The City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario announced the start of construction of 390 affordable rental homes at 844 Don Mills Rd.
The site, which is currently scheduled to be opened late 2025, will be a 27-storey mixed-use building, accommodating affordable rental homes, a long-term care facility, a daycare and retail uses. Approximately 390 affordable rental homes will be developed and operated at Average Market Rate (AMR) for an affordability period of at least 25 years. The affordable rental homes will include 58 studios, 214 one-bedroom apartments, 79 two-bedroom apartments and 39 three-bedroom apartments. These homes will be located on levels four to 27 of the building. There will also be amenity spaces on levels four, five and 11 for the exclusive use of the residents of the affordable rental housing building. Approximately 15 per cent of the affordable rental homes (60 homes) will be designed with basic accessibility features such as barrier-free path of travel to kitchen, bedroom, living room and full bathroom.
Generations Toronto, an affiliate of a family of non-profit corporations with experience developing, owning and managing affordable rental homes across Canada, was approved to develop affordable rental homes at 844 Don Mills Rd.
“We know housing is a pressing issue that we are working to address in the city but we know we cannot do it alone. All three levels of government are working together to bring this project to life, and as a city we are doing our part through the Open Door program. This is a solid commitment that will help us create even more vibrant and complete communities across Toronto and to ensure that while our city continues to grow and thrive, our residents are able to access quality and affordable homes,” said Mayor John Tory.
This affordable rental housing project is supported by the City of Toronto and Generations Toronto, working with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to secure financing for the affordable housing portion of this project through their Rental Construction Financing Initiative (RCFI). Through the City’s Open Door Affordable Housing Program, City Council approved an estimated $17.5 million in financial value, such as property tax and development charge exemptions and permit fee waivers, to make this site possible.
“On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I am pleased to celebrate the ground breaking of this unique multigenerational campus, made possible in partnership with the City of Toronto and the Ismaili Council for Ontario. Our government is undertaking the most ambitious Long-Term Care building program in Canadian history and this project is just one more way we are delivering the quality care and access to affordable housing that senior’s across Ontario deserve,” said Premier Doug Ford.
This site is part of the Generations Toronto project in the wider Crosstown redevelopment plan, located at 844 Don Mills Rd., and 1150 and 1155 Eglinton Ave. E. The new crosstown community will be a mixed-use community and will include affordable ownership and rental housing, office uses, commercial and retail uses, a new City-owned child care facility, parkland and a community recreation centre.
Since the Open Door program was launched in 2016, incentives have been provided to support the creation of more than 21,700 affordable rental homes across Toronto. The HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan sets targets for the approval of 40,000 new affordable rental homes and 4,000 new affordable ownership homes by 2030.
The homes supported through the Open Door program help lower-income households, including racialized communities, seniors and essential workers who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, access safe, secure and affordable housing. These new developments will help to create more inclusive, mixed-income communities in neighbourhoods across Toronto, as envisioned in the HousingTO Action Plan.
“The unique characteristic of Generations is its focus on a community-centric model of care. This involves extensive volunteer engagement as well as reducing isolation and loneliness through frequent interaction with individuals and families of different ages and experiences,” said Karim Thomas, vice president of the Ismaili Council for Canada.
Featured image: (City of Toronto)
