Plans Submitted for Development of Toronto’s Historic Church-Wellesley Village

Akelius, an international residential real estate company registered in Sweden, submitted plans to redevelop 81–83 Isabella Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, into a 70-story residential rental building, Urban Toronto reports. The plans incorporate the Edwardian Revival heritage façades of the historic Merlan apartments on the south side of Isabella Street. The three-story, U-shaped apartment constructed in 1927 — added to the City’s Heritage Register in December 2024 — is currently at the site. The neighborhood, located in Church-Wellesley Village, is already seeing a significant increase in dense towers. Six elevators, requiring high-speed motors for prompt service, are planned to serve the tower that is set to include 46,385m² dedicated to residential use. WND Associates Ltd. has submitted a Zoning By-law Amendment application to the City of Toronto on behalf of Akelius, proposing a 226.68-m tower, with a two-to-three-story base that reconstructs the Merlan’s heritage façades.