11 houses across from Toronto park could be torn down for pair of large towers

A substantial development proposed for a pocket of low-rise housing across the street from Toronto's High Park could see 11 houses torn down to make way for a pair of towers with unique, curving exteriors.

Developer Elysium has assembled the group of houses fronting Oakmount Rd. and Mountview Ave., just north of Bloor St. W. and northwest of the TTC's High Park subway station.

Elysium hopes to gain approval to rezone and raze the site with a plan to construct a large-scale rental development with towers rising 41 and 39 storeys in place of the current homes.

The plan features a striking design from Teeple Architects that would strongly contrast the expanse of beige-brown 20th-century apartment towers that dominate the local skyline, boasting curved facades clad in a distinctive patterned treatment.

With heights as tall as almost 145 metres, the towers would be significantly taller than existing apartment towers in the neighbourhood. However, unlike the condo towers that tend to rile up residents of communities with a predominantly rental makeup, Elysium's proposal calls for entirely rental uses.

The towers would combine for 873 rental apartments in a mix of unit types ranging from studios to three-bedroom suites.

Existing area residents fearing an influx of vehicle traffic adding to their already gridlocked commutes can rest easy, as a very minimal parking component of just 78 spaces is proposed within an underground parking garage. 

The majority of residents in this proposed complex would be expected to make use of 537 included bicycle parking spaces along with easy access to the nearby Line 2 TTC subway station.

The application to redevelop the group of houses was submitted to city planners in mid-September, and additional details about the plan — as well as any potential backlash from area residents — will emerge in the coming months as the plan enters its community consultation stage.