Originally built in the early 1970s, the Finch & Sentinel site followed a Tower-in-the-Park model where a 4-tower rental community spread amongst thousands of trees. KIRKOR’s initial intensification proposal sought to preserve as much green space as possible by adding the four new buildings over the existing parking areas.
In contrast, City of Toronto urban planners referred to intensification precedents from the downtown core, and expected a new public street through the middle of the site. Although intended to create a tighter, more urban setting, the addition of the new street would remove much of the natural forest heritage.
Recognizing that the City did not have the appropriate framework for analyzing the context of suburban sites, we sought to defend our proposal through an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing. KIRKOR, alongside client, Ranee Management, the City of Toronto, and the TRCA came to an agreement that a central park would replace the expected road.
As a result, KIRKOR achieved our client’s expected density by adding 1,740 units, and through applying urban design strategies that were sensitive to existing communities and the environment.
