Where Is 589–599 Lawrence Avenue West?
The properties at 589–599 Lawrence Avenue West sit along a well‑established stretch of Lawrence Avenue, west of Bathurst Street and East of Allen Rd. This portion of Lawrence functions as a key east–west corridor, lined with a mix of low‑rise residential homes (usually bungalows), small apartment properties, and nearby residential streets just beyond the main road.
From a planning perspective, Lawrence Avenue West has long been identified as a corridor capable of accommodating additional housing without disrupting surrounding low‑rise neighbourhoods. That context is important, because the proposal for this site is less about a single project and more about how the City intends corridors like Lawrence to evolve over time.
What’s Currently on the Site?
Today, the site is occupied by a collection of low‑rise buildings. These are single‑storey structures that reflect an older, auto‑oriented version of Lawrence Avenue and relatively low‑density given the size and location of the property.
Under current City policy, sites like this are often described as “underutilized,” not as a criticism of their use, but because they occupy valuable land near transit, services, and employment while housing very few people. This gap between land value and housing output is exactly what the City’s planning framework is trying to address.
What Is Being Proposed?
According to the City of Toronto’s Decision Report, the approved proposal for 589–599 Lawrence Avenue West is not a typical condo or mixed-use project, but a two-building, low-rise institutional and rental residential development.
Specifically, the project includes:
- Two separate low-rise buildings on the assembled site
- A 3-storey institutional building (13.1 metres, excluding mechanical penthouse) fronting the corner of Lawrence Avenue West and Englemount Avenue, which will ultimately house the Institute for Advanced Talmudic and Halachic Studies
- This building will function as a religious study centre (Kollel), dedicated to advanced post‑graduate religious scholarship
- A 4-storey rental residential building (13.6 metres, excluding mechanical penthouse) fronting Lawrence Avenue West, intended to serve as a residential component associated with the Institute, accommodating students and families connected to the program
- 16 purpose-built rental units in total, the vast majority being family-sized
From a housing perspective, the unit mix is notable:
- 15 three-bedroom units (94% of all units)
- 1 one-bedroom unit
Importantly, this is a 100% rental project. There are no condominium units proposed, and the rental tenure is secured through City agreements.
What Is a Kollel? (In Plain English)
A Kollel is a post‑graduate religious study institution, typically focused on advanced Jewish learning. Unlike a traditional school campus, a Kollel is generally small‑scale, community‑oriented, and centred on full‑time study rather than large lectures or public events.
In practical terms, this means:
- The building functions more like a quiet academic or research centre than a place of worship
- Daily activity is largely daytime study, not event‑driven gatherings
- The associated residential building allows students and their families to live on site, reducing commuting and traffic impacts
For planning purposes, the City treats a Kollel as a low‑intensity institutional use, which is why it can be accommodated within a Neighbourhoods designation when designed at an appropriate scale.
Rental Replacement — A Key Part of the Approval
One of the most consequential aspects of this application is the treatment of existing rental housing.
Currently, the site contains six rental dwelling units spread across older one-storey houses. Under Toronto’s Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion By-law, those units must be replaced — and in this case, the City required more than a simple one-for-one swap.
The approved proposal includes:
- Six replacement rental units, all three-bedroom
- Units sized at approximately 134 square metres, exceeding the size of the existing rental units
- Affordable rent levels as defined by the City’s Official Plan
- Rental tenure secured for at least 20 years, with affordability protected for a minimum of 10 years
Tenants in the replacement units will also have access to:
- Ensuite laundry
- Central air conditioning
- Bicycle and visitor parking
- All indoor and outdoor amenities within the development, at no extra cost
From a policy standpoint, this replacement package is a major reason the City supported the application.
Built Form, Height, and Neighbourhood Transition
While the project adds density, it does so within a very controlled envelope.
The total density is 1.46 times the lot area, which is modest by corridor standards. Building heights are capped at four storeys, consistent with the permissions under the Official Plan and Site and Area Specific Policy 559, which governs this stretch of Lawrence Avenue West.
A key design feature is the rear angular plane:
- The buildings step back from the south property line
- A 45-degree angular plane is maintained to limit shadowing and overlook
- Rear setbacks increase on upper storeys, creating a softer transition to the single-detached homes on Fairholme Avenue
This is deliberate corridor planning — keeping height and mass on Lawrence Avenue while protecting the lower-rise neighbourhood behind it.
Traffic, Access, and Streetscape Changes
From a transportation standpoint, the City concluded that the project will have minimal impact on local traffic patterns.
Notable changes include:
- A reduction in driveways along Lawrence Avenue West from six to one, improving pedestrian safety
- Vehicle access shifted primarily to Englemount Avenue
- 36 parking spaces provided (24 residential, 12 institutional), plus five pick-up/drop-off spaces
- 23 on-site bicycle parking spaces, with an additional 10 publicly accessible bike parking spaces
City staff accepted the Transportation Impact Study, concluding that the surrounding road network can accommodate the additional trips without intersection upgrades.
Why This Proposal Was Supported by the City
In recommending approval, City Planning staff highlighted several factors:
- The site is considered underutilized given its frontage on a major arterial road
- The proposal conforms with the Provincial Policy Statement and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe
- Height, density, and massing align with Neighbourhoods policies and SASP 559
- All existing rental housing is replaced with larger, family-sized units at protected rents
In short, the City viewed this project as a textbook example of gentle intensification — adding housing where policy encourages it, without pushing height into surrounding residential streets.
What Happens Next
Although the zoning amendment and rental housing demolition application have been recommended for approval, additional steps remain.
Before construction can proceed:
- Final Site Plan approval must be secured
- Conditions tied to servicing, tree replacement, and transportation must be satisfied
- Required agreements will be registered on title to secure rental replacement and affordability commitments
For nearby residents, the takeaway is that this is a low-rise, policy-compliant project with long-term rental housing baked into its approval and not another speculative high-density redevelopment.
This application also offers a clear window into how future Lawrence Avenue West projects are likely to be evaluated: modest height, strong transitions, and rental protection as non-negotiables.
What Happens Next
The proposal is currently part of the City’s planning review process. That means:
- City staff will assess the application against planning policy
- Community consultation may occur as part of the review
- Revisions can be requested before any approvals are granted
At this stage, the project is proposed, not approved. The final outcome will depend on planning feedback, potential adjustments, and City Council decisions.
For residents and buyers watching Lawrence Avenue West, this application is best viewed as part of a broader, long‑term shift toward mid‑rise housing along Toronto’s main corridors, rather than an isolated redevelopment.
