register under Section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act in 2017. The site in question is also situated in the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District, which has further complicated development plans.
In 2019, a City-issued document stated that “the rezoning application did not propose to conserve the heritage building on the property at 457 Richmond Street West.” An updated submission was later filed, but the project is yet to see meaningful progress.
Now, the application is once again active and under review by the City.
