One of the final pieces of a massive development proposed for the northeast corner of Avenue Road and Lawrence Avenue is in place with the sale of the building currently home to long-time North Toronto business Royal Lighting.
The business, which dates back 40 years, will remain open for a number of years while the development application proceeds through the hallowed halls of Toronto city planning.
Although Gladstone says he wants to find another location in the area, Avenue Road might be problematic in the coming years with the amount of development underway and upcoming.
“Avenue Road will be impossible, because basically, if it’s big enough for us, it’s big enough for a developer,” he said.
The site, which includes Pusateri’s (a local staple since 1986), now spans additional parcels at 272 Lawrence Avenue West and 1549 Avenue Road. This expansion increases the project’s size, covering 272-290 Lawrence Avenue West and 1507-1549 Avenue Road.
Originally planned as 10- and 13-story buildings in June 2020, the design has evolved. The new proposal now includes two mixed-use buildings: one 12 stories and one 14 stories tall. The expansion has increased the Gross Floor Area (GFA) from 41,972 m² to 61,581 m², with 4,439 m² dedicated to retail. The number of residential units has also grown from 455 to 665.
It’s going to change Avenue Road, and it looks like it’s going to be a gorgeous development,” said Gladstone. “Right now, First Capital owns from Lawrence right up to and including us. And I think they own one or two buildings along Lawrence. So it will be quite a large development.”
The current plan includes buildings that are taller than the original designs: one reaches 45.5 metres, and the other 52.35 metres. To improve public space, a new public road and park have been added. The northern building will have more setbacks and step-backs to reduce its shadow on the nearby park, while the 14-story south building has shifted from an L-shape to a U-shape for better sunlight.
The development will feature a new public road running from Lawrence Avenue to Douglas Avenue, improving connectivity. The public park at the site’s north end has been expanded from 982 m² to 1,088 m².
The proposal includes a food store to be located at the corner of Avenue and Lawrence, which may be a new home for Pusateri’s, assuming they are interested in relocating. A smaller retail space in the northern part of the site is also planned, along with three smaller retail spaces along Lawrence Avenue.
The development will have a three-level underground garage with 566 parking spaces for residents, 66 for visitors, and 71 for retail. There will be 141 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations and additional Light EV spaces. The design also includes 453 long-term and 47 short-term bicycle parking spots for residents and 6 long-term and 15 short-term spots for retail.
This development is part of a broader trend along this stretch of Avenue Road, with several mid-rise buildings being planned or under construction nearby.
