A New Tall-Building Proposal Beside Benner Park
Glencairn is growing up.
An Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application has been submitted for 15–19 Romar Crescent, 18–22 Benner Avenue, and 8 Stayner Avenue — proposing two residential towers rising 40 and 38 storeys above a shared five-storey podium.
The site sits immediately west of Benner Park and just a short walk from Glencairn Station. For anyone watching this pocket of the city over the past few years, this proposal won’t feel entirely surprising. The Allen corridor and Marlee Avenue area have steadily entered a new phase of intensification — and this is one of the more ambitious submissions to date.
Transit nearby. Park frontage. Underutilized land. According to the city’s growth framework, this is exactly where density is supposed to go.
Key Numbers at a Glance
- 40 & 38 storeys
- 5-storey shared podium
- 966 dwelling units
- 229 vehicle parking spaces
- 655 bicycle parking spaces
- 57,447 sq. m. total gross floor area
- Floor Space Index (FSI): 13.63
- Directly adjacent to Benner Park
- Walking distance to Glencairn Station
What’s Being Proposed?
Height and Massing
The application proposes two towers rising from a shared mid-rise podium. The podium establishes a five-storey streetwall condition along Benner Avenue and Romar Crescent, with the towers stepping up above.
Architectural elevations show a clear distinction between the two buildings: the taller 40-storey tower oriented toward Benner Avenue and the park, and the 38-storey tower addressing Romar Crescent. The base includes arched architectural detailing at grade, giving the podium a more structured and deliberate street presence.
From an urban design standpoint, this is a full transition into tall-building territory for this immediate block.
Unit Count & Density
With 966 proposed residential units and a total gross floor area of 57,447 square metres, the development reaches a proposed FSI of 13.63.
That’s significant density — particularly in an area that, not long ago, was characterized by lower-rise apartment buildings and detached homes.
What does this mean in practical terms? Nearly a thousand new households within steps of rapid transit and parkland. It’s a clear signal that the Glencairn node is being positioned for substantial long-term growth.
Parking & Transit
The proposal includes 229 vehicle parking spaces and 655 bicycle parking spaces.
The parking ratio works out to roughly 0.24 spaces per unit — a strong indicator that this is being designed as a transit-oriented development. Given proximity to the TTC subway and quick access to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the reduced reliance on vehicle parking aligns with the City of Toronto’s broader transit-supportive planning policies. In short, this is density built around infrastructure that already exists.
How This Fits Into the Glencairn Growth Story
If you’ve been following development applications around Glencairn Station, you’ll know this isn’t happening in isolation.
Multiple mid- and high-rise proposals have surfaced along Marlee Avenue, Viewmount Avenue, and the surrounding side streets in recent years. What was once considered a quiet residential pocket north of Eglinton is evolving into a recognizable intensification node.
The logic is straightforward:
- Direct subway access via Glencairn Station
- Immediate connection to Allen Road
- Quick reach to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT corridor
- Established community amenities and green space
When transit and underutilized land meet, density typically follows.
This proposal continues that wave.
The Benner Park Relationship
One of the most compelling aspects of this application is its adjacency to Benner Park.
The east-facing elevation fronts directly onto the park, meaning a significant portion of the suites would enjoy open green views rather than facing another tower. From a long-term value perspective, park adjacency has historically proven to be a meaningful differentiator in Toronto’s condo market.
At grade, landscaping and street trees are proposed to help frame the building edge and soften the transition between public park space and private development.
Units overlooking green space tend to outperform over time. That’s not speculation — it’s a pattern we’ve seen consistently across the city.
What Happens Next?
This application is currently at the rezoning stage.
That means:
- City Planning review
- Community consultation meetings
- Potential revisions to height, massing, or density
- Final decision at City Council
Tall-building proposals often evolve through this process. Heights can shift. Setbacks may change. Density may be redistributed.
In other words, what’s proposed today may not be exactly what’s ultimately approved.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers Nearby
For homeowners in the Glencairn and Marlee area, proposals like this are a signal.
Increased density typically brings:
- Infrastructure investment
- Retail and service growth
- Stronger rental demand
- Long-term upward pressure on land values
It can also mean more construction activity and evolving neighbourhood character in the short term. If you own nearby, it’s worth understanding how intensification could impact your property’s positioning over the next five to ten years. If you’re a buyer, this is the type of transformation that can create opportunity — particularly before full build-out and amenity growth take shape.
Final Thoughts
Is Glencairn quietly becoming the next midtown intensification node?
With two towers of 40 and 38 storeys now proposed beside Benner Park, and nearly a thousand units planned — the direction is becoming clearer.
Transit-connected. Park-adjacent. Undergoing steady transformation.
We’ll be watching closely as this application moves through the planning process. If you’d like updates on this development or insight into how ongoing growth around Glencairn Station could impact your buying or selling strategy, feel free to reach out anytime by sending us a message below!
