Enormous towers could replace Toronto lot that has sat abandoned for years

A vacant Toronto lot that has sat abandoned and overgrown for almost a decade could soon be redeveloped with a pair of huge towers.

The abandoned tract of land at the southeast corner of Front and Parliament streets has sat vacant for years, but could soon get a jolt of life if a new plan from BRL Realty and Diamond Schmitt Architects gets the green light from City planners.

The site at 281 Front St. E. was formerly home to a Toronto Public Library Administration/Services Centre and local branch, cleared in 2016-2017 to make way for a future data centre.

However, plans for this data centre fell through after years of inaction, and a new pre-application plan surfaced in 2025 that aimed to bring a pair of 44- and 46-storey residential towers to the vacant plot.

Despite a faltering real estate market, the developer officially plans for the project in May, asking for a sizeable increase over what was envisioned last fall.

Now, the proposal before the City calls for a much larger pair of towers, which would rise to heights of 50 and 54 storeys, with respective heights of 163.5 and 175.5 metres.

While the height ask is a significant leap over the heights of buildings in the immediate surrounding area, the Ontario Line's Corktown Station, under construction just across the street from the proposal site, sets the stage for increased density in the area. The station itself has large transit-oriented communities envisioned above its underground structures, creating a precedent for added heights in this pocket of town.

If approved, the pair of towers at 281 Front St. W. would introduce over 1,000 residential units to the Front and Parliament intersection. Planning documents state that the tenure of the units is "to be determined," with market conditions determining whether these towers proceed as condos or rentals.

The project would introduce some generous public realm contributions at street level, most notably an almost 500-square-metre privately-owned public space and additional ground-level enhancements wrapping around the building's frontages.
 
Widened sidewalks with street trees would work in conjunction with this open space to frame a pair of ground-floor retail spaces measuring 665 square metres, helping to reanimate a corner that has sat dead since the 2010s.

The existing laneway to the south of the lot would be enhanced into a woonerf design that maintains vehicle access but prioritizes pedestrian and cyclist use.

Despite the adjacent subway station set to open in the 2030s, the proposal still seeks approval to construct a 280-space parking garage. However, much of the local transportation load would be absorbed by a planned 1,119 bicycle parking spaces within the development and Corktown Station just across the street.