Rail Deck Park Plans Resubmitted, More Than 1,700 Additional Units Proposed

Even in the earliest days of the project, the redevelopment of Toronto’s Rail Deck Park has promised to be a massive undertaking, drawing in major names in real estate to transform the forlorn site (just south of Front Street between Bathurst Street and Blue Jays Way) into the Rail Deck Development: a sprawling mixed-use community with thousands of residential units. And now, the planned development has gone from big to even bigger.

Last spring, the project was anticipated to include nine towers ranging from 20 to 65 storeys in height, as well as 6,257 residential units, but the consortium of development companies behind it has recently upped the ante.

According to updated information supplied to STOREYS by LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada (they have 100% ownership of the project) and Fengate Asset Management (they are managing the investment and development on LiUNA’s behalf) “extensive community consultation” has prompted a revision of the plans, and the resubmission includes a new 68-storey tower — poised to be the tallest in the development — as well as 1,729 additional residential units, bringing the total unit count to 7,986.

Rail Deck Development concept from the 2023 submission. (raildeckdevelopment.com)

Tower heights have been adjusted pretty much across the board from the March 2023 submission to better “address housing supply issues,” according to LiUNA and Fengate. In the west block, towers that were at one point 38 and 32 storeys have been upped to 40 and 36 storeys. Similarly, in the centre block, tower heights of 64, 57, 51, and 40 storeys have been increased, respectively, to 72, 63, 58, and 45 — with the aforementioned 68-storey tower also having been added in.

There’s only one building that has been brought down in height in response to feedback from the community and to improve sunlight conditions on neighbouring open space. That building is set to be situated in the east block and has been reduced in height from 20 storeys to a nine-storey podium. Also planned for the east block is a 40-storey tower that has been upsized to 61 storeys, as well as 65-storey tower that is unchanged from the March 2023 submission.

raildeckdevelopment.com

raildeckdevelopment.com

“[The] Rail Deck Development represents a significant opportunity to deliver a new, truly livable neighbourhood with accessible public space, transit connectivity, and amenities,” said Jaime McKenna, President, Fengate Real Estate in a statement to STOREYS. “Collaboration with the local community has — and continues to be — central to this development. As we continue to move this landmark project through the development process and shape the future of downtown Toronto together, we look forward to more community engagement opportunities in the fall and hope to receive further feedback.”

Other key updates outlined in this latest resubmission include the relocation of privately-owned public spaces from the centre block to an internal mid-block connection, an over 20% reduction in proposed parking supply, and the inclusion of direct access to the future Spadina-Front GO Station through the centre block to improve transit connectivity.

raildeckdevelopment.com

raildeckdevelopment.com

Upon the project’s competition, the decked-over rail park is expected to accommodate approximately 14,033 sq. m of retail space, 7,646 sq. m of commercial space, three daycares with private outdoor play space, a community hub, a hotel, and an “urban lounge” fronting onto a city-owned public park. Site plans from last spring specify a "focus on family-sized units" and a "commitment to affordable housing."

In addition to LiUNA and Fengate, the project team on the Rail Deck Development includes Sweeny&Co Architects, SvN Architects + Planners, Innovia, BA Group, R.E. Millward + Associates, RJC Engineers, and ARUP. The project was first proposed in the spring of 2022, at which time 11 towers were planned with the highest being "north of 70 storeys." Those plans were adjusted thereafter to reflect the March 2023 resubmission amid "fundamental concerns" from City staff.