A massive new community consisting of eight buildings has been proposed for one of the fastest-evolving pockets of Toronto.
The latest project proposed for Scarborough’s Golden Mile area would level a block of low-rise structures at 1911-1921 Eglinton Avenue East and replace them with a brand-new megacomplex that follows the high-density cues of the many others planned for this neck of the woods.
Developer Samuel Sarick Limited has submitted plans to redevelop the almost four-hectare site, which is home to a pair of low-slung buildings typical of the area. The site is most notably home to Merchant’s Flea Market, a busy weekend destination for local thrifters.
The plan’s six towers would rise between 14 and 53 storeys, along with a pair of mid-rise buildings planned to rise ten storeys. These eight buildings are to feature a variety of designs from architects BNKC, and include six mixed-use buildings, one purely residential condo building, and one office building.
This mix of residential, office and retail would be joined by public amenities like a community centre serving the new complex, and a public park. The proposed public space would front two future roads occupying the heart of the site, and represents 10 per cent of the total development area.
A total of 2,777 condominium units are proposed across the buildings, a significant boost in density that is planned based on the assumption that the embattled Eglinton Crosstown LRT project will, one day, actually open.
Should the Crosstown ever actually open as the TTC’s Line 5, the development will be well-positioned for residents, with the city at their fingertips thanks to a location smack-dab in between Hakimi Lebovic and Golden Mile stations.
And they won’t be the only new residents packing into the Golden Mile area of Scarborough in the coming years.
The area underwent a sweeping development boom in the mid-20th century, turning it into a car-centric conglomeration of concrete and commerce populated by strip malls and big box outlets.
But with the Crosstown’s (eventual) arrival, the area is preparing for a seismic shift that will see windswept plazas reimagined into towering mixed-use communities with residential, retail and public spaces, all centred around the new transportation lifeblood of Eglinton.
Despite the project’s proximity to two Crosstown stations, one must remember that this is Scarborough we are talking about.
A significant underground parking component of 1,017 spaces is proposed. However, the majority of residents will be expected to make use of the adjacent transit connections and cycling infrastructure, with the plan proposing 2,219 bicycle parking spaces.
Such an enormous injection of residential density is not expected to happen all at once, and planning documents indicate that the proposal is intended to be developed in phases over the coming years.
