Keys to the City: A New Dawn in Leslieville - Don Summerville Community Opens with 770 Mixed-Income Homes — The new mixed-income Don Summerville co (CNW Group/Toronto Community Housing Corporation)

A Landmark Revitalization

Toronto has officially opened the doors to the newly redeveloped Don Summerville Community at 1070 Eastern Avenue, marking a significant milestone in the city’s pursuit of affordable, inclusive housing.

The 3.3-acre site, formerly home to two aging TCHC buildings with 120 Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) units, has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-tenure neighbourhood — offering a total of 770 homes alongside 16,000 square feet of new retail space.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 1, Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor Paula Fletcher, and TCHC leadership were joined by federal and private-sector partners to celebrate the completion of a five-year redevelopment plan that exemplifies what Toronto’s affordable housing future can look like.

What’s Inside the New Community

Delivered through a public-private partnership between Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), Context Development, and RioCan, the newly completed development includes:

120 RGI units (fully replaced from the original buildings)
100 affordable rental homes
183 market rental units
367 condominium units
16,000 sq. ft. of retail + a Privately-Owned Public Space (POPS)

Integrated within the market and condo buildings are 82 affordable units with special allocations:

50 units for women and families, in partnership with local community agencies
32 co-op homes, including 17 RGI and 15 affordable units, with some reserved for artists

Why It Matters

This isn’t just another housing development. It’s a model for Toronto’s future — where affordability, livability, and community are prioritized together.

“This community is a model of what we can achieve across the city,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “Every Torontonian deserves to live in a home that they’re proud of, and in a neighbourhood where they can thrive.”

Councillor Paula Fletcher, who has represented the ward throughout the project’s evolution, called it “a very special project for our east-end community.”

From Vision to Reality

Announced in 2018, construction of Don Summerville began in 2021 following the relocation of TCHC tenants in 2020. Those tenants are now returning to brand new, energy-efficient homes, built in the heart of Leslieville, just steps from Lake Ontario, Ashbridges Bay, and transit on the 501 Queen line.

For developer partner Howard Cohen of Context Development, the transformation was about more than units:

“We were able to maximize the footprint of two old buildings and a whole lot of unused space to build a new community for hundreds of families.”

A Broader Commitment

With the City targeting 65,000 new affordable and rent-controlled homes by 2030, Don Summerville is a major leap forward. And with federal, provincial, and private-sector support, projects like this could serve as blueprints for revitalization citywide.

This Fall, as families move in and local retail begins to flourish, the Don Summerville community stands as a bold reminder of what is possible when partnership, purpose, and people come together.

About This Series

“Keys to the City” is GTA Weekly’s weekly spotlight on affordable housing developments across the Greater Toronto Area. From groundbreaking new builds to revitalized communities, we cover the projects shaping the future of housing.

🏙️ Keys to the City: A New Dawn in Leslieville – Don Summerville Community Opens with 770 Mixed-Income Homes

Toronto's east end welcomes one of its most ambitious revitalizations to date.