City parking lot may be replaced by 23-storey tower in Oshawa

It started with unsolicited proposal to develop a small parking lot on the north side of Athol Street in downtown Oshawa in late 2024 and now the city is looking at a site plan for a 23-storey, 274-unit high-rise a stone’s throw from city hall.

The subject lands at 0 Athol Street West (also known as Parking Lot 4) are also across the street from an 18-storey condominium development to be built on the grounds of a historical church rectory.

The proposal on the north side of the street from IPM – a local project management company – will include 156 parking spots for residents and 73 public parking spaces to replace those in the existing lot, which also serves as a delivery area for shops on King Street East and Simcoe Street South.

There will be seven levels of parking, including one below ground.

At least 96 of the units in the proposed building will be affordable units.

The building will include a ground floor medical clinic and outdoor amenities, including a rooftop garden.

Council wasn’t initially interested in divesting the lot in 2024 because of the impact on the overall parking infrastructure in the core but the prospective buyer made a decent offer, prompting city staff to decide to market the site.

Council eventually declared the parking lot surplus and endorsed the proposal, leading to the site plan now circulating its way through city committees.