By ALI RAZA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Lands owned by the City of Toronto on Danforth Avenue and Queen Street East are expected to have new affordable housing units built on them under the city’s second phase of its Housing Now initiative.
The sites proposed are 1627 and 1675 Danforth Ave. (the TTC Danforth Garage and Toronto Public Library branch) and 1631 Queen St. E. (former Beaches Employment and Social Services building).
Mayor John Tory made the announcement for phase two on May 26, under which 1,455 to 1,710 new residential units are expected to be built across five locations in Toronto (two of them in Beaches-East York).
Around 1,060 to 1,240 units will be purpose-built rentals, of which 530 to 620 will be affordable rental units – estimated to be affordable to households earning between $21,000 to $56,000 per year.
The other sites include 158 Borough Dr., 2444 Eglinton Ave. E., 405 Sherbourne St. , and 150 Queens Wharf Rd.
Housing Now is a city-led initiative aimed at increasing the supply of new affordable rental housing within mixed-income, mixed-use, and transit-oriented communities in Toronto.
The city has proposed particular sites in various communities to serve as spots for new affordable homes.
“We have to come together as communities to make sure we’re creating in full range of housing options to meet the diverse needs of all Torontonians,” Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford said.
“These sites will not only bring much needed housing relief, but also investment and positive transformation.”
In addition to affordable housing owned by the city, the sites will also have a form of market housing, available for renters, and market ownership units available for purchase.
The initiative is a component of the city’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, which set out a target of approving 40,000 affordable rental homes, including 18,000 supportive homes, over the next decade.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated housing challenges in the city for many residents, and as a result the city is looking to expedite delivery of the HousingTO plan working with provincial and federal partners.
“The need to increase the supply of permanent affordable rental housing is more urgent than ever and will make a profound contribution towards Toronto’s socio- and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Tory said in a statement.
Phase One of the initiative is already underway, expected to create 10,750 new residential homes, of which 7,800 will be purpose-built rental housing, and 3,900 will be affordable housing.
- Ali Raza is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for Beach Metro News. His reporting is funded by the Government of Canada through its Local Journalism Initiative.
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