Developer TAS is putting forward a Scarborough strip mall site for redevelopment, with plans to build a towering rental complex that would add hundreds of new homes to the area.
TAS filed plans with the City of Toronto to replace the strip mall -- located at 3730 Kingston Road, at the intersection of Scarborough Golf Club Road -- with a 20-storey tower housing 384 units, 10% of which will be affordable housing. The developer says that this project "exemplifies TAS’s approach of developing underutilized land to unlock the value and create social and environmental impact."
The plaza that currently occupies the site is home to a Daisy Mart, a tae kwon-do studio, a restaurant, and office space.
"The site is a prominent location in south Scarborough," TAS said. "It’s a busy intersection that many people pass by on a daily basis and [is] home to some well-loved local businesses that serve the needs of the community. [Over time], the two-storey plaza and neighbouring church property have become run down and underutilized.
"But with imagination and forethought, you can see the site has a unique potential. It’s near both the Guildwood GO and Eglinton GO stations, which would allow for [an] easy commute to the downtown core and other areas in the GTA. There’s also a proposed Eglinton East LRT stop directly beside the site at Eglinton Avenue and Kingston Road, and easy access to Scarborough Bluffs and Toronto’s east-end waterfront parks."
Interestingly, the new rental project plans mark the second development that's been proposed for this site. Before TAS purchased the site in 2022, the previous owners proposed a denser 14-storey building with 435 units, none of which would be classified as affordable housing, as well as 383 parking spaces and 2,784 sq. ft of commercial space.
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In addition to having a taller building with fewer units, TAS is also proposing just 160 parking spots and a slightly scaled-down 2,077 sq. ft of commercial space. The tower will also sit atop a podium, rather than have a stepped built form, as was originally proposed -- something TAS says "allows for a more cost effective and efficient design with less embodied carbon."
"When we purchased the site from the previous owner in 2022, we saw an opportunity to create a more environmentally efficient building that would better serve the community’s needs, while also providing returns for our investors," TAS said.
The commercial space, located on the ground floor, will be used for "community-serving" businesses. Outside, along Kingston Road, landscaping improvements are planned as part of the project to create "a more vibrant public realm." There will also be a "wrapped amenity courtyard" -- one of the proposal's key features.
The affordable rental units will be priced at 30% of median renter income, and they won't be the only affordable part of the build. TAS plans to offer 1,250 sq. ft of below-market commercial space at just $10 per sq. ft.
The plans are being reviewed by Toronto City Council and will need to earn approval before development can move forward.
