42-Storey Mixed-Use Tower Proposed Opposite St. James Park

Urbantoronto.ca
March 9, 2020
Julian Mirabelli

Development on the east side of Toronto's downtown core continues to flourish with another proposal along the Church-Jarvis corridors area. A rezoning application has been submitted for a new mixed-use tower across from St. James Park at 110 Adelaide Street East. The proposal would see a 42-storey, 145.2-metre tower constructed containing retail, office, and residential uses.

The L-shaped property is currently home to a small surface parking lot and a 4-storey office building. Located mid-block along Adelaide between Church and Jarvis streets, the property stretches the full depth of the block with frontage onto Lombard Street to the north. The existing mid-century office building facing Adelaide will be demolished and replaced with the new development.

Designed by SvN -- who happen to be located in the office building on the site -- the 42-storey tower would contain 287 residential units, nearly 3,300 m² of office space, and just over 480 m² of retail space. The retail unit will be located on the ground floor, fronting onto Adelaide, while the office spaces occupy floors 2 through 4. The remainder of the tower will contain residential uses.

No information has yet been provided on building finishes, but early concept renderings show a deep red cladding with arches at the base of the podium and strong vertical and horizontal elements on the tower portion.

The proposal is located within the St. Lawrence Heritage Conservation District (currently being contested at the LPAT) and therefore, as it is also located directly across the street from the historic St. James Park, heritage will play a big role in the approval of the project. Though the height is consistent with other towers in the vicinity, this tower is the only one on its block, is mid-block as opposed to at a corner, and the only one directly across the street from the park. It appears, however, that the tower does not infringe on any protected view corridors of St. James Cathedral. All of these factors will likely be taken into account as the City weighs the height it believes the site qualifies for.