279 Yonge St
279 Yonge St is in Downtown Yonge East, on the City's Heritage Register. It's outside TRCA flood hazard areas and there are 15 planning applications nearby (ten approved, three under review, one approved by the tribunal, one other).
Data as of Nov 8, 2026 · Every item lists its source
- It is individually designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (Part IV).
- Outside TRCA flood hazard areas.
- 15 planning applications within 250 m: ten approved, three under review, one approved by the tribunal, one other.
04The building
1 building permit in the last 5 years. For comparison, about 1 in 10 Toronto addresses had any permit in that time. Permits show work the City approved; they don't show work done without a permit.
It is individually designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (Part IV). Changes to its heritage features need a heritage permit from the City.
Permit history: 12 projects from 19 permits
- Interior Alterations · permit issued · issued Sep 29, 2026
Interior alterations to the bolduc gate and checkout to an existing Shoppers Drug Mart in the basement. · Permit 26 227873 - Sign Building Permit Related · completed Feb 28, 2022
In conjunction with a two storey building on the premises, proposal to erect and install four electronic wall signs, displaying electronic moving copy located at the first and second storey of the… · Permit 19 112901 - Sprinklers · completed Feb 19, 2019
Proposed sprinklers for "shoppers drug mart" · Permit 18 136109 - Electromagnetic Locks · completed Aug 7, 2018
Revision 01 - Electromagnetic lock from beauty boutique (140) to stairwell leading to basement has been removed Proposal to install 5 new maglocks in existing retail store "Shoppers Drug Mart" · 2 permits in this project (such as building, plumbing and heating) · Permit 18 137456 - Interior Alterations · completed Feb 17, 2026
Rev 01: See cover letter on page 1 of drawings Orig: Proposal for interior alterations to basement, ground and 2nd floor of an existing building. Tenant - "Shopper's Drug Mart" · 5 permits in this project (such as building, plumbing and heating) · Permit 17 266773 - Interior Demolition · completed Jul 30, 2018
Proposed interior demolishion and chnage of occupance from group A-2 to group E. Demolision in basement, first floor and second floor. · Permit 17 169102 - Interior Demolition · completed Jun 27, 2017
Proposed demolition of existing kitchen area (126m2) - Hard Rock Cafe · Permit 17 159974 - Sign Building Permit Related · completed Oct 20, 2022
Proposal to erect a large format third party sign on the roof of the existing three storey heritage designated building. The proposed roof sign is intended to contain four sign faces, each of… · 2 permits in this project (such as building, plumbing and heating) · Permit 17 117431 - Backflow Prevention Devices (Water only) · inspection · issued Jul 27, 2010
Proposal to install one back flow prevention device to existing restaurant. (Hard Rock Cafe) · Permit 10 226296 - Heating and cooling · completed Jun 8, 2026
HVAC -Alter existing h.v.a.c. on the 3rd floor for office. Tenant: Milyion Holdings · Permit 01 199422 - Heating and cooling · completed Jun 8, 2026
HVAC - supply and install h.v.a.c. system.(conv. address is 7 Dundas Sq.) · Permit 01 188296 - Heating and cooling · completed May 29, 2026
Alter HVAC system with related ductwork in existing restaurant. Cost incl: 01-150479Tenant: Hard Rock Cafe. · Permit 01 176654
05Risks and environment
TRCA's maps show this address is outside the areas that could flood from rivers in a major storm (TRCA plans for a storm like Hurricane Hazel in 1954) and outside lake shoreline hazards. Basement flooding from overloaded sewers can still happen anywhere in the city.
In postal area M5B, 0 of 17 home tap-water samples (0%) tested above Ontario's limit for lead (10 micrograms per litre). That's too few samples to compare with the rest of the city. Health Canada recommends a stricter limit of 5 micrograms per litre: 1 samples here (5.9%) were above it. These are voluntary tests, mostly from older homes, so they don't tell you about this house. Lead comes from old pipes and plumbing, not the City's treatment plants. If your home was built before the mid-1950s, you can get a free test kit by calling 311.
