Following UrbanToronto's highlight of the Corktown Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) along the under-construction Ontario Line 3, today's focus turns to plans for the future western terminus. The scheme will deliver mixed-use developments that benefit from the improved accessibility of these sites, as seen in our coverage of the TOCs at Eastern Avenue, Thorncliffe Park, Gerrard-Carlaw, Cosburn and Pape stations. Located in Toronto's Liberty Village, Exhibition Station TOC will be located immediately north of a rebuilt station connecting the future Ontario Line terminus with the Lakeshore West GO Line station.
Looking northwest at the Exhibition TOC Atlantic Site, designed by SvN for Infrastructure Ontario
The Exhibition TOC, conceptually designed by SvN for Infrastructure Ontario, is located on the southern edge of the Liberty Village Employment Area and would integrate directly into the rebuilt train station. The rectangular Jefferson site to the west consists of 1 Jefferson Avenue and 2-20 Atlantic Avenue and covers approximately 4,742 m². It currently houses a two-story former industrial building converted for office use. Conversely, the East Atlantic location at 1 and 1A Atlantic Avenue offers an irregularly shaped 50,000 square feet of space that currently houses a converted warehouse that now hosts busy activity.
An axonometric view looking north at the current Jefferson (left) and Atlantic (right) sites, image from submission to the City of Toronto
The Jefferson Site proposal calls for a U-shaped complex with two 19-story (71.9 m) towers housing 303 residential units. The focus of the concept design is the integration of a transit hall that allows seamless access to the transit station located south of the site.
TOC Jefferson Site exhibit designed by SvN for Infrastructure Ontario
Of the gross floor area (GFA) of 38,008 m², around 23,354 m² are intended for residential purposes in the planned development, plus 10,428 m² for office space and 4,226 m² for retail space. Residents have 715 m² of indoor and 559 m² of outdoor space at their disposal. With four elevators for the retail and office spaces on the first eight floors and two elevators per residential tower, there would be approximately one elevator for every 76 units, meaning quick service. A bridge over a new street south of the buildings would not only provide access to the transit station, but would also provide pedestrian access to Exhibition Place, Ontario Place, and the Harbourfront and Bathurst streetcar terminals.
Jefferson Site Site Map designed by SvN for Infrastructure Ontario
The Atlantic Site is located between Atlantic Avenue and Hanna Avenue, east of the Jefferson Site. The renovation plan calls for 19 and 20-story buildings, each 72 m high, and 265 residential units. The ground and lower floors would be designated for retail and office use.
An aerial view looking northeast towards the Atlantic site designed by SvN for Infrastructure Ontario
With a gross floor area of 34,846 m², the design offers 20,581 m² of living space, supplemented by 13,187 m² of office space and 1,078 m² of retail space, as well as 730 m² of indoor and 413 m² of outdoor space. The existing pedestrian tunnel would allow pedestrians access to the exhibition station and the exhibition center in the south. The design integrates commercial activities into the central section of the west tower. With four office elevators and two elevators per residential tower, there would be about one residential unit for every 66, which suggests quick accessibility.
Site plan for the Atlantic site designed by SvN for Infrastructure Ontario
Three levels of underground parking are planned for the Jefferson location with 112 parking spaces for vehicles, 60 of which are reserved for residents. For cyclists, 285 permanent and 34 short-term bicycle parking spaces are provided for residents as well as 30 permanent and 133 short-term parking spaces for non-residential use. At the Atlantic site, two levels of an underground car park with 102 parking spaces for vehicles, 54 of which are for residents, are planned. There would also be 300 permanent and 44 short-term bicycle parking spaces for residents, supplemented by 29 permanent and 36 short-term parking spaces for non-residential users.
An aerial view looking northeast at the Jefferson site, designed by SvN for Infrastructure Ontario
The development application notes that Liberty Village is a dynamic economic center with a focus on employment and mixed-use developments. Furthermore, it is noted that the surrounding proposals are generally consistent with the established building context, with this proposal acting as a transition from the taller eastern developments to the shorter ones in the Parkdale district to the west. North of the site, projects include the proposed 7-story 7-15 Fraser Avenue building, the 10-story 58 Atlantic Avenue and the 11-story The Castle at 41 Fraser Avenue.
Profile map of the context area, image from submission to the City of Toronto
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of this development, but in the meantime you can learn more in our database file linked below. If you'd like, you can join the discussion in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the designated area on this page.
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