An iconic Yorkville mid-rise offering has been updated with a refined design

A mid-rise proposal in the western suburbs of Yorkville has been completely revised and rezoned in the heart of a rapidly densifying downtown Toronto neighborhood. Located south of Davenport on 126 Avenue, Taheri Development plans to expand its low-rise property lineup with a new 11-story mixed-use mid-rise. The project features preserved heritage facades and was designed by Icon Architects.

Northwest facing image by Icon Architects.

The property currently consists of three two- and three-story buildings with retail on the ground floor and rental apartments on the upper floors. The existing structures were built in the 1930s and are located in the Eastern Complementary Heritage Conservation Area (HCD). Although the HCD did not identify these particular properties as having special heritage value, proponents recognized the importance of it being a corner property and its contribution to the character of the surrounding neighbourhood, and therefore preferred to retain the heritage facades.

View of existing buildings on 126-130 Avenue, photo by forum author AlbertC.

The new development will have 11 floors and contain 60 residential units, 11 of which are rental replacement units. On the third floor there are living quarters with 120 m² of indoor space adjacent to an 83 m² outdoor roof terrace. On the first floor there is approximately 219 m² of retail space.

To design the building, the architects “wanted to present it as a single object with fewer visual details, so it can be perceived at a glance, so focus on the lower levels of the heritage.” This is achieved by enveloping the building on all four sides with uniform vertical wings that even extend over recessed balconies and terraces. The architects wanted the building to have a unique architectural expression that was modern and contemporary, so that it contrasted with the heritage base, but ensured a color choice that was compatible with the preserved brick facades.

The mass of the building consists of three volumes, gently curved in relation to each other. The form is pulled back on the third floor to allow the heritage facades to be fully exposed, so “you can easily imagine what the building looked like before the addition”. The mass rises to the fifth floor to create relief and shaded space above the brick facades.

Northeast image by Icon Architects.

In total, the new residential units consist of 20 studios, 15 one-bedroom, 9 two-bedroom and 5 three-bedroom units. The 11 replacement units for rent are divided into one studio, 2 one-bedroom and 8 two-bedroom units. The development offers two levels of underground parking and uses a car lift instead of a ramp, given the strict site restrictions.

The development was originally proposed for rezoning in 2023 and was resubmitted with minor refinements. UrbanToronto will continue to monitor progress on this development, but in the meantime you can learn more about it in our Database file linked below. If you like, you can join the conversation in the related project forum or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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