Air Quality Health Index from Environment and Climate Change Canada's Toronto Downtown station, 2.6 km away, measured 11:00 AM EST Sunday 8 November 2026. Forecast high for the next 24 hours: 2 (low risk). The scale runs from 1 to 10+; 1 to 3 is low risk.
TRCA mapping is for screening, not site-specific decisions. Lead results are voluntary samples from homes in the postal area, not this address.
01What’s changing nearby
15 active planning applications within 250 m (about a 3-minute walk): ten approved, three under review, one approved by the tribunal, one other. That's more than at 9 in 10 Toronto addresses.
- 1335 Yonge St · 68 m awayOfficial Plan / Rezoning: a request to change the Official Plan or zoning so something new can be built
The Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the OMB) approved it.
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Application for a proposed 30-storey mixed-use building comprised of 165 residential dwelling units, 2096 square metres of non-residential floor area and 222 below grade bicycle parking spaces.File 19 249699 STE 13 OZ · submitted Nov 15, 2019 · City record - 2335 Yonge St · 68 m awaySubdivision: a request to divide land into new lots and streets
City planners are reviewing it. Residents can comment before a decision is made.
1 blockFile 21 235404 STE 13 SB · submitted Nov 8, 2021 · City record - 3363 Yonge St · 131 m awaySite Plan: City review of the design and layout of a new building
City planners approved the site plan, with conditions to meet before a building permit.
Site Plan Application to permit the construction of a 85-storey mixed-use development. The proposal entails 96,532 m2 of residential GFA and 7,440 m2 non-residential GFA. A total of 1,415 residential units are proposed.File 19 113000 STE 13 SA · submitted Feb 7, 2019 · City record - 4365 Yonge St · 136 m awaySite Plan: City review of the design and layout of a new building
City planners approved the site plan, with conditions to meet before a building permit.
Site Plan Application to permit the construction of a 85-storey mixed-use development. The proposal entails 96,532 m2 of residential GFA and 7,440 m2 non-residential GFA. A total of 1,415 residential units are proposed.File 19 113000 STE 13 SA · submitted Feb 7, 2019 · City record - 5367 Yonge St · 139 m awaySite Plan: City review of the design and layout of a new building
City planners approved the site plan, with conditions to meet before a building permit.
Site Plan Application to permit the construction of a 85-storey mixed-use development. The proposal entails 96,532 m2 of residential GFA and 7,440 m2 non-residential GFA. A total of 1,415 residential units are proposed.File 19 113000 STE 13 SA · submitted Feb 7, 2019 · City record - 6306 Yonge St · 142 m awayOfficial Plan / Rezoning: a request to change the Official Plan or zoning so something new can be built
It has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the OMB), which will make the final decision.
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment to permit a 25-storey mixed-use building, containing 224 dwelling units and 2,542 square metres of non-residential gross floor area. The new development is located at the northeast corner of the…File 21 235326 STE 11 OZ · submitted Nov 8, 2021 · City record - 7306 Yonge St · 142 m awaySubdivision: a request to divide land into new lots and streets
City planners are reviewing it. Residents can comment before a decision is made.
Draft Plan of Subdivision for 2 development blocks.File 21 235333 STE 11 SB · submitted Nov 8, 2021 · City record - 8369 Yonge St · 144 m awaySite Plan: City review of the design and layout of a new building
City planners approved the site plan, with conditions to meet before a building permit.
Site Plan Application to permit the construction of a 85-storey mixed-use development. The proposal entails 96,532 m2 of residential GFA and 7,440 m2 non-residential GFA. A total of 1,415 residential units are proposed.File 19 113000 STE 13 SA · submitted Feb 7, 2019 · City record - 9304 Yonge St · 145 m awaySubdivision: a request to divide land into new lots and streets
City planners are reviewing it. Residents can comment before a decision is made.
Draft Plan of Subdivision for 2 development blocks.File 21 235333 STE 11 SB · submitted Nov 8, 2021 · City record - 10371 Yonge St · 148 m awaySite Plan: City review of the design and layout of a new building
City planners approved the site plan, with conditions to meet before a building permit.
