A new Eglinton Crosstown LRT station will open at Don Mills Road in 2020. With it comes an ambitious redevelopment plan for the Celestica headquarters. A settlement was recently approved by Toronto City Council that allows residential and commercial buildings on the site. 

A proposal was first tabled in 2014 for the redevelopment of the 60-acre property, currently underutilized by the electronics manufacturer. The development was set to consist of 2,897 residential units, 77,136 square metres of office space and 9,105 square metres of retail space. In addition to 930 underground parking spaces, the plan also included a hockey arena or community facility. 

However, the site’s employment area designation prevented the proposal from moving forward as a mixed-use development. 

The owners’ consortium, consisting of Diamond Corp., Lifetime Developments and Context Development, sought to amend the site plan from its employment designation in spring 2016.

Following city council’s approval, the site has successfully been reclassified as a regeneration area, and a rezoning application will be submitted by the developers.

Celestica signed a 20-year lease with the developers to use about half of the employment space on the site, which was a relief to Ward 26 councillor Jon Burnside.

“There was fear to lose such a large employment site. The developer kept a large employer in Toronto, though, and we were a lot more comfortable to approve the mixed-use land,” said Burnside. 

The rezoning of the site was also welcome news for Doris Bies of the Don Mills Residents Inc. (DMRI).

“DMRI needs more details on the plan, but what we have seen looks good in theory, and we look forward to the second and third steps,” she said.