A bold new residential development is being proposed for Toronto’s Bathurst Manor neighbourhood. At 500 Sheppard Avenue West, east of Bathurst Street, a rezoning application has been submitted by 1000967286 Ontario Limited to build a 35-storey condominium tower designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects. If approved, the project would become the tallest along this stretch of Sheppard Avenue, reshaping the skyline of this growing corridor.
The irregularly shaped site, currently vacant, sits just east of Canyon Avenue and slopes downward toward the Don River West Branch ravine. The property was once part of 1 Canyon Avenue before being severed in the 1990s. While earlier proposals envisioned 11-storey and 16-storey developments—with the latter approved in 2007—the land has remained undeveloped for nearly two decades. Now, under new ownership, Elevate Planning & Project Management has put forward a more ambitious plan: a 35-storey, 119.3-metre tower with a five-storey podium and 22,714m² of gross floor area.
Building Height: 35 storeys (119.3 metres)
Podium: 5 storeys at street level for scale and integration
Gross Floor Area: 22,714m² (entirely residential)
Floor Space Index (FSI): 2.79 times the 8,118m² lot
Unit Count: 331 condominium units, 40% family-sized layouts
Elevators: 4 elevators, providing a ratio of one per 83 units
Amenities: 667m² indoors, 723m² outdoors, distributed across ground, 5th, and 6th floors
Parking: 60 resident spaces, 19 visitor spaces in a two-level underground garage
Bicycle Parking: 225 long-term and 23 short-term stalls
Landscape Restoration: Over 470 new trees and 830 native shrubs to stabilize and enhance the slope
The scale and complexity of the project will require a broad range of construction trades and expertise:
General Contractors & Project Managers: To oversee scheduling, budget, and quality control
Excavation and Foundation Crews: For deep excavation and shoring for the underground garage
Structural Steel and Concrete Workers: To erect the podium and tower framework
Masonry and Cladding Specialists: For exterior finishes and integration with surrounding architecture
Carpenters and Interior Finishers: To deliver quality unit interiors and amenity spaces
HVAC and Mechanical Trades: To ensure proper ventilation and climate control for high-rise living
Electrical Contractors: To install power distribution, lighting, and backup systems
Plumbing and Fire Protection Specialists: To handle water, drainage, and life-safety systems
Landscapers and Environmental Specialists: To execute slope restoration and tree planting
Urban Toronto reports that the site is well-positioned in terms of transit accessibility. TTC bus routes within 250 metres link directly to major subway stations including Sheppard–Yonge (Line 1), Sheppard West (Line 1), and Bathurst (Line 2). Additionally, Metrolinx is currently studying a westerly extension of Line 4, which could introduce a new station at Bathurst, further improving accessibility. Cycling infrastructure is limited on Sheppard Avenue itself, but nearby multi-use trails in Earl Bales Park and along the West Don River offer strong off-street connections.
If built, the 500 Sheppard West tower would stand as the tallest building in the immediate area. Current projects in the corridor are generally mid-rise, ranging from 9 to 11 storeys, with the closest comparison in height being the 27-storey proposal at 325 Bogert Avenue. Taller towers are concentrated closer to subway nodes, such as the 50 to 59-storey projects near Sheppard–Yonge and Sheppard West stations. This positions the 35-storey tower as a unique addition bridging low- and high-density development along Sheppard Avenue West.
The proposal for 500 Sheppard Avenue West represents a major shift for Bathurst Manor, bringing high-rise living to a neighbourhood historically characterized by mid-rise apartments. With its mix of family-sized units, amenity spaces, and significant landscaping restoration, the project balances density with livability. For construction workers, it promises steady multi-trade employment over several years. For the city, it marks another step in reshaping Sheppard Avenue into a more connected and vertical urban corridor.