A 55-storey tower and three others are planned with affordable housing at Bloor Street and Islington Avenue.
The changing landscape of South Etobicoke.
Four large towers are planned in a redevelopment of the Islington bus terminal site at Bloor Street W., and Islington Avenue.
The City has approved a plan to build a new community with new dwelling units including affordable housing at its properties at 3326 and 3330 Bloor Street W., and 1240 and 1226 Islington Avenue.
There was a public hearing for input into the project on April 4 at City Hall.
There will be towers 32, 35, 41 and 55 storeys and three buildings that will have 1,415 residential units and almost 10,000 square metres of non-residential space.
The Islington bus terminal development will create more than 1,400 housing units including affordable housing.
“Bloor-Islington will become the heart of the Etobicoke Centre creating a community for both city and local residents to enjoy,” according to a report.
The existing bus terminal will be demolished and a new one relocated to the northern portion of the property to accommodate the redevelopment.
“Publicly accessible spaces will provide pedestrian through-block connections, forecourts and courtyards to improve access to the Islington Subway station,” the report said. “Emphasis will be placed on well-defined streetwalls, varying base building heights, well-articulated buildings and active uses at the ground level.”
The development will change the landscape of Bloor St. W., and Islington Avenue area.
The Islington subway station redevelopment will include a new fully accessible bus terminal as well as a new west entrance and modify the existing underground subway station to be accessible. A new driveway and circulation area around the bus terminal will have access to Islington Avenue.
One of the new towers at the southeast corner of the site will have a pedestrian entrance connecting pedestrians to the TTC subway via the underground concourse, where there will be stores.
About 471 new affordable housing units will be included in the homes being built, according to plans approved by the Planning and Housing Committee on March 18.
“The development concept supports a complete community in this part of Etobicoke Centre, providing approximately 9,946 square metres of non-residential space, which will be programmed for community, commercial, and retail uses,” according to a report.
There will be a public street linking Bloor Street West and Islington Avenue. The plan called for four development blocks, two for mixed use housing, one for the relocated bus terminal and another for publicly accessible space.
The existing bus terminal will be demolished and a new one built on the northern section of the site.
The Bloor Street West frontage will feature two rows of trees, with additional bicycle parking spaces and street furniture, contributing towards a safe and attractive pedestrian environment.
Due to the residential growth, sufficient accommodation may not be available for all students, with some accommodated in schools outside this area until space in local schools becomes available.
The City will acquire from the province a portion of the hydro corridor lands for a future public road to facilitate the development.
There are plans to curb the electromagnetic field from the hydro corridor near the project.
This is one of 22 sites approved by City Council for redevelopment through the Housing Now Initiative.