Plans to redevelop a two-storey commercial building at Dundas and Bloor have been resubmitted with the City of Toronto, revealing new details about the proposed mixed-use development at 1540 Bloor West. Proposed by Timbertrin—a partnership between developers Trinity Development Group and Timbercreek Communities—the plan to redevelop this corner dates back to a 2007 proposal known as Giraffe Condos from TAS, which was refused by both the City and the Ontario Municipal Board. The project resurfaced under the new ownership team and a scaled back design just over one year ago, who have since scaled it back yet again in the recent resubmission.

Site of the proposed development, image via submission to City of Toronto

The revised application seeks rezoning for a 25-storey Core Architects-designed development—reduced from the 29-storeys previously—rising 86.9 metres to the top of the mechanical penthouse. A similar massing of stacked and offset volumes as the late 2018 version, the new revision incorporates the reduced height and several other exterior changes while still achieving the same goal of articulating the massing into multiple distinct volumes.

Previous and current designs, images via submission to City of Toronto

The building calls for a total gross floor area of 26,444 m², including a retail gross floor area of 807 m² occupying the Bloor Street West frontage, and the remaining 25,637 m² dedicated to residential space. A total of 327 condominium units are proposed in a mix of 206 one-bedrooms, 87 two-bedrooms, and 34 three-bedrooms. This marks a reduction from the previous submission's unit count of 236 fewer units.

Podium of 1540 Bloor West, image via submission to City of Toronto

The building proposes a two-level underground garage containing 100 parking spaces divided between 80 long-term residential parking spaces and 20 shared short-term spaces serving the commercial component and residential visitors. In addition, 39 short-term and 298 long-term bicycle parking spaces are included in the plan.

Aerial view facing northeast over 1540 Bloor West, image via submission to City of Toronto

Located at a major intersection, directly adjacent to Dundas West subway station and steps from the Bloor GO station, interest in the site has remained high in the years since the Giraffe proposal fell apart. The recent opening of the nearby UPX station further cemented the site as a high-rise opportunity, and the latest version of the proposal aims to capitalize on local and provincial planning policies like the Provincial Policy Statement, the Growth Plan, and the Toronto Official Plan that promote intensification of such sites.

You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like to, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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