As the transformation of Toronto’s Yonge and Steeles intersection continues to unfold with each shiny new development proposed, there’s plans for yet another addition. And, at 50 storeys, this one could fit right into the rapidly densifying neighbourhood.
Arkfield Developments has submitted a development proposal for 7-17 Nipigon Avenue, located east of Yonge Street, south of Steeles Avenue East, on the south side of Nipigon Avenue.
Currently, this plot of land houses five single detached residential dwellings. If all goes according to plan, these could become a thing of the past, to make way for the development, which will stand 50 storeys tall, with a five-storey podium and contain 620 units. Its total gross floor area will exceed 400,000 sq. ft.
The building will feature 457 one-bedroom units, 94 two-bedroom units, and 65 three-bedroom units. Just four units will be allocated to studios.
According to plans, residents will enjoy a total of 2,480 sq. m of indoor and outdoor amenity areas . The outdoor amenity spaces (1,240 sq. m) will sit at the front, east, west, and south ends of the development. The building will also feature two separate green roofs.
As a clear sign of the times – where the car takes a backseat in urban planning – the building will house just 80 vehicular parking spots. It will accommodate 466 bicycle parking spots. Residents won’t have to travel too far for all the essentials and nice-to-haves, however; the Yonge and Steeles area houses businesses of all varieties, in addition to Centerpoint Mall where you’ll find a Canadian Tire, Best Buy, Hudson’s Bay, and No Frills.
Most notably, the upcoming Steeles TTC subway station – part of the Yonge North Subway Extension – will sit just a short walk away. Of course, the Line 1 extension can take riders from Steeles south down Yonge into the downtown Toronto core – it will take just over half an hour to get to Union Station – or north to Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Markham. This renders the once car-dependent cities outside of Toronto (what some would call the suburbs) more accessible and connected than ever.
The proposed tower (white) shown amongst other proposed developments in the area (blue). (Arkfield Developments)
Sitting at the boundary of the City of Toronto and York Region, the new transit hub at Yonge and Steeles will feature a major bus terminal that offers bus routes that serve Toronto and York Region, as well as the future TTC rapid transit line proposed to connect communities along Steeles Avenue.
So, the transformation of the once quiet streets surrounding Yonge and Steeles isn’t a surprising one. With new transit, comes density and rapid growth. In recent years, a growing number of single-family homes in the Newtonbrook neighbourhood have disappeared to make way for sky-high future developments. In April, for (just one) example, a 50-storey mixed use tower with 610 condo units was proposed to replace a current Starbucks near the intersection of Yonge and Steeles.
In short, in the not-too-distant future, we’ll see a whole new skyline materialize in the once quiet neighbourhood.
As for Arkfield Developments, the company is no stranger to the increasingly connected York Region. The developers are the names behind a handful of sleek townhome buildings currently under construction in Richmond Hill.
