Ontario invests in construction of new transit-oriented community

The Government of Ontario is investing up to $178 million through the Building Ontario Fund (BOF) to support the construction of approximately 1,700 new rental homes, including a target of 340 affordable units with belowmarket rents, in Scarborough.

Located on underused land near the Scarborough GO Station, the project will form part of the new Scarborough Junction, a transit-connected community expected to include 7,700 homes along with parks, public spaces and community amenities, including convenient access to the adjacent GO transit network.

“To support our plan to protect Ontario, our government is delivering long-term affordable housing in a rapidly growing area of the Greater Toronto Area,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Through the Building Ontario Fund, we are leveraging innovative financing tools to unlock rental housing supply that otherwise would not be delivered and transforming underused land into a vibrant transit-connected community.”

The equity investment in the Scarborough Junction project is being made through Building Ontario Fund in a joint venture with Republic Developments and Harlo Capital and is advancing a project that was previously stalled. Once BOF’s investment has been repaid, it will reinvest into other projects that would not otherwise get built across six priority areas including affordable housing, energy, transportation, long-term care, municipal and community infrastructure, and critical minerals.

“Scarborough Junction shows the role Building Ontario Fund can play in getting housing built when market conditions make it difficult to move projects forward. Our investment helps unlock this transformative development, secure long-term affordable homes, and deliver real, lasting benefits for the community,” said Michael Fedchyshyn, CEO, Building Ontario Fund.

The Greater Toronto Area is expected to add at least 1.7 million residents by 2051. At a time when housing supply is constrained, the government’s investment will help increase rental availability and access to affordable homes, while supporting good-paying jobs in construction. Project construction is expected to begin in 2027, with first occupancies anticipated by 2030.

We need to get more housing of all types built across the province, faster and smarter,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “That is why we have introduced a series of measures to reduce the time and cost of building, including the expansion of the HST rebate, the introduction of the Development Charge Reduction Program, and transformational legislative reforms through Bills 17, 60 and 98. Despite this work, we know our job isn’t done; and this investment through the Building Ontario Fund is bringing housing online at a time when it is much-needed.”

Featured image: Michael Fedchyshyn, CEO, Building Ontario Fund. (BOF)

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