The occupants of the rental units at 666 Spadina Avenue may shortly see an additional residential establishment constructed in the vicinity.
Spadina Towers Inc., the owners of the current apartment building, submitted a development proposal to the Toronto City Council for consideration in July 2016.
The documents — prepared by planning consultants WND Associates — detail the proposed additions to the property, an 11-storey building with 120 rental units to be constructed to the south of the existing 25-storey high-rise, along with eight new stacked townhouses lining Sussex Avenue.
The proposal also includes plans to construct 475 square metres of privately-owned, publicly-accessible space for the benefit of the surrounding community.
The new residential building is designed to include private balconies for most units, outdoor and indoor amenity space, and upgraded landscaping. Additionally, it would also house 530 square metres of commercial retail space facing Spadina Avenue.
The planning report also includes an amendment proposal to the current zoning bylaw that governs the area, which would “facilitate the construction of the proposed mid-rise building and stacked townhouses.”
According to the proposal, the amendment would contain “new regulations related to building setbacks, vehicle parking supply, and would implement more contemporary standards related to amenity space and bicycle parking.”
Designed by Toronto architect Uno Prii in 1972, the existing apartment building on the corner of Spadina Avenue and Sussex Avenue has been listed in the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties.
The residence has also been a popular off-campus housing choice for students because of its proximity to campus facilities. Located in Harbord Village, the building is a less than 10 minutes from Robarts Library and the Athletic Centre on foot.
According to the planning report, 666 Spadina Avenue’s midrise development project would “add to the vitality of this section of Spadina Avenue, increasing its attractiveness for continued investment” and “animate this segment of the street where there is currently very little interest for pedestrians.”
Preliminary designs for the new site layout were unveiled on April 11 at a Ward 20 pre-application meeting, with the development proposal and bylaw amendment application following in July.
The project is awaiting approval from the City of Toronto.
