Southwest of Don Mills and Lawrence, a new residential development is being proposed at 169 The Donway West. Building on a rezoning and OPA submission to the City of Toronto that dates to 2015, developers Cadillac Fairview and Lanterra are now advancing a new Site Plan Application (SPA) for a 34-storey residential tower, framed by the curve of a cascading mid-rise sibling.
Aerial view, looking east, image via submission to the City of Toronto
Designed by Toronto's Hariri Pontarini Architects, the newly proposed scheme was submitted with regard to input provided by City Planning regarding the developers' previous plans, which called for a pair of 39- and 34-storey towers atop a shared two-storey podium. A significant reduction in height and scale brings the GFA down from 58,761 m² to 48,812 m², and the FSI to 5.9.
2015 proposal, west elevation, image via submission to the City of Toronto
Reducing the scale of the built form also allows for a small new on-site public park. Located at the south end of the curved site, the 818 m² green space would be neighboured by the six-storey base of the development's attention-grabbing, curving mid-rise. Addressing the irregular shape of the site, the mid-rise rises to a height of 14 storeys, partially encircling the slender 34-storey point tower to its south and east.
Looking northeast, image via submission to the City of Toronto
The redesigned and reconfigured proposal sees the total number of residential units brought down from 736 to 631, representing a 14% reduction. Below grade, the parking garage has been more aggressively scaled down, with the six-storey structure now reduced to three levels, while vehicle access has been consolidated at the south end of the site.
The site today, image by Stefan Novakovic
Taking on a vacant site once occupied by a handsome mid-century post office—designed by acclaimed modernist architect John B. Parkin—the project would add significant density to what is already a quickly intensifying corridor. Just south of the site, the completed Flaire, Liv Lofts, and Reflections Residences condominiums have introduced a new character to the area, while another pair of high-rises—also designed by Hariri Pontarini for Cadillac Fairview and Lanterra—known as Rodeo Drive Towers, are now on sale.
Contextual aerial showing existing and planned developments, looking east, image via submission to the City of Toronto
We will keep you updated as the project continues to take shape over the coming months. In the meantime, make sure to check out our Database file, and our associated Forum thread for the most up-to-date information. Want to share your thoughts on the project? Feel free to leave a comment in the space below this page, or join in on the discussion in our associated Forum thread.