St. Clair Place proposal trims a mid‑rise, raises the corner tower and keeps the park
Owners have filed revisions to the St. Clair Place master plan that shift density into a taller southeast tower, reduce a mid‑rise on Alvin Ave and preserve a new public park.
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By Torontoer Staff
Owners of multiple properties at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue East have filed an application to refine the St. Clair Place master plan. The revised submission shifts density within the site, raising the southeast corner tower while lowering a mid‑rise on Alvin Avenue, and retains the previously approved public park.
The revisions, filed by planning consultants for Wittington Properties and Choice Properties REIT, add Kohn Pedersen Fox as project architect and focus on building heights, setbacks, podium design and rooftop elements. The team says the overall gross floor area will not increase from the plan that city council approved in 2022.
Key changes at a glance
- Reallocate density from a mid‑rise on Alvin Avenue into the southeast tower at Yonge and St. Clair, increasing that tower from 144.0 m to 161.2 m, excluding mechanical and crowning elements.
- Reduce the Alvin Avenue mid‑rise from 53.5 m to 25.0 m.
- Shift Tower 2 northward and increase its setback from the south property line from 8.3 m to 29.5 m.
- Small podium adjustments, including a slightly reduced Yonge Street setback below Tower 1 to accommodate TTC infrastructure.
- Allow larger rooftop elements on Tower 1, including a 12 m mechanical penthouse and a 12 m architectural crown.
- Keep the previously approved public park and public‑realm upgrades, plus mid‑block pedestrian connections.
What the application says
In a September 2025 cover letter to the city’s Committee of Adjustment, the project team described the proposed adjustments as targeted refinements rather than a new proposal. "Revisions include the reallocation of density amongst the development site, location of tall building elements and the height of permitted building projections," the letter states, and it notes the revised master plan remains within the 2022 approval with no increase to overall gross floor area.
Under the 2022 approval the site was expected to accommodate three towers at the southeast, southwest and northwest corners, plus a mid‑rise along Alvin Avenue. The new submission keeps that general layout but shifts massing so the southeast tower at Yonge and St. Clair absorbs more height and floor area.
Design and streetscape implications
Raising the southeast tower will change the block’s silhouette, while reducing the Alvin Avenue building will lower height closer to the mid‑block edges. Moving Tower 2 north and increasing its southern setback creates a more staggered arrangement, opening additional space on the south side of the site.
Podium refinements are modest, but the reduced setback on Yonge Street under Tower 1 is intended to make room for TTC infrastructure below grade. The team also proposes a substantial mechanical penthouse and an architectural crown above Tower 1, which together would add visual height even though the application says they are separate from tower floor area.
Public realm, park and site context
The St. Clair Place plan approved in 2022 included new residential and commercial space, mid‑block pedestrian connections and public‑realm upgrades, plus a public park at the northwest corner. The revised submission keeps those elements in place and does not expand the project’s total density.
The properties involved cover several addresses, including 1481–1535 Yonge Street, 1–31 Heath Street East, 30–36 Alvin Avenue and 22 St. Clair Avenue East. Today the site contains a mix of low‑rise buildings and surface parking, and the new master plan is intended to transform the block to a higher‑density, mixed‑use neighbourhood hub.
Transit access and neighbourhood impact
The site is transit‑oriented, about a five‑minute walk from St. Clair subway station on Line 1 and served by the 512 St. Clair streetcar. The application notes the need to coordinate with TTC infrastructure under Yonge Street, which informs some podium and setback changes.
City reviewers will assess typical impacts, including shadowing, wind, views and transportation effects, as part of the approval process. The submission adds Kohn Pedersen Fox to the design team, which signals the project will be revisited at an architectural level as the application moves through review.
Next steps
The Committee of Adjustment will consider the application at a future meeting. The development still requires technical reviews and municipal approvals to implement the refinements. We will track the file and report further updates as the city evaluates the changes.
For local residents the proposal represents a rebalancing of height and mass at a key intersection, with the park and public‑realm elements retained from the original approval. The full planning process will determine whether the refinements proceed as proposed.
St. ClairYonge StreetdevelopmentKPFChoice Properties
