Height, Density Increased in Scarborough Junction Masterplan
The land west of Scarborough GO station is poised to be massively transformed through changes to the Scarborough Junction Masterplan, a project that has undergone extensive revision to plans introduced three and a half years ago by Republic Developments in partnership with Harlo Capital. Recently, the vision took a significant step forward through a without-prejudice settlement offer to the City of Toronto, marking another step in the project's journey towards realization. The plans represent an ambitious redevelopment and a reimagining of an industrial site on the east side of the city.
The site is an assembly of parcels: 411 through 415 Kennedy Road, 641 through 663 Danforth Road, and 3585 through 3595 St Clair Ave East, all situated south of St Clair Avenue East and on the east side of Danforth Road. Another parcel, is situated at 636 Danforth Road on its west side.
Original Scarborough Junction site (since slightly expanded), Republic Developments and Harlo Capital
In all, the lands encompass a diverse mix of warehouses, commercial buildings, parking lots, and the MLS Arena. Occupying a substantial 10.62 ha, the site's adjacency to the major transit hub ofe Scarborough GO station makes it a candidate for improved regional connectivity and urban renewal. Past industrial use on some of the land has left its mark, with contamination issues necessitating comprehensive remediation to pave the way to create a healthy neighbourhood.
The journey to the current proposal began in October, 2020, when Republic Developments and Harlo Capital filed for Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Draft Plan of Subdivision applications. Feedback from Toronto Planning and locals identified the need for refinement and closer alignment with community and City objectives, and this led to a resubmission in June, 2022. This resubmission expanded the vision to include the property at the southeast corner of St Clair Avenue East and Danforth Road, further integrating the development into the framework of the community. The applications were appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, so while the City and developers have continued to talk and have reached a settlement proposal, the OLT now has final approval.
The settlement proposal, set out in revised plans from January, 2024, presents a master-planned community of unprecedented scale for this area of Scarborough. Designed by Giannone Petricone Associates, it has 10 development blocks comprising 14 buildings ranging from 19 to 58 storeys, or from 68.75m to 188.3m in height.
The resubmission's increases to both height and density bring the total number of residential units to 7,655, a notable jump from the 6,619 units and maximum height of 48 storeys initially proposed in 2020. The plans include a variety of tenures and topologies for the site, including townhomes, market-rate rentals, condominiums, retail, and a community centre. The Gross Floor Area (GFA) now stands at a substantial 525,930m², with a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 4.95.
Central to the proposal are public amenities and green spaces. The introduction of a central park (Block J) of approximately 13,420m² in area satisfies parkland dedication requirements. This park, along with 15,310m² of both indoor and outdoor amenity areas, is intended by the development team as a holistic approach to community building. The plan also includes a new entrance to the Scarborough GO station, enhancing the site's integration with regional transit.
Parking has been considered, with 2,232 resident and 992 visitor parking spots planned, while bicycle infrastructure would provide 6,850 resident and 873 visitor bicycle parking spots.
Nearby are other development proposals, including the adjacent 375 Kennedy Road masterplan proposal to the south which calls for seven buildings ranging from 8 to 48 storeys, while an array of planned mid-rise buildings further southeast and west of the site is reflective of the momentum towards densification across Toronto. More of the nearby sites include The Cliffton and Cliffside Condos at eight and 10 storeys respectively along Kingston Road, as well as 468 Danforth Road at 12 storeys and 3431 St Clair Avenue East at 13 storeys further west by Birchmount Road.
Scarborough Junction's adjacency to the Scarborough GO station is poised to further benefit from the GO Regional Express Rail (RER) Expansion now underway. In addition to greater sustainability with the electrification of transit, there will be two-way, all-day service every 15 minutes for the Lakeshore East and Stouffville lines. TTC buses run along the arterial roads next to the site, while Danforth Line 2 and the soon to open Eglinton Line 5 Crosstown LRT are short bus rides away.