A tower in Wellington Place might grow taller — here’s how you can weigh in
THE GREEN LINE
DOCUMENTERS NOTES
A tower in Wellington Place might grow taller — here’s how you can weigh in
City staff held a community consultation on March 13 to share an update on the mixed-use tower development on Spadina Avenue and Adelaide Street. Locals in attendance expressed concerns over its impact on traffic, parking and the neighbouring community.
The intersection of Spadina Avenue and Adelaide Street West where the proposed mixed-used development is set to take place.
: Google Maps Street View.
Karen Chan
A Chinatown-based artist, graduate of University of British Columbia and a bunny mom. She is interested in storytelling to build community.
March 19, 2025
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City staff held a community consultation in Wellington Place on March 13 to update residents on a planned development in the neighbourhood.
The site on 101-105 Spadina Ave. and 363 Adelaide St. W. currently houses a recording studio and several shops that are permanently closed. In May 2023, the city approved the construction of a 39-storey mixed-use building by the developer Devron.
In January 2025, Devron submitted a proposal to increase the height to 50 storeys, adding 77 residential units for a total of 452 units, and decreasing the size of retail units from 185 sq. metres to 66 sq. metres.
Shaylyn Costello, community planner with the City of Toronto, moderated the community consultation which was attended by city staff and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik. Costello said the city plans to take issues and questions voiced in the meeting back to the developer.
Costello said the property is in a designated regeneration area, which means it is a “vacant land and/or buildings…in need of revitalization as a means of fostering growth and physical change. [The goal is] to fill the buildings and bring new life to the streets.” The area is also designated as a priority retail street.
Peter Pantalone, professional planner and member of the Preservation Board, and David Gafni, senior development manager at Devron, spoke about the development's features.
- The site will be close to a future subway stop of the Ontario Line at Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue.
- The units will be supportive of more housing for families and larger households, with a 1000 sq. metres park immediately east of the site. There are also 70 proposed underground parking spaces.
- The architecture will pay homage to the historic Garment District.
- Pantalone also stated that as part of the development, some funding will go towards community initiatives.
Several community members had questions and concerns about the proposal.
- A community member in attendance shared that they are disappointed in the proposal. They asked whether the developers have taken issues like homelessness — citing the encampment in Clarence Square Park nearby — into account. They said that they were upset by “the city shirking responsibility” and saying “our hands are tied by provincial funding.” They stated that Toronto isn’t doing enough to keep residents in the city and “really needs to make a statement to address the needs of children [and] seniors.” They also voiced the need for the area to have a community centre.
- Another community member, who lives nearby on Oxley Street, expressed concern about the increase in traffic in the area.
Costello responded by saying the development is in its early stages and there will be more opportunities for community consultation to build a “safe and desirable” site. Pantalone stated that the developer will pay the city for local community projects. Coun. Malik also stated that the city is anticipating a new YMCA on 505 Richmond St.
What’s next for this project?
Costello said that more community consultations will be held after questions from this meeting are brought to the developer. She encouraged attendees to contact her if they have more questions or opinions at Shaylyn.costello@toronto.ca or by calling her at 416-392-6061.
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