Keeping you up-to-date with the current and emerging trends in development across Toronto, we are back with another instalment of the UTPro Instant Report. This week’s report drops into a busy area of Etobicoke, as we make our way around the GTA taking a look at development nodes.

The UTPro Instant Report service allows anyone to dive into any Ward, MLS Zone, or choose custom areas around any address. In the spotlight today is MLS Zone W07, Stonegate-Queensway, a large section of South Etobicoke bordered by Bloor Street West to the north, the Gardiner Expressway to the south, Islington Avenue to the west, and the Humber River to the east. 

Map view shows 17 project pins within MLS Zone W07 (blue), graphic from UTPro Instant Report

Our MLS Zone Report identified a total of 17 current or recent projects within W07, predominantly mid-rises, including three recently completed projects (light blue pins above), four projects currently under construction (magenta pins above), and 10 that are now working their way through the planning and sales process (black pins above). 

Quick analysis of the mapping results suggests that The Queensway, where redevelopment has brought some intensification over the last few years, is about to become a hotbed of activity, while a recent Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) designation at Bloor Street West and Royal York Road is about to bring another part of W07 increasing density in the near future. 

Zooming in on some of the projects found within W07, Queensway Park is the most recent project to be completed in the zone, offering some general insights on the qualities of the built form, and how development is being activated in the current moment. Standing at eight storeys, the mid-rise project delivers an efficient 167 housing units plus grade level retail to a well positioned site, with extensive frontage along The Queensway. 

Looking north at the now completed Queensway Park mid-rise development, image by UT Forum contributor AlbertC

The zone is also home to more diverse typologies however, as we are seeing with the Backyard Neighbourhood Condos project, a multi-phased development currently in the process of constructing its fourth and final building. Occupying a unique site between the high streets of Bloor and The Queensway, the project’s tallest building climbs 10-storeys, while the full set offers a total of 505 dwelling units plus a commercial building that shares space with a community health centre. This project is striving to create an intimate community setting, unlike larger master-planned projects that foster a dense mixed-use urban atmosphere. 

Construction of fourth building underway at Backyard Neighbourhood Condos, image by Craig White

Finally, among the list of projects in the pre-construction stage, United Kingsway Condos demonstrates that development is coming soon along Bloor within walking distance of Royal York subway station. At 7 storeys, and terraced down on the south side to blend with the adjacent low-rise neighbourhood, the project follows Toronto's angular plane planning principles, and manages to bring 210 units within its reserved massing. 

Proposed design for United Kingsway mid-rise development on Bloor Street West, image from submission to City of Toronto

Using the more detailed data from our MLS Zone Report, the common thread that we can see among these 17 projects in W07 is a focus on residential intensification. 14 of the projects in the zone are listed as offering residential uses. Looking at the gross floor area (GFA) breakdown graphic below, it shows that residential programming makes up for a share of almost 93% of all floorspace in the zone. 

GFA breakdown of floorspace programming in MLS Zone W07, graphic from UTPro Instant Report

Interestingly, despite the fact that only 7% of the zone's total GFA is programmed for commercial uses, our report confirms that 12 of the residential projects also include retail programming. Even if it's simply a small retail unit at grade, this inclusion bodes well for an area that features two significant retail-oriented streets that are central to the character of the community. Looking ahead, W07’s slate of proposed developments will continue to build on the work already being done to deliver density while striving to preserve the area’s defining qualities. 

To access the full data set from this or any UTPro Instant Report, with more stats as well as the full project list, you can purchase a report here! Stay tuned for next week’s instalment to learn more about why the UrbanToronto's Instant Report is one of the most valuable tools for staying informed on development in the GTA.

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As UrbanToronto continues to refine its role in the GTA development industry, our data services have evolved to become one of our defining elements and we want to share those capabilities with our community. The UrbanToronto Pro Instant Reports is just one of the ways our data can be applied to provide quick and convenient insights on the development trends of any area in the GTA. Using this advanced data resource, we are launching a new weekly series to highlight what the UT Pro Instant Reports provide and investigate the latest development trends by ward, by address, or by MLS zone.