Crombie, Northam Looking To Replace Scarborough Beer Store With 36-Storey Rental

Crombie REIT and Northam Realty Advisors have unveiled plans to replace the Scarborough Beer Store, located at 3130–3150 Danforth Avenue, with a 36-storey rental tower. The proposal, submitted to Toronto’s planning department in April, aims to bring nearly 500 residential units to a site just a six-minute walk from the Victoria Park subway station.

Under a co-ownership deal dating back to 2018, Crombie sold a 50 percent interest in the Danforth site to Northam but continues to manage the property through a joint management agreement. That same transaction included stakes in several other properties across Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, such as Sobeys and Shoppers Drug Mart locations.

The tower would stand roughly 382 feet tall, including a 26-foot mechanical penthouse, and offer a total of 335,640 square feet of residential space. The plan calls for 483 apartments: 333 one-bedrooms, 101 two-bedrooms and 49 three-bedroom units, meaning nearly one-third of the homes cater to families.

Along with housing, the proposal includes about 7,300 square feet of retail at street level, replacing the existing Beer Store. Two levels of underground parking would provide 146 vehicle spaces—including spots for visitors and accessible parking—while 364 bike parking spaces would support alternate transit. Every residential unit would also have access to electric vehicle charging.

Amenities totalling over 21,000 square feet are planned across multiple levels—mezzanine, a podium’s sixth floor, and rooftop spaces—focusing on both community and green design. Renderings by Arcadis show a five-storey brick podium with a U-shaped layout along Danforth, St. Dunstan and the rear, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows to enliven the street front. Above it would rise a modern, asymmetrical tower with a green roof and a protruding penthouse.

A mid-block pedestrian link connecting Macey Avenue to St. Dunstan Drive is also included, meant to enhance local walkability and neighborhood integration. The Danforth site is one of several large-scale, transit-supported developments in the Victoria Park area, including major mixed-use plans at 411 and 777 Victoria Park Avenue, expected to bring over 4,100 new residents. This proposal reflects a broader trend in Ontario, where aging retail strips—like Beer Stores—are being eyed for redevelopment as residential towers, particularly near transit hubs. If approved, the 36-storey tower will reshape a key corner of Scarborough, offering new homes and street-level retail while phasing out the existing Beer Store building.