The Quayside redevelopment in Toronto’s East Bayfront is evolving — and 2025’s updated plans for Blocks 1B and 1C deliver fresh insights into height, unit mix, amenity design, and sustainability. With developers Dream Unlimited and Great Gulf working in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, these new proposals reflect a shift toward more affordable housing, refined massing, and better integration with public space. As Toronto continues to push forward on waterfront revitalization, the latest Quayside plans are a key reference point for the future of urban infill.
Block 1B: Taller Tower, Slimmer Profile, Balanced Mix
The revised proposal for Block 1B, designed by Henning Larsen Architects (with Architect of Record: Alliance), now calls for a 66-storey (231.4 m) tower — slightly taller than the 64-storeys originally submitted.
The total number of units is reduced from 816 to 729 units, divided between 553 market-rentals and 176 affordable rental suites (mainly located between floors 2 to 16).
Though gross floor area (GFA) dips marginally (52,700 m² from 52,886), the planning documents show a stronger emphasis on amenity space:
- Indoor amenities: 1,510 m² (up from 917 m²)
- Outdoor terraces/amenity: 907 m² (up from 281 m²)
Parking is spread across two below-grade levels: 202 vehicular spaces (184 long-term, 18 short-term) plus 570 bicycle stalls (419 long-term, 151 short-term).
To preserve daylight access and views, the massing is refined to a slimmer vertical profile, aligning with the adjacent Privately Owned Public Space (POPS) and the planned Community Forest.
Block 1C: Mid-Rise, More Affordable Units, Family-Oriented Design
On the Queens Quay East frontage, Block 1C is redesigned as three 13-storey midrise buildings (slightly reinterpreted as a connected roof structure) by Teeple Architects.
The building height is now 44.1 m (the extra “storey” is accounted for as amenity within a mechanical penthouse) — a slight change from previous proposals.
Significantly, the new plan increases the number of affordable units to 377, up from prior schemes, while eliminating 86 market-rate units to prioritize accessibility.
The 1C buildings emphasize family-suitable units:
- 31 studios
- 134 one-bedroom
- 148 two-bedroom
- 64 three-bedroom (or larger) suites
Indoor amenity space totals 497 m² and outdoor amenity 433 m², distributed over levels 1, 7, and the mechanical penthouse.
An urban garden adds 233 m² outdoor + 36 m² indoor space to 1C2 & 1C3 buildings.
While vehicular parking numbers are yet to be disclosed, 512 bicycle parking stalls are proposed (422 long-term + 76 short-term for residents; 6 + 8 for non-residents).
The elevator count is six, supplying about one elevator per 63 units.
Importantly, the plan abandons the earlier “mass timber” construction approach in favor of conventional methods to simplify build-out and expedite delivery, while still meeting energy-efficiency under Toronto Green Standard v4 Tier 1.
Shared Infrastructure, Transit & Future Phases
Blocks 1B and 1C will share a two-level underground garage, with access from Lake Shore Boulevard East.
Transit access is already strong, with TTC bus routes running along Queens Quay East. Future transit enhancements hinge on the proposed Waterfront East LRT, which when funded, will significantly improve corridor connectivity.
As the development unfolds eastward, Quayside Blocks 3 and 4 (tower heights 12 to 72 storeys), plus neighboring projects at 307 and 351 Lake Shore East (49 storeys and 41/49 storeys, respectively) are in planning. Meanwhile, the Bayside community to the south (by Tridel & Hines) includes completed towers like Aqualina, Aquavista, Aquabella, and Aqualuna.
You can also check our blogs about Rising High: Notting Hill’s Four Tower Condo Complex Transforms Eglinton & Royal York and Top Canadian Cities to Maximize Rental Income in 2025.
Final Thoughts
The updated plans for Quayside Blocks 1B & 1C underscore Toronto’s evolving vision for waterfront living: blending density with accessibility, affordability, and livable design. By shifting some unit count, increasing amenity space, refining massing, and pushing more affordable family-sized suites, these proposals reflect a thoughtful recalibration aimed at creating a more inclusive, sustainable urban fabric.
Block 1B’s elegant slim profile and significantly enhanced amenity offerings show a developer sensitivity to light, openness, and public interface. Block 1C’s pivot toward mid-rise, family units and increased affordable housing signal a clear mandate to ground the redevelopment in community needs rather than pure market speculation. The abandonment of mass timber in favor of simpler, conventional construction may help accelerate delivery, ensuring earlier occupancy without sacrificing modern efficiency under Toronto’s Green Standard.
Together, the two blocks connect to shared parking, transit corridors, future LRT plans, and an emerging public forest and Community Hub. Importantly, these towers do not exist in isolation — they’re part of a larger Quayside masterplan with Blocks 3 and 4 and adjacent waterfront proposals that may redefine the entire East Bayfront skyline.
For residents, urban planners, and real estate watchers, these updated designs are a milestone. They offer deep transparency into how density, affordability, architecture, and public realm can converge. Canada’s largest cities are constantly seeking the right balance; Quayside’s revised scheme may just be Toronto’s next template for high-rise, transit-oriented, human-centred growth. As the city weighs these proposals, all eyes will be on how these towers perform in public hearings, zoning reviews, and ultimately, when construction begins.
