56 Storey Mixed-Use Tower Proposed in Church-Wellsley Village

Minto Communities and SickKids have announced plans for a striking 56-storey mixed-use rental tower in the heart of Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village. Positioned at the northwest corner of Jarvis and Maitland Streets, this transformative project blends residential living with vital institutional services, while preserving and enhancing existing community health facilities. The development is being designed by the acclaimed Diamond Schmitt Architects.

Comprehensive Site Redevelopment

The L-shaped development spans 3,276m² and encompasses 110 and 114 Maitland Street as well as 440 Jarvis Street. The designated 1,942m² development area includes the now-vacant three-storey “Crystal Gardens” apartment building at 110 Maitland, boarded up since 2015 and slated for demolition.

The five-storey SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health at 114 Maitland will see partial demolition, while the four-storey Jarvis-facing wing at 440 Jarvis will be preserved and severed to become an independent parcel.

Purpose-Built Mixed-Use Design

Urban Toronto reports that the proposed tower will rise 181.3 metres, consisting of a four-storey podium topped by 52 floors of residential rental units. In total, the project will offer 579 residential units:

• 36 rental replacement units

• 77 studio units

• 273 one-bedroom units

• 170 two-bedroom units

• 59 three-bedroom units

Floors 6 through 8 will house the replacement rental units, while floors 9 and up will contain market-rate housing. The tower integrates 40,137m² of gross floor area (GFA), broken down into 37,875m² of residential space and 2,262m² of institutional space, yielding a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 20.67.

Institutional Expansion for SickKids

The SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health, active at this site since the 1960s, will benefit from a modernized and enlarged facility. The four-storey podium will include dedicated institutional space on floors 3 and 4. Combined with the retained building at 440 Jarvis, SickKids will have access to a total of 4,739m²—over 1,000m² more than the current facility footprint.

Architectural Highlights and Amenities

Diamond Schmitt’s design features a sculpted tower above a brick masonry-clad podium, balancing elegance with contextual sensitivity. The building’s street-level design includes distinct entrances for residents and the institutional facility.

Residents will enjoy 1,158m² of indoor and 463m² of outdoor amenities, including:

• Indoor spaces on floors 2, 5, 6, and 57

• Outdoor terraces atop the podium and rooftop, including a green roof

Transit-Oriented and Sustainable Development

The development is intentionally low on vehicular parking, offering only nine at-grade residential visitor spaces and none for residents or staff. Instead, it provides robust cycling infrastructure with 522 long-term and 116 short-term bicycle parking spaces for residents, and 15 additional spaces for SickKids staff and visitors.

The site is within walking distance of four subway stations—Wellesley, College, Sherbourne, and Bloor-Yonge—and is served by surface transit such as the 94 Wellesley bus and 506 Carlton streetcar. Nearby bike lanes on Wellesley, Sherbourne, and Bloor streets support active transportation.

Planning Framework and Official Amendments

The project requires Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments to facilitate increased height and density. Once approved, the site will be designated under both Apartment Neighbourhoods and Institutional Areas in the City of Toronto’s Official Plan.

Construction Workforce and Industry Scope

Delivering a tower of this scale calls for a broad and skilled workforce across all phases of construction:

• Demolition Crews for site clearance

• Shoring and Excavation Teams for underground foundations

• Concrete and Structural Steel Trades to build the tower core

• MEP Technicians for all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems

• Interior Finishing Crews for drywall, flooring, millwork, and paint

• Specialty Installers for elevators, HVAC, green roofs, and high-performance glazing

• Project Management and Site Supervision to coordinate all work safely and efficiently

This project is poised to generate long-term, stable employment across multiple construction disciplines, contributing significantly to the local building trades and development ecosystem.

Conclusion

Minto Communities and SickKids are setting a high standard with this integrated approach to health and housing. The proposed 56-storey tower is a milestone in smart, transit-oriented development. It balances dense urban living with community service, creates hundreds of new homes, and ensures continuity for a vital pediatric mental health centre. For construction professionals and city planners alike, this development embodies a forward-thinking model for inclusive, sustainable urban growth.