Toronto – Mayor Olivia Chow marked the start of construction on the City of Toronto’s first affordable housing project delivered through the Public Developer Delivery model at 11 Brock Ave.
Toronto City Council approved the Public Developer Delivery model in July to accelerate the creation of non-market, affordable rental homes for low- and moderate-income residents on City-owned lands. Taking a more direct approach to how City lands are used, the City is responsible for setting housing targets, expediting development reviews and approvals, as well as participating in the construction process.
In addition to 11 Brock Ave., there are four additional City-owned ‘housing ready’ sites that will see an accelerated construction start, including at 35 Bellevue Ave., 405 Sherbourne St., 1113-1117 Dundas St. W. (City’s first mass-timber site), and 150 Queens Wharf Rd. In fact, ground-breaking at 35 Bellevue is scheduled for later this week.
New affordable and supportive homes in Parkdale
Set to be completed by the end of 2025, the development at 11 Brock Ave. will create approximately 42 new rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Tenants at 11 Brock Ave. will be able to access safe, affordable and independent living spaces. The building will feature private apartments, each with a bathroom and kitchen, plus shared laundry, a communal kitchen and a common programming area.
These new homes 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 to improve their housing stability, health and well-being.
The City has partnered with Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) as the community housing provider for 11 Brock Ave. PARC operates supportive homes in Toronto for adults experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, many with a history of homelessness.
More information about 11 Brock Ave. can be found on the City’s website.
Intergovernmental partnership
The property at 11 Brock Ave. was previously owned by the Province of Ontario and was acquired by the City in 2019 for $3.25 million for the purpose of supportive and affordable housing. In 2023, the project received federal capital grant funding of $21,621,509 through phase 3 of the Rapid Housing Initiative. The City will also contribute capital funding and has approved more than $3.4 million in pre-development funding and financial incentives to the project, including waived fees and property taxes.
Beginning in 2025, annual operating funding of at least $1.2 million is required from the Province of Ontario for the support services planned for this building. The City has requested the Province renew its current annual investment of $48 million for another three years to ensure the ongoing stability of support services in more than 3,000 existing supportive homes in Toronto. In addition, the City requires provincial investment of $12 million annually beginning in 2025 for new supportive housing projects expected to complete construction in 2025 and 2026.
The new homes at 11 Brock Ave. will contribute to the City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan (HousingTO Plan) target to deliver 65,000 new rent-controlled homes, including 41,000 affordable rental, 6,500 rent-geared-to-income (RGI) and 17,500 rent-controlled homes. The City is seeking approximately $7.6 to $8.1 billion in funding and $6.4 to $7 billion in low-cost financing from the federal government, and approximately $9.1 to $9.6 billion in funding and $6.4 to $7 billion in financing from the provincial government to achieve its HousingTO targets over the next six years.
More information on the HousingTO Plan can be found on the City’s website.
“No one in Toronto should be without shelter, particularly the most vulnerable among us. This project will provide 42 homes to those experiencing or at or at risk of experiencing homelessness. I want to congratulate PARC and all involved on this important project. Toronto is back in the housing business.” – Mayor Olivia Chow