Project

Reimagine Galleria:
Overall Vision

Reimagine Galleria will comprehensively transform the current site into a mixed use, high density community with high walkability, robust retail and public spaces. Taking community feedback into consideration, our design has evolved accordingly.

The Revised Proposal is structured around:
five key STRUCTURING moves
01Establish a new diagonal street from Dufferin to Dupont to connect key desire lines.
02Dedicate the lands south of the new diagonal street for public use.
03Introduce an internal network of public and private streets to sustain routes and various modes of transportation.
04Create Points Plaza, a central gathering space at the heart of the Reimagine Galleria site.
05Create a diverse mix of uses including residential, retail, office, civic and recreational.
The Numbers

The new Master Plan will provide:

2,846Residential Units
2,696Condominium Units
150Affordable Units
296,040 SFRetail Space
21,108 SFOffice Space GFA
75,000 SFCommunity Centre
3,595 SPACESCycling infrastructure
7.81 ACRESNewly expanded size Wallace Emerson Park

Current Reimagine Galleria Site

REIMAGINE GALLERIA
ASPIRES TO:

Solidify the site's role as a community hub
Amenities will be designed to make the site an important central gathering space.
Create a space with a variety of mixed uses
The community will include a dynamic mix of uses for people to live, work, shop, and play.
Deliver housing options
A broad range of housing options from rental to ownership will be available.
Focus on prioritizing active transportation
Generous sidewalks and landscape treatments plus active retail frontage and fine-grained street patterns will enable enhanced pedestrian and cyclist mobility, in and around the site.
Enhance local and regional transit
An additional bus bay along Dufferin, plus internal streets designed to accommodate bus movements will improve and extend transit connectivity.
Reflect the site’s industrial legacy
Retention of existing retail and introduction of new community-based maker spaces reflect Dupont’s industrial legacy and its role as amenity hub and emerging artist community.
Promote design excellence
Develop a holistic design framework, leveraging public space south of the new diagonal street, and new mixed use area to the north. The framework will enable excellence in design of the park, community centre, public realm and mixed use buildings.

Evolution of the
reimagine galleria site

The Galleria Shopping Centre site has a rich and varied history. After it was converted from a car manufacturing factory to a suburban shopping centre in 1972, several plans have been considered to relook at its use. The Revised Proposal represents an opportunity to comprehensively consider the next stage of the site’s evolution.

EARLY 1900s

AIRCRAFT FACTORY

The Galleria Shopping Centre was first owned by Curtiss Canada Aircraft Operations, and used as a factory for WWI airplanes.

1919-1925

columbia gramophone co.

After WWI, the site was sold to the Columbia Gramophone Company.

1925-1972

Automobile factory

Dupont Street was created in 1924, just before the site was redeveloped as an automobile factory – first by Dodge Brother’ in 1925, later by Chrysler in 1928.

1972

Galleria shopping centre

As one of Toronto’s first enclosed malls, the Galleria Shopping Centre had a large draw as a neighbourhood shopping plaza.

1982

City Envisions Housing on Shopping Plaza

The Galleria Shopping Centre was identified as an ideal location for mixed-use development, though the housing concept was never realized.

2004

Entitlement plan

Former landowners of the Galleria Shopping Centre site obtained approvals for 20 stacked townhouses and 1600 residential units in six towers. This plan was never realized, and would have reduced retail space to roughly 15% of what it is today.

2015

Reimagine galleria

The developers purchased the aging shopping centre site in 2015 and have been working with the community, City staff and local councillors to develop a comprehensive framework for the site.

2016-2018

Development approvals

In September 2016, the developers submitted an initial Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and rezoning application to implement a vision for mixed use development, complemented by an exceptional public realm, robust retail and a walkable, family-friendly environment. In response to feedback, a revised proposal was submitted October, 2017 with the goal of completing official plan and zoning amendments in 2018.

A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROCESS

Over the course of the past few years, through a series of nearly 40 working sessions, meetings, public open houses and review panels, community feedback was considered and reworked to create the Revised Proposal.

