Toronto – Mayor Olivia Chow was joined by Councillor Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale) to announce a new affordable rental housing development and community housing provider partnership at 35 Bellevue Ave. in Kensington Market, as well as the community housing partner for another development site at 11 Brock Ave.
35 Bellevue Ave.
The City of Toronto is pleased to partner with the Kensington Market Community Land Trust (KMCLT) and St. Clare’s Multifaith Housing Society (St. Clare’s) as the housing providers for 35 Bellevue Ave. who will lease and operate the project once it is completed. Dedicated to maintaining the social and economic diversity of the Kensington Market neighbourhood, KMCLT owns and operates affordable housing locally. St. Clare’s has managed supportive and affordable housing in Toronto for more than 20 years including in the Kensington Market community.
The building at 35 Bellevue Ave. will include approximately 78 new homes consisting of private studio and one-bedroom apartments with a kitchenette and bathroom and amenity spaces for tenants. The project is being constructed using mass timber building technology with sustainability and energy efficiency performance that meets or exceeds the City’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy goals and Toronto Green Standard V4.
These new homes will be dedicated to individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness and will be offered as rent-geared-to-income homes with no tenant paying more than 30 per cent of their income or the shelter allowance of their social assistance on rent. Tenants will also have access to a range of wrap-around support services intended to improve their housing stability, health and well-being.
11 Brock Ave.
Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) has been selected as the community housing provider for the development at 11 Brock Ave. PARC operates supportive homes in Toronto for adults experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, many with a history of homelessness.
PARC is working with the City throughout the design and construction process and will lease and operate the building once construction is completed in 2025. This development will create approximately 42 new rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Selecting these partners
Both housing partners were selected through a competitive process led by the City.
Construction at 35 Bellevue Ave. and 11 Brock Ave. is anticipated to start at the end of 2024, with residents moving into their new homes by the end of 2025.
The City has requested funding from the Province of Ontario to support the operating costs for support services at both sites. In total, the City requires an additional investment of $12 million annually beginning in 2025 for new supportive housing projects expected to complete construction in 2025 and 2026. The City has also requested the Province renew its current annual investment of $48 million for another three years to ensure the ongoing stability of support services in over 3,000 existing supportive homes in Toronto.
More information on 11 Brock Ave. can be found on the City’s website.
Updates on 35 Bellevue Ave. can be found here.
These new rental housing projects are being delivered under the City’s new Public Developer Delivery model, which will provide much-needed affordable and supportive homes. Under the Public Developer model, the City will take a greater role in the development process while accelerating the creation of non-market affordable rental homes for low- and moderate-income residents.
“Toronto is facing a serious housing affordability crisis that is growing at an alarming rate. Projects such as 11 Brock Ave. and 35 Bellevue Ave. are critical to fill the gap in bringing affordable and supportive rental housing to residents in the quickest way possible. I’m pleased to recognize KMLCT, St. Clare’s and PARC, who have been chosen to partner with the City on these projects on the back of their many years of partnership and support in the communities they operate in.” – Mayor Olivia Chow