Site Plan Application to permit the construction of a 85-storey mixed-use development. The proposal entails 96,532 m2 of residential GFA and 7,440 m2 non-residential GFA. A total of 1,415 residential units are proposed.File 19 113000 STE 13 SA · submitted Feb 7, 2019 · City record - 11348 Yonge St · 149 m awayCondominium: a request to divide a building into condominium units
It has been approved.
Draft Plan of Condominium for 819 units.File 21 214202 STE 11 CD · submitted Sep 17, 2021 · City record - 12350 Yonge St · 150 m awayCondominium: a request to divide a building into condominium units
It has been approved.
Draft Plan of Condominium for 819 units.File 21 214202 STE 11 CD · submitted Sep 17, 2021 · City record
73 homes within 250 m are registered with the City as short-term rentals (stays of less than 28 days, like Airbnb). That's more than at almost all Toronto addresses.
No licensed rooming houses within 250 m.
9 new storefront business licences within 250 m in the last 90 days: restaurant or bar (4), take-out or food shop (2), entertainment venue (1) and parking lot (1).
New business licences nearby (9)
- Restaurant or bar · 21 Dundas Sq · 58 m · licensed Oct 2, 2026
- Entertainment venue · 244 Victoria St · 81 m · licensed Oct 16, 2026
- Restaurant or bar · 1 Dundas St W · 100 m · licensed Sep 14, 2026
- Parking lot · 1 Dundas St W · 100 m · licensed Oct 15, 2026
- Restaurant or bar · 10 Dundas St E · 124 m · licensed Oct 6, 2026
- Restaurant or bar · 209 Victoria St · 156 m · licensed Oct 1, 2026
- Take-out or food shop · 335 Yonge St · 200 m · licensed Sep 2, 2026
- Take-out or food shop · 220 Yonge St · 215 m · licensed Oct 27, 2026
Development Applications; Committee of Adjustment Applications; Short Term Rentals Registration.
06Safety
Police recorded 838 major crimes within 500 m from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026: 601 assaults, 87 break-ins, 68 robberies, 54 thefts over $5,000 and 28 car thefts. Per resident, in Downtown Yonge East in 2025, assaults, break-ins, robberies and thefts over $5,000 were above the Toronto rate; car thefts were below it. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection, so these figures describe the area, not this address.
| Major crime | Within 500 m, 12 months | Downtown Yonge East, per 100,000 (2025) | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 601 | 2361 above Toronto | 768 |
| Break-ins | 87 | 275 above Toronto | 190 |
| Car thefts | 28 | 76 below Toronto | 225 |
| Robberies | 68 | 143 above Toronto | 79 |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 54 | 100 above Toronto | 61 |
Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal: Major Crime Indicators (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026) and Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Includes reported incidents only.
03Getting around
The nearest subway station is TMU Station (Line 1), about a 2-minute walk (0.1 km). Within a 5-minute walk there are 18 TTC stops served by routes 505, 506, 97 and 19, with about 3,784 departures on a typical weekday. The nearest GO train station is Union Station GO, 1.2 km away, with 354 train stops on a weekday.
TTC and GO Transit schedules for a typical weekday (Nov 11, 2026). Walking times are estimates.
07Schools and community
These are the closest public and Catholic schools by distance. They may not be the schools assigned to this address: school boards set their own attendance areas, so check with the Toronto District School Board or Toronto Catholic District School Board.
- St Michael's Choir (Jr) School · elementary · 218 mTCDSB · Catholic · grades 1-8 · 135 students. Grade 6 provincial tests: 100% met the standard in reading and 100% in math (Toronto schools: 87% and 54%).
- École élémentaire Gabrielle-Roy · elementary · 676 mViamonde (French public) · Public · grades JK-6 · 270 students. Grade 6 provincial tests: 100% met the standard in reading and 88% in math (Toronto schools: 87% and 54%).
