Location: 18 Portland Street, Toronto
Developer: TBA
Architect: RAW Design
A series of low-rise buildings across from Victoria Memorial Square could make way for a brand new mixed-use tower just south of King Street West.
Last week, a zoning by-law amendment and draft plan of subdivision application was submitted to Toronto city planners to construct a 23-storey mixed-use building with 182 units at 18 Portland Street. The development would fall into the Wellington Place neighbourhood, where there are seven high-rise projects across all phases of development according to data from BuzzBuzzHome.
The development site is located on the southwest corner of Portland and Niagara streets. Comprising three municipal properties — 18 Portland Street and 1 and 9 Niagara Street — the lot is occupied by a four-storey office building, a one-storey vacant building formerly used as a Toronto Hydro utility hub, and a single-storey retail building home to the Hounds of York pet store.
Although none of the existing buildings are designated or listed under Toronto’s Heritage Register, the hydro building on 18 Portland Street “may have some cultural heritage value,” as per the application’s planning rationale.
According to the project’s Heritage Impact Assessment Report, the former Toronto Hydro building was likely constructed shortly after 1925 when the lands were purchased. The building was designed by Albert Edward Salisbury, a staff architect with the Toronto Election Hydro System who created over 20 hydro substations between 1921 and 1950. The vacant building features a Edwardian Classical architectural style with brick cladding and stone sills.
The three existing buildings would be demolished, but the façade of the Toronto Hydro building would be retained. The site would be redeveloped into a 23-storey mixed-use building supported by a six-storey podium.
A total of 28,416 square feet would be dedicated to commercial use in the new building. The ground floor of the high-rise would be reserved for office, cafe and retail space, with the above second and third floors used primarily for office facilities. Entry to the residential and commercial sections of the building would be provided off of Niagara Street.
Of the 182 units proposed in the project, the breakdown would include 67, one-bedroom, 97 two-bedroom and 18 three-bedroom suites. All of the residences would have their own private balconies or terraces.
A total of 8,409 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space would be included in the high-rise on the ground, 22nd and 23rd floors. A two-level underground parking garage would house 54 spaces, along with 198 short- and long-term bicycle parking spaces located throughout the project.
In the neighbourhood, construction continues at Tridel at The Well while sales continue at King Toronto Condos.
