A new development application has been submitted for a two-tower complex at 323-339 Symington Avenue and 350 Campbell Avenue in Toronto. The site is currently home to a vacant lot and a plaza with a handful of businesses, including Caldense Bakery and a Beer Store location. The bakery's ownership is behind the application, based on an email address associated with the bakery listed as the proposal's applicant.
In place of the current plaza and lot, the proposal seeks rezoning to permit 39-storey and 36-storey towers rising from a shared six-storey podium, along with a four-storey parking structure proposed towards the north end of the site near the CP rail line.
BlogTo states that the complex's towers are designed by architects TACT and will feature rectilinear floorplates defined by projecting balconies that form undulating patterns that ripple across the vertical faces like waves.
The building will include:
- 55,060 square-metre area for residential units
- 680 metres for retail at the south end of the ground floor along Symington
- Consist of 817 condominium units spread across the two towers
- Mix of 31 studios
- 515 one-bedroom units
- 185 two-bedroom units
- 86 three-bedroom units
The proposal in its current form is essentially unapprovable. The subject lands in question are designated Core Employment Areas in the Toronto Official Plan, and would require an application seeking Official Plan Amendment to change the land use in order to allow residential construction.
Canada Today reports that the City's page for application makes it clear that while the applicant has applied for rezoning, "neither an Official Plan Amendment or Conversion Request have been received by the City to facilitate."
Since the applicant is working under the guidance of experienced planning firm Bousfields Inc., it is likely that this was no mistake.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see what the next steps are for what is basically a made-up proposal until the right changes are received.
