5.9K 
Greater Toronto Area developers’ ambitions for greater heights and density are definitely not confined to Downtown Toronto, as seen in this ambitious proposal from VanDusen Realty Holdings Corp in Ajax. Designed by Icon Architects, 425 Bayly Street West calls for a complex of six towers ranging from 50 to 60 storeys each. The site is within the Protected Major Transit Station Area of Ajax GO station, which is about a 17-minute walk to the north.
Currently occupied by an automobile dealership, the 6.22-acre site is positioned at the southeast corner of Bayly Street West and Westney Road South. The surrounding area is a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, with a CN rail spur line to the east of the site.
The developer’s Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications propose six high-rise towers ranging in height from 160.16m to 193.24m. The proposal would house 3,727 residential units alongside 1,407m² of retail space at grade, and 2,139m² of office space in a five floor block in the northeast corner of the site.
The design’s Gross Floor Area totals 270,889m², with a floor space index of 11.17. Construction is planned in two phases, where the initial phase would focus on the northwest portion of the site, with the tallest 60 and 58-storey towers on an 8-storey podium. The subsequent phase would see the construction of the remaining four buildings, each pair rising from their respective 8-storey podiums.
The development is set to include 6,824m² of indoor amenity space and 5,590m² of outdoor space. A central linear parkette, surrounded by the podiums, would feature curved walkways and a modern hardscape surrounded by greenery.
Each tower would be equipped with four elevators. This translates to approximately one elevator per 155 units across the development, indicating far longer than preferable wait times for residents, more so in the taller towers.
Four levels of underground parking for the first phase and eight levels of above ground parking in the second phase (mostly in a podium built alongside the rail spur) would provide 2,378 spaces designated for resident use plus an additional 746 spaces for non-residents. The plan accommodates 1,942 bicycle parking spaces, split between 1,742 long-term and 201 short-term spots.
The location is serviced by bus routes along Westney Road South and Bayly Street West, facilitating travel across Durham Region, and via Ajax GO to the Greater Toronto Area, which is a 7-minute bus ride away.
The development is positioned in an evolving area given its proximity to the station. To the east, 73 Hunt Street is proposed at 8 storeys, while 72 & 80 Bayly Street West calls for 18 and 23 storeys. Vision at Pat Bayly Square Phase 2 is currently under construction, featuring 19 and 23-storey rental towers, while The Monarch Hills proposes five 25-storey towers. Southeast, 33 Falby Court is proposed at 15 storeys. To the north, closer to the GO station, three 27-storey towers are proposed at 275 Westney Road South and two towering 60-storey structures at 190 Westney Road South.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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| Related Companies: | Crozier Consulting Engineers, Icon Architects |
