Toronto will start 3 housing developments this year

After much criticism of its slow start, the City of Toronto's Housing Now initiative is on track to make big strides this year.

To be considered at the agency's upcoming meeting Friday morning, CreateTO CEO Vic Gupta said an update by CreateTO CEO Vic Gupta says development approvals are currently underway for 10 of the 22 sites identified across the city, with three expected to begin. construction in a certain period of this year.

Among those three sites is 5207 Dundas Street West. Although the city celebrated its renovation in August, Gupta's update says construction on the site began earlier this month, on Feb. 1, after the partnership finalized its loan agreement with outside financing partners at CMHC.

Housing Now will soon host a mixed-use community with 725 new homes, including 218 affordable rental homes. Site development was awarded to Kilmer Group and Tricon Residential.

In addition to 5207 Dundas, two other “priority properties” are expected to begin construction this year: 50 Wilson Heights Boulevard and 140 Merton Street.

At 50 Wilson Heights — which will house 1,484 new units, including 520 affordable rentals, 520 market-rate rentals and 444 market-rate condominiums — the report says the bidding team has issued a bid package for the site and drafted a construction release. Services application. The first phase of the project is expected to be launched this spring.

It adds that CreateTO leadership “will continue to work closely with supporters at CMHC and external funding partners to accelerate funding for this priority project.”

In addition, 140 Mertons have been granted revised zoning, bringing 294 new rental homes to the area. The report notes that the site is managed by a local organization and that the land is intended for housing for local elders and other senior citizens.

The project development team, led by Missanabie Cree First Nation and EllisDon Community Builders, held a formal pre-application site plan meeting with the Priority Development Review Group and construction will begin in September.

In addition, Gupta's report provides updates on the seven sites being developed as part of the Housing Now program, including those that currently have support groups (777 Victoria Park Ave., 705 Warden Ave. and 2444 East Eglinton Ave.). market sensing progress (Parkdale Hub and 263 Queens Quay East) and sites awaiting final zoning approval (Bloor Islington and 1631 Queen Street East).

Since the program launched in January 2019, the city has identified 22 sites in Toronto that are now available for housing. These sites will produce more than 16,000 new homes, around a third of which are affordable rental homes.