As we continue to see more intensification along our main streets, Toronto developers will push the limits on heights and density. With empty lots becoming endangered in the downtown core, developers are forced to go higher and higher, and that’s okay with us!

50 Bloor St. West by Morguard

One plan that has caught our eye due to its height and density is the one for 50 Bloor St. West. As we reported months ago, the Morguard Corporation is looking to make a big change on Bloor St. West. The plan calls for the redevelopment of the Holt Renfrew into an 83-storey condominium. The tower would rise from an eight-storey podium, which would house the development’s retail components. The proposed tower would be comprised of over 600 residential suites.

50 Bloor St. West and the Design Panel Review

Recently, Morguard took their plans to the Design Panel Review, where they received some feedback on the proposal. By a five to zero vote, the Design Panel Review voted that Morguard needed to refine certain aspects of the design. The feedback was positive, with the panel acknowledging that the building’s size and context works for the area.

Higher density will continue to be the focus in Toronto

It’s always interesting to observe the birth of high-rise proposals in Toronto. Developers like Morguard continue to push the limit for both height and density, while offering a pretty interesting tower at the same time. We understand that for a small portion of our audience, these heights may not be the best way to go about meeting housing demands, but Toronto is the biggest city in Canada, and to severely restrict the heights of towers would be damaging to the city’s growth.