As the Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown LRT nears completion, properties along its route will benefit from this significant mobility upgrade to Toronto’s inner-city artery. Such a location was proposed for the redevelopment at 2636 Eglinton Avenue West. Fora Developments has submitted applications for zoning amendments and site plan approval for the northwest corner of Keele Street and Eglinton Avenue West, an intersection where the soon-to-open Keelesdale station is located.
Looking northeast at 2636 Eglinton Avenue West, designed by gh3 for Fora Developments
The proposal would result in a new mixed-use tower, with retail outlets on the ground floor and residential units above. The building would have a height of 112.1 m with 33 floors and a total of 370 residential units. For residents, the proposed design offers 735 m² and 622 m² of indoor and outdoor facilities respectively. Retail space would be found on the ground floor, with residents and businesses poised to take advantage of easy access to Eglinton line 5.
Of the total of 63 parking spaces in the three-storey underground car park, 8 would be for visitors and 2 for retail. For cyclists, 348 of the 434 bicycle parking spaces would be intended for permanent use and 86 for short-term use. In addition to the new rapid transit line, the TTC also serves Keele and other local routes with buses.
Looking west to 2636 Eglinton Avenue West designed by gh3 for Fora Developments
As for the building itself, gh3’s design would feature a rectangular podium of six stories or 23.5 m. The distinctive building design also supports a widening of the right-of-way along Eglinton Avenue West and streetscape improvements on the ground area outside the building. Floors two and three would feature a sawtooth pattern and sunken balconies. On the 4th floor there would be a 3.0 m setback on the west side in order to be in line with the roof of the neighboring through station.
For the tower element, there would be setbacks on all four sides on the seventh floor, forming a diagonal sawtooth pattern to the northwest. The intention is to correspond with the proposed building at 1860-1868 Keele Street north of this site.
Looking north of the site, image retrieved from Google Street View
At the time of application, the assembled site contains a number of low-rise buildings, including a commercial building at 2654 Eglinton Avenue West and a mixed-use building with five retail units at 2636-2642 Eglinton Avenue West and 1856 Keele Street. The assembly is largely rectangular in shape and has an area of approximately 1,353 m².
Looking west from Keele Street towards the site, image retrieved from Google Street View
The site is part of the Beechborough-Greenbrook neighborhood in Toronto’s West End. The area generally contains low and medium rise buildings, with major thoroughfares housing larger buildings. These locations currently benefit from Eglinton Avenue West, which has bike lanes on both sides.
An aerial view of 2636 Eglinton Avenue West and the surrounding area, image retrieved from Google Maps
With Eglinton Line 5 scheduled to open in 2023, Keelesdale station would only be an option for commuters residing at 2636 Eglinton West. Caledonia station (with its future connection to a new GO station with quick access to downtown) is just one stop and 680m east of the site. The area is primed to become far more accessible for all Torontonians to live, work and visit.
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more from our database file linked below. If you wish, you can join the discussion in the dedicated project forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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