EY Parthenon is marketing prime transit-oriented development opportunities above Toronto’s future Metrolinx Ontario Line Queen-Spadina subway station.

"The open market offering process marks a pivotal step toward transforming Queen-Spadina into a vibrant transit-oriented community,” Infrastructure Ontario interim president and chief executive officer Angela Clayton said in a media release.

One future building will rise from the north site at 378 Queen St. W. and 165-177 Spadina Ave., while another will be erected across the street at 443, 449, 451, 453 and 455 Queen St. W. 

The proposed 14- and 15-storey mixed-use residential buildings, which will connect to the subway station and have a Toronto Transit Commission streetcar stop at their doorsteps, are expected to result in about 214 new housing units and 60 new jobs.

A spokesperson for EY PArthenon said the firm is not able to comment on the process.

Potential development partners have until July 22 to submit an expression of interest for the development.

Public-private partnership

“Our government is protecting Ontario by creating more housing and jobs closer to transit stations,” Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma said in the release. “We’re partnering with the private sector to build two mixed-use residential buildings at one of Toronto’s most iconic intersections while preserving the area’s heritage landscape and vibrant history.”

The two sites have approved development concept plans for a combined 178,000 square feet of gross floor area.

The design will incorporate the architectural features of the existing building at the north site with the new transit hub, housing, office and retail space. There are to be more than 215 bicycle parking spaces as well as access to a wide range of restaurants, bars, stores, music and professional sports venues, Kensington Market and Chinatown.

"The Ontario Line isn’t just about shortening people’s commute times — it’s about building complete communities,” Metrolinx interim president and CEO Michael Lindsay said in the release.

“This planned development at a bustling downtown intersection will put more housing, jobs and retail space within easy reach of fast, reliable transit. A new subway station at Queen and Spadina will also make it easier for people across the city to access more than 42,000 jobs in the area.”

Development along new public transit lines

Once complete, the 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line is expected to accommodate nearly 400,000 trips each day.

The Ontario government is planning transit-oriented communities at 12 future subway stations along the Ontario Line, Yonge North subway extension and Scarborough subway extension. 

They’re anticipated to help increase transit ridership, reduce traffic gridlock and spur economic growth while creating space for 56,000 new residential units, including affordable housing. The design concepts also call for office and retail space to support approximately 75,000 new jobs.