If you find yourself on Isabella Street, between Church and Jarvis in downtown Toronto, you may walk by a heritage building known as The Merlan without even knowing it. Designed by Ontario’s own Norman Alexander Armstrong, the 49-unit, Edwardian Revival-style apartment building has occupied 81-83 Isabella Street for just shy of a century.
However, with The Merlan rising just three storeys, its location in Church-Wellesley Village stands to be better utilized. As such, site owner Akelius Canada Inc. is proposing the demolition of the existing apartment in favour of a residential tower rising 69 storeys — some 744 feet, inclusive of the mechanical penthouse. The heritage facades of The Merlan would be integrated into the new build through adaptive reuse, according to a planning report that went to the City in early June.
The report also says that a total gross floor area (GFA) of 496,582 sq. ft has been proposed, translating to a floor space index (FSI) of 31.5. The entirety of the GFA would be dedicated to residential uses, with 647 units planned, including nine studios, 315 one-bedrooms, 254 two-bedrooms, and 69 three-bedrooms. That translates to a precise 50% share of larger family-sized units “to meet the range of market demands and household needs.” The total unit count also includes 48 replacement rentals, all of which would be configured as one-bedrooms.
In terms of amenity space, a total of around 25,769 sq. ft has been proposed, and that would be split between a series of indoor amenity rooms, dedicated outdoor amenity terraces, and what’s being called a “sky garden.” Although the building would be served by only 29 short-term vehicle parking spaces, 711 bicycle parking spaces are planned within the mezzanine level.
Renderings prepared by Arcadis show a two-storey base with the retained heritage facades, topped with a 10-storey lower tower element and a 57-storey upper tower element. The heritage facades retained from The Merlan are meant to read primarily from Isabella Street.
Isabella Street has become a popular location in Toronto for intensification — likely because it runs through the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of the city, and also because it’s proximate to other high-traffic areas like the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). It’s also a short walk from Yonge Street. Other approved developments in the area include 69 storeys at 90-94 Isabella Street and 62 storeys at 88 Isabella Street. In addition, 135 Isabella is slated for a 69-storey tower, which KingSett Capital proposed in June 2023 — however, the firm has seemingly moved on from the project, as it was listed for sale by RBC Capital Markets Real Estate Group last fall.