One of the enduring mysteries of Weston is why the Crossroads Plaza is so empty. We may have an answer. According to Matt Elliott’s newsletter, SmartCentres REIT has been lobbying “for rezoning to permit residential and other uses” at many of their properties, including the one in Weston.
However, any development may be some ways off. Elliott says “some of the [company’s] properties have public development plans, while others still seem to be in the very early stages”. I, for one, haven’t seen any plans for the plaza.
The city database says that Frances Nunziata’s office has had four communications about the plaza with the VP of Corporate Affairs, Julie O’Driscoll.
The city has received an application to demolish the building at 971 Weston Road as part of a plan to build two 11-storey buildings on the lot that runs from 955–975 Weston Road, at the edge of Mount Dennis. The building is presently vacant.
The buildings would contain 617 rental units.
From the application
City staff have identified a number of issues to be resolved, including
Whether the plan aligns with the new Mount Dennis Planning Framework
“The proposed height, built form, massing, transition and scale of the towers and base building in relation to the existing and planned built form context of the area”
Whether the rents will be affordable
“The mix and size of dwelling units;”
Indoor and outdoor amenity space;
The quality of the building materials
Etobicoke York Community Council will consider the demolition application and a community consultation on April 19.
The proposed development will have a podium element with ground-level units. The podium will rise to 4 storeys as the street wall height, with the 5th and 6th storeys stepped back from the street. The tower portion will step back further and sit atop the podium and rise to 26 storeys. The building will have 3 levels of underground parking with a vehicle access from Oxford Drive on the south side of the site. Service vehicles will access from Oxford Drive on the north side of the site.
There is no image of the proposed development that I can find. The site is currently residential houses.
1736–1746 Weston Road: Hickory Tree Tower, on the site of the Starfish Carribean Market.
The proposal consists of a 25-storey mixed use building with a 6-storey podium. The building will have a total GFA of 19,900.03 sq.m. to produce a Floor Space Index of 10.8 times the lot area. Of the total GFA an allotted 420.12 sq.m. will be for retail space located at grade fronting onto Weston Road. Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit a 25-storey mixed use building with a 7-storey podium, containing 253 residential units. The building will have a Floor Space Index of 10.8 times the lot area, a residential Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 18,914.26 m² and a non-residential GFA of 472.15 m² for retail space located at grade fronting onto Weston Road.
The Toronto Star has a long article on the Picture Mount Dennis Planning Framework and the changes coming to Mount Dennis.
The lack of investment in Mount Dennis is readily apparent. Many businesses near the former plant are struggling or have closed, as you can see when you drive south on Weston Road, a major street in Mount Dennis that has a number of boarded-up shops.
But a comprehensive new 223-page “Picture Mount Dennis Planning Framework” based on input from local residents, business owners, local non-profits and community groups, aims to change that narrative, as Mount Dennis is about to turn into one of the most transit-connected parts of the city.
Overall, the framework document calls for more development and density for the Mount Dennis community. Residents and businesses in the area say they’re open to that and hope to parlay it into local investment and community benefits that other parts of Toronto enjoy.
Developers have applied to build an 8-storey affordable-housing building at 1552 Weston Road.
There aren’t many details available, but the city approved Mahogany Management to build 48 affordable homes there as part of its Open Doors program. Mahogany Management has built six other affordable developments.
On February 10, the Etobicoke-York Committee of Adjustment will discuss a proposed self-storage facility and fast-food restaurant at 1480 Jane St—the now-empty lot that used to have a fish wholesaler and a pallet recycler.
From Google Maps
Presently, there’s nothing on the site.
The plans include a 6-storey storage building and a 2-storey drive-through. They require a planning amendment because they are too dense, are too close to two property lines, and have too much hard-surface area and too little parking.
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