Toronto breaks ground on first affordable housing project with city as builder

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The groundbreaking of Toronto’s first affordable housing project under the Public Developer Delivery (PDD) model at 11 Brock Ave. on Monday marks a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to address housing affordability.

“The City of Toronto is back in the business of building housing, because we must,” Mayor Olivia Chow said at the groundbreaking.

Approved by council in July 2024, the PDD model is designed to expedite the creation of non-market, affordable rental housing on city-owned land. The goal is to streamline the housing development process, with city staff taking a more active role in managing housing targets, fast-tracking approvals, and overseeing construction.

The 11 Brock Ave. development plans were submitted last year by SvN Architects + Planners on behalf of Govan Brown Building Group, the Housing Secretariat, and Corporate Real Estate Management at the City of Toronto.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of next year, in the Parkdale neighborhood and will create 42 rent-geared-to-income and supportive housing units in a four-story building for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

“This project is an important step toward ensuring that everyone in Toronto has a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “By working with community partners like PARC, we are providing housing to those most in need and demonstrating that Toronto is back in the housing business.”

Additional ‘housing ready’ sites will also be developed under the PDD model, including

• 35 Bellevue Ave.
• 405 Sherbourne St.
• 1113-1117 Dundas St. W. – Toronto’s first mass-timber housing site
• 150 Queens Wharf Rd.

Construction at 35 Bellevue Ave. is set to begin later this week.

The development at 11 Brock Ave., which was acquired from the Province of Ontario in 2019 for $3.25 million, received a federal grant of $21.6 million through the Rapid Housing Initiative in 2023. The City is also contributing capital funding and pre-development incentives, including waived fees and property taxes, to ensure the project moves forward efficiently.

Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) will manage the building and support its residents.

“PARC is proud to partner with the city to expand supportive housing in Parkdale, where the need for affordable housing is critical,” said Victor Willis, Executive Director of PARC. “This project will provide stable homes for 42 people who need it most, strengthening our community and helping to break the cycle of homelessness.”

Councillor Gord Perks, chair of the planning and housing committee, emphasized the significance of this project in addressing Toronto’s growing housing needs. “This new development will set a standard for City-led housing projects and demonstrates the City’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis head-on,” he said.

For more information about the 11 Brock Ave. project and the HousingTO Action Plan, visit the City of Toronto’s official website.