A proposed 16-storey rental tower would be the tallest building in Bloor West Village
The project promises a suite of family-sized units. Locals worry it would tank the neighbourhood’s vibe
You’d be hard-pressed to find a building with more than three floors in Bloor West Village, but a proposed 16-storey, 60-unit rental could change that. The development would be steps from Runnymede station, on the lots at 2273, 2277 and 2279 Bloor. Notably, it would be the tallest structure in the area, towering over its neighbours.
The project has already raised eyebrows online, with NIMBY critics predicting a strain on local schools and the erosion of small-town vibes.
Related: Mississauga prepares for an influx of townhouses, garden suites and affordable housing
In a statement emailed to Toronto Life, the Bloor West Village BIA reiterated the need to preserve “neighbourhood character” but stopped short of opposing the project outright. “Any development should complement and enrich the streetscape by including active, fine-grained retail at grade, wide sidewalks and public spaces,” the BIA said. “We look forward to continued dialogue with the city and the development team to ensure growth strengthens both the neighbourhood’s economic vitality and unique character.”
There’s a strong case for the rental tower. Fifty of its 60 units would be two- and three-bedrooms, so while the community would lose its low-rise Wine Shop, Grumpy Gourmet and Wake’a Boo, Toronto would gain the family-sized units it sorely needs.
Related: Toronto performs an about-face on tiny homes by launching a new shelter program
The tower would add rare density to the zone around Runnymede station. Because of the site’s proximity to the subway, the proposal includes no parking for motorists but 74 bicycle parking spaces instead. It also comes with a 135-square-metre rooftop amenity space and 159 square metres of ground-floor retail. It’s unclear whether the site’s current retailers would return to occupy the building.
The city’s tanked condo market has revealed that Toronto buyers and renters are demanding more family-sized units. And the city has listened, initiating several new programs to inject more of this kind of housing everywhere.
