Ontario Supporting New Affordable Housing Development

Headshot of the Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli
Photo: Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli

Unlocking Surplus Provincial Land to Create Mixed-Income Homes in Toronto

Ontario is transforming surplus provincial land into a new residential community with plans to build hundreds of mixed-income homes in Toronto’s Thistletown neighbourhood — giving more people access to a safe, affordable home.

Premier Kathleen Wynne was joined by Mayor John Tory at the Grosvenor Street YMCA to announce that the land will be made available for development and the plan to launch the process to secure a developer. The provincially owned site at Kipling and Finch avenues will become home to a new mixed-income community with a mix of affordable housing for rent or sale, as well as housing for sale at market rates. The rest of the site will be protected as green space for future residents to enjoy. The new community will be fully accessible by transit, and the Thistletown development will also be convenient to the Finch West LRT, slated to open in 2022.

As part of Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan, the government is leveraging the value of surplus provincial land across Ontario to develop new housing units for individuals, families and seniors, starting with sites in Toronto. Up to 35 per cent of the units will be dedicated to various types of much-needed affordable housing. Developing these sites will increase the housing supply and pave the way to create flourishing mixed-income communities in areas close to transit and employment.

Ensuring that everyone in Ontario has a safe and affordable place to call home is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Quick Facts

  • Turning surplus lands into new housing is one of 16 comprehensive measures under Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan to bring stability to the real estate market, protect the investments of homeowners and ensure that more people can find a home that fits their budget.
  • In September, Ontario announced that it will partner with the City of Toronto to create new mixed-use housing on surplus provincial land in the West Don Lands and near Yonge and College streets.
  • Last December, Ontario passed legislation to create more affordable housing. This includes allowing municipalities to implement inclusionary zoning, which requires that residential developments include affordable housing units.
  • The City of Toronto lists Thistletown as one of 31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas requiring special attention.

Additional Resources

Quotes

“Everyone in Ontario deserves to have a safe and affordable place to live. I am excited by the opportunities that will be possible with the creation of this new community in Thistletown. Working together with the City of Toronto, we’re making renting or buying a home more accessible for people — no matter their income — and creating hundreds of new places for people to call home in Thistletown.”

Kathleen Wynne

Premier of Ontario

“By unlocking these lands, we are helping individuals, families and seniors find the affordable and market housing they need. We believe increasing housing options for people from all walks of life will help build stronger, more inclusive communities. We are working hard to increase the supply of housing in Ontario.”

Peter Milczyn

Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy

“Infrastructure isn’t just bricks and mortar; it is about enhancing quality of life and building affordable, liveable communities to call home. Part of our plan to build better lives is maximizing the social and economic benefits of our public properties. That is why we are pleased to provide the City of Toronto with more opportunities to move forward with the development of affordable housing.”

Bob Chiarelli

Minister of Infrastructure

“To keep Toronto affordable for people of all ages and income levels, we need all governments working together to take real action on housing. By making surplus provincial lands available for the development of new affordable housing in the Thistletown community, the Province is demonstrating its commitment to working with the City of Toronto to meet the needs of residents and to help us increase the supply of affordable housing across our city.”

John Tory

Mayor of Toronto

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