An early rendering of a possible layout for the Cloverdale Mall property in Toronto. Quadreal will apply in December to redevelop the Etobicoke property into a mixed-use community. (Courtesy Quadreal)

QuadReal Property Group has major plans to redevelop its Cloverdale Mall in Toronto into a major mixed-use community if new zoning is approved.

While the 32-acre Cloverdale site, located in Etobicoke, is zoned to permit commercial uses, the Toronto Official Plan designates the site as mixed-use. After months of community consultation, QuadReal plans to apply for a site-specific rezoning in December to permit a range of uses including retail, residential, parks and open spaces.

“It’s a long-term vision that will provide the community with many new amenities, experiences and uses, including shopping, multi-generational residences, all-season parkland, arts and culture programming, fitness and wellness facilities, restaurants and more,” QuadReal director of development Ben Gilbank told RENX.

Cloverdale was launched at 250 The East Mall, near the intersection of Dundas Street West and Highway 427, as an open-air shopping centre in 1956. It was expanded and converted to an enclosed mall in the 1980s and underwent major renovations in 2006. It’s now anchored by Home Hardware, Kitchen Stuff Plus, Metro, Rexall and Winners.

QuadReal and its partners

Vancouver-based QuadReal manages the real estate and mortgage programs of British Columbia Investment Management Corporation. It has a $37.6-billion property portfolio spread across 17 countries.

QuadReal will be the developer of the planned intensification.

It will be supported by a team that includes: architect Giannone Petricone Associates; planner Urban Strategies Inc.; transportation engineer BA Group; landscape architect Janet Rosenberg & Studio; and civil engineer Stantec.

“A newly re-envisioned retail offering, located within a vibrant mixed-use project, will ensure the long-term sustainability of Cloverdale,” said Gilbank.

“The QuadReal Property Group intends to keep the Cloverdale name because it’s been such an important part of the community and is important to maintain the rich 63-year history of the property.”

Since QuadReal is proposing an increase in density for Cloverdale, it may also improve the vehicular network and transit connections, and upgrade active transportation options.

“Central Etobicoke is in the early days of an exciting shift toward a new urban environment,” said Gilbank. “The city is well underway on the Six Points revitalization and Metrolinx has commenced the Kipling transit hub upgrade.

“Dundas Street West and the Highway 427 corridor have seen significant existing and planned redevelopment. Cloverdale is at the centre of change and seeks to contribute significant community amenities and programming to the growing neighbourhood.”

Cloverdale Common

QuadReal hasn’t revealed any further specific details about Cloverdale’s redevelopment.

However, it has created a dedicated 4,000-square-foot engagement centre, dubbed Cloverdale Common, which is open to the public 30 hours per week to provide information on the project and seek community feedback.

“Staffing the Common and interacting with the community are the Cloverdale engagement ambassadors, who are fourth-year Ryerson University urban planning students,” said Gilbank, noting that since December over 7,000 people have visited the display.

“QuadReal has also hosted two open houses where residents, tenants and shoppers joined the development team in learning about the evolving proposed plan. The next open house will take place in late 2019, before the rezoning application is submitted to the city.”

This community feedback has spurred QuadReal to include large park spaces, offering a range of active and passive programming, as part of the redevelopment.

Cloverdale Common doubles as an art gallery and provides arts, culture, health and wellness community programming through partners including Arts Etobicoke and ALIVE.

Two other QuadReal mall redevelopments

Cloverdale will be the third major mall redevelopment undertaken by QuadReal in Canada.

“Oakridge Centre in Vancouver is very similar to Cloverdale in that they both involve doubling down on their respective retail offerings while enhancing the sites to include residential uses and vibrant, human-oriented public spaces and community amenities,” said Gilbank.

“QuadReal is also redeveloping parts of the Bayview Village Shopping Centre in Toronto with new mixed-use residential and lifestyle retail uses.”