Plan for four towers will alter look of one of Ontario’s favourite malls

Recently resubmitted plans for a high-rise development will drastically alter the look of one of Ontario’s busiest malls.

The revamped vision calls for four towers between 14 and 41 storeys on the site of Sherway Gardens in the Etobicoke area of Toronto.

If all approvals are met, the buildings will go up on what is currently a large parking area of the mall along the Queensway.

The buildings will accommodate 1,650 living spaces comprised of condominiums and rental units with retail space on the ground floor. Three public streets would be created to serve the buildings.

A three-level parking garage will have space for 913 vehicles and 1,244 spots for bicycles.

The location is a busy one, but planners believe the infrastructure is in place to handle the increase in population. The Sherway Bus Terminal is within walking distance of the buildings and provides links to the TTC and Mississauga MiWay buses. For cars, there is easy access to the QEW. Plans call for a wider space for cyclists along the Queensway.

Queensway Hospital, part of the Trillium Health System, is located nearby.

Sherway Gardens opened in 1971 and was one of the first malls in North America to feature a large indoor food court.

The mall has gone through extensive changes over the years, with several expansions to add more stores. In 2008, high-rises were built in the southern portion of the property.

Sherway Gardens has remained popular throughout its history, attracting customers from across the GTA due to the variety of stores, especially several high-end fashion retailers.

The mall attracts many shoppers from nearby Mississauga who can arrive easily along the Queensway or the QEW.

The project still has to go through several approval processes with the City of Toronto before it can proceed.