Proposed mid-rise targets need for ‘missing middle’ housing in west London

A new mid-rise apartment building planned for a single family home-heavy neighborhood in Byron is intended to address desire for “missing middle” housing in the area, the developer says.

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Tricar Group plans to combine what are now five single-family lots into one to build a six-storey, 67-unit building at 1378-1398 Commissioners Rd. W., complete with 72 parking spaces accessed from Reynolds Road.

The company recently finished a similar project in the area that saw high demand, said Adam Carapella, vice-president of Tricar Group.

“This is a sensitive infill area, providing some of that missing middle housing that everyone’s always talking about, low-rise typology in an established neighborhood, walking distance to shops, restaurants, supermarket, pharmacy, that sort of thing,” he said. “So, we think it checks off a lot of boxes in that way.”

The current project also was informed by recent changes to London’s official planning document that allows higher heights and densities on main streets, Carapella said.

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Tricar held an information session in November about the project that largely went well, he said. Usual concerns such as tree retention and privacy fences were brought up, but also interest in living in the building, Carapella said.

Ward 9 Coun. Anna Hopkins said she would be happy to see more infill on that stretch of Commissioners. She agrees the area is well-served by amenities after several townhouse, condo and apartment buildings have cropped up in recent years.

“I’m looking forward to hearing more from the community,” she said. “When you look around, we have schools, we have a shopping center, we have a major road, we have buses along that road. So, those are the things that can support the infill.”

Hopkins said she’s also interested in how the city can make Commissioners safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Though sidewalks and painted bike lanes are present on both sides of the street in the area of ​​the building, they are less consistent near the intersection with Boler Road.

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A public meeting about the proposal will be held during a meeting of city council’s planning and environment committee on Feb. 19.

At the next planning and environment committee meeting on Jan. 7, only a couple housing proposals are on the table:

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