Habitat for Humanity GTA breaks ground on 33-home project at Coxwell and Gerrard

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

Habitat for Humanity celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking for its project at Coxwell Avenue and Gerrard Street East earlier this week.

“Habitat for Humanity GTA is building a vibrant new community at 355 Coxwell Avenue designed for working families in the heart of Toronto’s east end,” said the description for the new project on Habitat for Humanity’s website.

The new six-storey building will bring 33 “attainable ownership homes” to East Toronto, including three-bedroom units, two-bedroom units, and one-bedroom suites.

Of the 33 new homes, 22 are expected to be large enough to accommodate families.

Habitat for Humanity GTA officials were joined by Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford and Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the building on the morning of Monday, Oct. 6.

Habitat for Humanity’s website emphasized the new development is within proximity of transit, parks, schools, as well as many local shops and services such as cafés and grocery stores.

In an interview with Beach Metro Community News at the Oct. 6 ceremony, Bradford stressed an importance for the city to prioritize more affordable housing.

“I think affordable homeownership is very important and needs to be more of a priority in the City of Toronto,” said Bradford. “People want pathways to home ownership, they want pathways to building equity, and the Habitat for Humanity model has been built and evolved to do that in today’s context.”

According to an Ontario government news release, prices at 355 Coxwell Ave. will “reflect amounts that are attainable for households with income between the 60th and 70th percentile in the City of Toronto.”

“Homes will be sold at fair market value with a maximum purchaser contribution of $500,000 in 2025, indexed to future annual inflation levels,” said the provincial news release for the project.

The Ontario government has invested $10 million in the Coxwell project and has tasked the city with reviewing applications from potential homebuyers, determining eligibility and administering the sale of units.

Bradford expressed his support of Habitat for Humanity’s work to establish affordable housing through the project, stating that “it can’t happen soon enough.”

For Habitat for Humanity GTA’s CEO Ene Underwood, the Coxwell project is a “multi-level government collaboration with non-profits and the private sector,” to establish “lasting affordability” in the city.

“The parents, children, and future generations who will call this place home will thrive, living in quality housing close to schools, transit, parks and more. The surrounding community will be stronger, more diverse, and more equitable as a result—and that benefits us all,” said Underwood in the provincial news release.

Construction is now underway at the Coxwell site, with sales expected to begin early next year and the homes ready for occupancy by mid 2027.

For more information about the 355 Coxwell Ave. project, visit: https://habitatgta.ca/coxwell/