Huntley and Isabella mixed-use towers approved; 1,419 units with rental replacement

housing

Huntley and Isabella mixed-use towers approved; 1,419 units with rental replacement

City council approved a zoning change to allow two residential towers of 60 and 56 storeys on Huntley, Isabella and Mount Pleasant, containing 1,419 units including 32 replacement rental units. The development requires demolition of one heritage-listed building and relocation of two others, with a tenant assistance plan for displaced renters. A resident deputed against the project citing loss of Church-Wellesley character and Pride murals.

not yet heardToronto City Council · Wed, Jul 29

From the floor

“I came here a month ago to depute about the sneaky D's and I brought up an analogy saying, Hey, councilor Moyes, if you're pedestrianizing Church Street, it would really suck if they demolished everything on Church Street to build a condo there, right? Well, now you're building a condo on Church Street.”A resident

“I am not entirely sure if there is a need for this condo building construction, especially considering that the pedestrianization of Church Street is very much in line with the Church-Wellesley neighborhood vibe of small business, local pubs, local eateries, a few shops here and there that sell various trinkets. And we are demolishing a lot of these to build condos.”A resident

“What's the point of pedestrianizing Church Street if you're going to gradually demolish everything that makes Church Street Church Street and replace it with condos?”A resident

“The implications of demolishing 66 and 64 Wellesley Street will mean that Church Wellesley, which is I believe the heart of Toronto's culture, will now be missing a piece that is very important. When you go to Church Wellesley you get off Wellesley station and you walk eastbound and you see the beautiful murals, the beautiful world pride murals that people so much associate with Church Wellesley.”A resident

Also in this item

• World Pride murals on 66 Wellesley Street will be demolished as part of the development; the project includes no stated plan to restore them.

• The Wellesley Apartments (64 Wellesley Street), identified by the deputation as historically relevant, will be demolished for the development.

The journey

Wed, Jul 8 · Toronto and East York Community Council · amended

Wed, Jul 29 · Toronto City Council · not yet heard

Decision

Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment approved. The site will be developed with two towers (206 and 196 metres including mechanical penthouse) containing approximately 1,419 dwelling units. 34 Huntley Street to be demolished; 122-124 Isabella Street to be conserved in-situ; 30-32 and 38-40 Huntley Street to be relocated and conserved. 32 existing rental units will be replaced in the new building at similar rents with tenant financial assistance.

On video

Jump to this item in the meeting video

Why is this story here?

Big deal at city hallThe project changes land use from office/heritage residential to high-density mixed-use with two 60+ storey towers. It is hard to reverse: once built, future councils cannot undo the built form or tower height. The Official Plan amendment redesignates from Neighbourhoods to Mixed Use Areas, constraining future policy. The approval affects a major downtown site and a culturally significant neighbourhood. This passes the test of hard to reverse and wide reach.Felt nowThe development directly affects Church-Wellesley residents and workers, and touches a broader group: anyone who frequents the neighbourhood, uses Wellesley Station, or values the Pride cultural landmarks. The demolition of the Wellesley Apartments and murals is a present, immediate change to a recognizable and beloved neighbourhood landmark. The loss is happening now, not in the future.

Stories are ordered by how much weight a decision carries and how directly it reaches daily life. They rise as a decision date approaches and fall as they age.

Official title: 30-34 and 38-40 Huntley Street, 112-124 Isabella Street, and a Portion of 1 Mount Pleasant Road - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Decision Report - Approval · meeting video