- Collège français élémentaire · elementary · 767 mViamonde (French public) · Public · grades 7-8 · 75 students
- St Michael's Choir (Sr) School · secondary · 197 mTCDSB · Catholic · grades 9-12 · 105 students. 100% passed the Grade 10 literacy test on the first try (Toronto schools: 84%).
- Collège français secondaire · secondary · 814 mViamonde (French public) · Public · grades 9-12 · 155 students. 100% passed the Grade 10 literacy test on the first try (Toronto schools: 84%).
Private schools within 1 km: Keystone International Schools, Taie International Institute School, Le College Francais - Carlton Campus, National Ballet School - Margaret Mccain Acedemic Centre, National Ballet School and 2 more.
Ontario Ministry of Education, School Information and Student Demographics (2026); test results are EQAO results reported by the Ministry.
Within 500 m (about a 6-minute walk): four licensed child care centres, one EarlyON centre, four privately owned public spaces and three shelters or respite sites.
City of Toronto: Licensed Child Care Centres, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, POPS, and Daily Shelter Occupancy (Nov 6, 2026). Confidential shelter locations are not published.
08Your neighbourhood
Downtown Yonge East had 17,700 residents in 2021. The median household income was $69,500, lower than the typical Toronto neighbourhood ($85,000). 64% of households rent (typical neighbourhood: 46%). 49% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 27% of workers commuted by transit and 43% walked or cycled (typical neighbourhood: 26% and 5%). The most common first languages other than English and French are Mandarin (8.0%), Cantonese (3.7%) and Spanish (3.0%). Source: 2021 Census; the next census was taken in 2026.
In October 2025, the average rent for a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental building in the former City of Toronto was $2,457, up 6% from a year earlier. Across Toronto: $2,055. 3.2% of these apartments were vacant. These are averages paid by all tenants, including long-term ones, across a large area; new listings usually cost more.
| Average rent, October 2025 | Former City of Toronto | Change in a year | City of Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,526 | +2% | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,914 | +4% | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,457 | +6% | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $3,195 | 0% | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC, Rental Market Survey (October 2025), purpose-built rental apartments. Adapted by My Address in Toronto.
02City services
09Quick answers about 279 Yonge St
Is 279 Yonge St in a flood plain?
No. TRCA maps it outside river flood and lake shoreline hazard areas. Basement flooding from sewers can still happen anywhere. Source: TRCA Regulation mapping 2025.
What is being built near 279 Yonge St?
There are 15 active planning applications within 250 metres (ten approved, three under review, one approved by the tribunal, one other). The closest is at 335 Yonge St, 68 m away. Source: Development Applications; Committee of Adjustment Applications.
Has 279 Yonge St been renovated?
Yes. The City has 19 building permits on record, 1 in the last 5 years. Source: Building Permits.
Is 279 Yonge St a heritage property?
Yes. It is individually designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (Part IV). Changes to its heritage features need a heritage permit from the City. Source: Heritage Register.
How far is 279 Yonge St from the subway?
The nearest station is TMU Station (Line 1), 0.1 km away (about a 2-minute walk). 18 TTC stops are within a 5-minute walk. Source: TTC and GO Transit schedules.
What schools are near 279 Yonge St?
The closest are St Michael's Choir (Jr) School, École élémentaire Gabrielle-Roy and St Michael's Choir (Sr) School. These may not be the assigned schools; check with the school board. Source: Ontario Ministry of Education school information.
How much crime is there near 279 Yonge St?
Police recorded 838 major crimes within 500 m from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026: 601 assaults, 87 break-ins, 68 robberies, 54 thefts over $5,000 and 28 car thefts. Per resident, in Downtown Yonge East in 2025, assaults, break-ins, robberies and thefts over $5,000 were above the Toronto rate; car thefts were below it. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection, so these figures describe the area, not this address. Source: Toronto Police Service.
Answers are generated from the data on this page and update when the data changes.
10From the archives
Photo locations are matched from each photo’s title against City street and address data, so some may be off. Report a wrong location