Residential Intensification Along The Queensway

The stretch of The Queensway from Royal York Road to west of Kipling Avenue in Toronto’s west end is in the process of a major transformation that will see thousands of new condominium units brought to the area, making it one of Toronto’s most active development nodes.

Among the new developments are two of Greybrook’s residential projects that are expected to deliver over 1,500 condo units to the growing neighbourhood.

Given its proximity to downtown Toronto, the relative cost of housing, local amenities, and easy access to major highways, The Queensway neighbourhood has and will continue to attract new residents as more developments come online.

Over the coming years, the approximately 2-kilometre stretch of The Queensway surrounding Greybrook’s two project sites will see significant residential intensification, as well as new restaurants and retail shops that will be added to the neighbourhood. Projects that have either recently been approved, are nearing approval, or are in the early stages of construction are expected to bring over 4,500 residential units to this strip along The Queensway. ^(1)(2)(3)

A short drive along The Queensway shows evidence of the change that is well underway in the area. Industrial warehouses and older parking lots are being replaced by new condominium developments in varying stages of development, including Riocan’s mixed-use redevelopment in front of the Cineplex movie theatre near Islington Avenue, and Kingsett’s high-rise development at the corner of Kipling Avenue, north of Greybrook and Tribute’s 1325 The Queensway project. 

From a city planning standpoint, The Queensway in Toronto is a planned growth area with lands that were formerly industrial and commercial sites redeveloped to accommodate new residential and mixed-use developments to intensify the area and create new communities with access to all the amenities in the area, highways, transportation, parks, and green space.

A Growing Population in a Vibrant Community

From 2016 to 2021, the broader Etobicoke-Lakeshore area experienced substantial population growth increasing 9.8% from 129,081 to 141,751 over the five-year period ⁽⁴⁾. As more residential and commercial properties are built in the area, it is expected that the growth will continue for years to come. As the neighbourhood continues to evolve, it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for young professionals, families, and anyone looking for a vibrant and well-connected dynamic community. The increased population has also contributed to the neighbourhood’s diverseness, with residents from various cultural backgrounds and age groups choosing The Queensway neighbourhood as their home.

Access to Amenities, Parks, and Toronto’s Waterfront

The area is becoming a hub of activity with a variety of businesses and amenities, including restaurants, cafes, retail shops, professional services, and a Cineplex movie theatre. A variety of retail options are conveniently located only a short drive west, including CF Sherway Gardens, a leading retail destination with over 200 stores and restaurants located at The Queensway and Highway 427, and several big box retail outlets. The neighbourhood is also served by a Costco and IKEA furniture store.

In addition to these amenities, residents and visitors to the area can easily access Toronto’s waterfront, and several parks and green spaces, including some of Toronto’s most popular parks: the Humber Bay Park, a large park located along Toronto’s waterfront, Colonel Samuel Smith Park, and Marie Curtis Park, all offering stunning views of Toronto. High Park, one of Toronto’s most notable natural spaces, is also just an 8-minute drive from our project sites.

A Well-Connected Neighbourhood

The neighbourhood is served by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), which operates several bus and streetcar routes in the area. Streetcars run along Lake Shore Boulevard just south of The Queensway offering frequent service to downtown Toronto and other parts of the city. The area is also served by several bus routes that connect to the Islington subway station and Mimico GO train offering residents and visitors a number of transit options.

In addition to public transit, The Queensway is well-connected to major highways, including the Gardiner Expressway and Highway 427, making it easy to access other parts of the Greater Toronto Area by car.

Greybrook Investing in The Queensway Area

With the GTA’s population projected to grow to almost 10 million by 2046,⁽⁵⁾ there is a pressing need to increase the housing supply to accommodate this growth. The residential intensification along The Queensway will help meet this need while revitalizing underutilized areas into vibrant, walkable communities.

Greybrook made its first investment in the growing community in 2017 and expects to close on its most recent project on The Queensway this spring. Our two active condominium developments are expected to deliver over 1,500 units to the area. The first is an approved 12-storey mid-rise condominium at 1045-1049 The Queensway between Islington Avenue and Kipling Avenue that is being developed in partnership with Marlin Spring and currently preparing for sales launch. The second project is a high-rise condominium at 1325 The Queensway, on the southwest corner of Kipling Street and The Queensway. The site is being developed in partnership with Tribute Communities and is currently in the zoning approval process. The development will include a two-tower condominium over a shared podium that will stand 44 and 37-storeys tall, bringing over 1,100 residential units to the area.

Our latest investment in the area that will close this spring is located west of our 1045-1049 The Queensway project, with plans to develop the site into a 29 and 34-storey tower with developer partner Marlin Spring. The site is situated behind a property being developed by Sobeys into a new Sobey’s grocery anchored retail plaza.

To learn more about our investments along The Queensway, please contact us at info@greybrook.com

^{(1) Urbantoronto.ca-Condo Proposals on the Queensway Trimmed Through Settlements
(2)Unit counts from urbanation.ca and urbantoronto.ca
(3) Not an exhaustive list. Does not include projects that are in later stages of construction.
(4) Etobicoke – Lakeshore Ontario – Population, 2021
(5) Ontario Population Projections, 2021}