The days seem numbered for the vacant lots framing the terminus of East Liberty Street, just West of Strachan Avenue. At the eastern gateway into Liberty Village, rezoning is already approved for CanAlfa Group's Block 4 at 19 Western Battery Road, and Block 10, addressed as 39 East Liberty, with minor variance and Site Plan Approvals (SPA) now under consideration. Designed by IBI Group, the two residential towers are planned at heights of 28 and 25 storeys, adding a total of 921 units to Liberty Village.

Aerial view of the sites, image via City of Toronto

Beginning with the north lot at 19 Western Battery Road, the massing follows the shape and size of the rectangular lot, with a 4-storey podium before rising to a height of 93 metres (305 ft). When construction begins, workers will have to dig 7 levels underground for the below-grade garage, providing 244 vehicular and 541 bicycle parking spaces.

Up at ground level, additional bicycle parking is provided near the centre of the floorplate. The garbage room and loading dock are situated to the north end, while indoor amenity space is provided just south of the lobby. Additional indoor amenity space can be found on the second and fifth levels, accounting for a total of 10,355 ft². The majority of the outdoor amenity space is also located on the fifth level (with some on the second), also reaching 10,355 ft² in size.

Rendering of 19 Western Battery Road, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Among the 481 condominium suites, no bachelor or three-bedroom units are proposed. Instead, the project is composed of 300 one-bedroom units (ranging from 474 ft² to 592 ft²), and 181 two-bedroom units (635 ft² to 850 ft²), with both unit types meeting the minimum 30% of affordable housing sizes. 

Now heading to the south lot at 39 East Liberty, the 25-storey tower is a twin to its 28-storey neighbour. As in the building to the north, a 4-storey podium rises to a height of 84 metres (276 ft), with residential level above. While the architectural style remains nearly identical, this building is planned as a purpose-built rental. 440 units will be split to 44 studio units (409 ft² to 441 ft²), 282 one-bedroom units (506 ft² to 635 ft²), and 114 two-bedroom units (754 ft² to 818 ft²). Like the north tower, the building will meet the minimum 30% affordable housing sizes.

Rendering of 39 East Liberty, image via submission to the City of Toronto

Cascading down, a total of 9,472 ft² of indoor amenity space will be situated on the second and fifth levels, while the same amount of outdoor amenity space will be provided on the podium's roof and second floor. The ground floor is comprised of the lobby, rental office, garbage and loading docks at the southern end. The entrance to the parking garage is also located at the southwestern edge of the site, and goes four levels underground, providing 262 vehicular and 485 bicycle parking spaces.

We will keep you posted as this project moves along. In the meantime, additional information and renderings can be found in the project's associated Database, linked below. Want to share your thoughts on the new design? Feel free to write a comment using the space provided below, or join in the ongoing discussion in the associated Forum thread.