Year
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • January 22
    First Reimagine Galleria Working Group Meeting
  • January 23
    First Reimagine Galleria Public Open House
  • March 15
    Meeting with Local Area Councillor
  • March 22
    Working session with City’s Planning and Urban Design staff
  • Sept 30
    Official Plan and Rezoning Application submitted
  • January 18
    Meeting with City Planner
  • March 23
    First City of Toronto Public Open House
  • September 28
    Meeting with City Legal staff
  • October 27
    Revised Official Plan and Rezoning Application submitted
  • January 22
    Reimagine Galleria Working Group Meeting #1: Project Introduction
  • January 23
    Reimagine Galleria Public Open House #1: Project Introduction
  • February 10
    Reimagine Galleria Working Group #2: Parks and Open Spaces
  • February 23
    Reimagine Galleria Working Group #3: Mobility
  • March 7
    Reimagine Galleria Working Group #4: Land Uses and Urban Design
  • March 15
    Meeting with Local Area Councillor
  • March 22
    Working Session with City’s Planning and Urban Design staff
  • April 4
    Reimagine Galleria Working Group #5: Vision and Planning Principles
  • April 21
    Reimagine Galleria Working Group #6: Presentation of Draft Master Plan
  • May 7
    Reimagine Galleria Public Open House #2: Presentation of Draft Master Plan
  • May 25
    Meeting with City’s Real Estate Division
  • July 5
    Presentation to City of Toronto’s Urban Design Review Panel
  • September 30
    Official Plan and Re-zoning Application Submitted
  • October 15
    Reimagine Galleria Open House #3: Presentation of Development Application
  • November
    First Official Plan Amendment and Re-zoning Comments Received by City Staff
  • December 12
    Meeting with Local Area Councillor
  • January 13
    Meeting with Local Area Councillor

REVISED PROPOSAL:
KEY CHANGES

In response to various comments received, eight key changes have been incorporated into the Revised Proposal.

Changes
  • 01
    Building heights, GFA and density have been reviewed.
  • 02
    Tall buildings have been redeployed to create a more sensitive transition to adjacent neighbourhoods.
  • 03
    Street and block pattern has been redesigned to create greater porosity through the site and prominence for the new community centre along Dupont Street.
  • 04
    Wallace Emerson Park has been reconfigured and Points Plaza, a publically accessible open space, has been enlarged.
  • 05
    The public realm has been enhanced and streetscapes refined with emphasis on creating a safe and pedestrian friendly network.
  • 06
    The mix of residential and non-residential types and tenures has been diversified.
  • 07
    The mobility network has been refined, including provision for transit bays within the site and along Dufferin Street.
  • 08
    A conceptual phasing strategy has been developed to achieve zero displacement of the community centre.

A REFINED MOBILITY NETWORK

Public Transit
  • The Reimagine Galleria site is located adjacent to area bus services and well within the area of existing and planned higher order transit services and stations. The Revised Proposal aims to facilitate transit travel by enhancing connections to and from existing and planned transit stops, and integrating transit services within the site itself.
  • TTC reviewed and provided comments on the Original 2016 Proposal, and has indicated that service along the Dufferin bus route can be increased and delays mitigated if a bus bay were incorporated along Dufferin between Dupont and the new diagonal street – this lay-by has been incorporated into the Revised Proposal.
  • TTC acknowledged the merit in allowing bus vehicles to loop through the Reimagine Galleria site along the proposed public street system. They also requested that an additional bus bay be provided along the new diagonal street – which has now been incorporated into the Revised Proposal.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

An expanded network of pedestrian and cycling connections in and around the site

  • PEDESTRIAN NETWORK
    The Revised Proposal will feature a mobility network that prioritizes pedestrian circulation and comfort above other transportation modes. All public sidewalks within and adjacent to the site will accommodate a minimum 2.1m pedestrian clearway, to create continuous, universally accessible, barrier-free and clearly designated pedestrian routes.
  • Cycling Connections
    The Revised Proposal supports cycling by providing convenient, safe and accessible cycling facilities on site, including ample bicycle parking designed in accordance with the City’s Guidelines for the Design and Management of Bicycle Parking Facilities, as well as showers, lockers and other amenities in accordance with the Tier 1 requirements of the Toronto Green Standards Checklist. Further, the incorporation of a cycling loop will be explored in the redesign for Wallace Emerson Park.

