The first Housing Now development is officially underway at 5207 Dundas Street West in Toronto. When complete, a mixed-use building featuring 725 market and affordable rental units will occupy the City-owned land. Mayor Olivia Chow was joined by Councillor Brad Bradford, Beaches-East York, Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee and CreateTO Board Director, and other key players at the official ground-breaking ceremony on August 9, 2023.
“Building more affordable housing is critical to creating a city that’s accessible and inclusive to everyone,” Mayor Olivia Chow said. “The City is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing so that people of all different income levels and occupations can afford to live here. The City’s Housing Now program is a great example of how strong partnerships between multiple levels of government, the private sector, the non-profit sector and the local community can help us build the housing we need. As the new Mayor, I’ve made building more affordable housing a top priority. I welcome other orders of government to partner with us as we endeavour to build even more affordable housing for the people of Toronto.”
The new development has been awarded to the Kilmer Group and Tricon Residential. The City, in partnership with CreateTO, Kilmer Group and Tricon Residential, is supporting the delivery of this project as part of the Housing Now Initiative, which launched in 2019 to activate City-owned lands and stimulate the development of affordable rental housing within transit-oriented, mixed-income communities.
Plans for the site include 725 residential homes, of which 30 per cent will be affordable ranging from 40 per cent to 100 per cent of the Average Market Rent (AMR). Unit types will be a mix of one to four bedrooms. Retail uses, services and amenities to support residents’ needs and public spaces for community gatherings and events are also included in the plans. The development will support the City’s climate action objectives and target Toronto Green Standard Version 3, Tier 3, with zero carbon certification.
“Today marks a significant achievement for our city and our community,” said Councillor Brad Bradford “We are breaking ground on the first Housing Now project, creating more diverse communities through mixed-income, mixed-use and transit-oriented projects on City-owned land across Toronto. As the Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, I am proud of our part in moving this initiative forward because together, we are making Toronto a more affordable, inclusive and livable city for everyone.”
Since January 2019, City Council has allocated 21 prime transit-oriented sites to be used for future mixed-use developments, but so far just 10 of the sites have been re-zoned for residential use. Construction at two other shovel-ready sites, 50 Wilson Heights Blvd. and 140 Merton St., is expected to begin before the end of this year.
View the full Housing Now 2023 Progress Update report on the City’s website: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-235837.pdf