As requested by City staff, the new community centre has not been illustrated in the Revised Proposal. The design of the new community centre will undertake a separate process, and is not subject to this application. This rendering is subject to change.

STREET NETWORK

An internal network of public and private streets has been thoughtfully designed to sustain various modes of transportation and mobility.


  • CURRENT STREET NETWORK
    Currently, the lack of internal streets and pedestrian connections results in a lack of porosity, visibility, and access.

  • DIAGONAL LINE TO CONNECT DESIRE LINES
    The introduction of the diagonal street will serve the role of connecting key desire lines, while maximizing public frontage onto Wallace Emerson Park.

  • Fine-Grained Pattern of Streets
    A finer network of local public, private and shared streets further subdivides the site and improves connectivity. A new traffic signal is proposed to facilitate movement, in addition to a series of pedestrian crossings.

  • Discrete Treatment for Parking and Servicing
    Servicing and parking are accessible off a series of shared streets, internal to the development block, with access to these areas located off Dupont and Dufferin.

map of traffic lights, road types and access points

map of cycling routes & bicycle parking

RESIDENTIAL USES

The Revised Proposal will feature a mix of condominium and rental housing which will include 150 affordable rental units, comprised of 50% 1-bedrooms, 40% 2-bedrooms, and 10% 3-bedrooms. High quality public and private amenity spaces will be provided for all units.
NON-RESIDENTIAL BASE
Located on the first or second storeys of mixed-use buildings, establishing an organic pattern along streets for a varied urban experience.
Residential podiums
Complementary elements located above grade, in response to their location. Total height will be between 7 and 10 storeys along Dupont, and 2 and 8 storeys along Dufferin.
Terraced buildings
Mid-rise built-form elements will frame views onto parks and key open spaces, assists in achieving a transition between the base, podium and towers, and deliver large outdoor amenity spaces.
Tower elements
A number of taller tower elements, ranging in height from 18 to 35 storeys, will be incorporated behind base, podium and terraced elements to preserve a comfortable human scale at grade.
The renderings are artist’s impressions created in accordance with our Revised Proposal and are subject to change without notice.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is interwoven into two key facets of the Revised Proposal:

  • Efficient and Compact Built Form
    This begins with transforming the site into a mixed-use community, thoughtfully incorporating places for work, life, recreation and relaxation, all accessible by foot, bike, or public transit.
  • Enhanced Mobility Network
    Various mobility enhancements include refined pedestrian oriented streets, additional transit infrastructure, and enhancements to streetscapes, to reduce the auto-focused nature of the current development.



The renderings are artist’s impressions created in accordance with our Revised Proposal and are subject to change without notice.

CONCEPTUAL PHASING

  • Phase 1

    2019-2021
    This phase demolishes the western portion of the Galleria Shopping Centre, to facilitate construction of the new Wallace Emerson Community Centre.

    YIELDS
    571 residential units
    2,296 square metres non-residential GFA

    June 2020
    Mobilization for commencement of Phase 1 of watermain relocation works adjacent to 1245 Dupont St., scheduled to begin June 10th, 2020.

  • Phase 2

    2022-2025
    This phase involves demolishing the existing Wallace Emerson Community Centre, to facilitate the construction of Block 1.

    YIELDS
    535 residential units
    13,421 square metres non-residential GFA

  • Phase 3

    2026-2028
    This phase consists of the construction of Blocks 2 and 3, as well as several key privately owned, publicly accessible spaces, including Points Plaza, The Mews, and The Allée.

    YIELDS
    1,057 residential units
    8,271 square metres non-residential GFA

  • Phase 4

    2029-2030
    This phase is the final phase, and completes the construction of Block 4.

    YIELDS
    683 residential units (including 150 affordable units)
    4,833 square metres non-residential GFA

THE DEVELOPERS OF GALLERIA

Recipient of numerous design awards, and backed by international experience and expertise, ELAD CANADA presents Reimagine Galleria.

ELAD is a successful developer of master-planned communities in Canada, with a focus on Toronto and Montreal. Its success stems from innovative and meaningful investments in the communities it builds. Established in 1997, the company specializes in mid and high-rise condominium development and master-planned communities. ELAD may be best known for its visionary approach to the award-winning Emerald City master-planned community.