Construction Begins on Affordable Housing Project at Dundas and Ossington

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The City of Toronto, in collaboration with CreateTO and the federal government, has commenced construction on a new rental housing project at Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue, aimed at providing affordable family-sized homes.

A surface parking lot located at the intersection of Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue has officially transitioned into a construction site. On Monday, the City of Toronto, along with CreateTO and the federal government, celebrated the groundbreaking of a new rental building at 1113–1125 Dundas Street West. This development will introduce 74 new residential units to the Trinity-Bellwoods neighborhood, with a commitment to affordability. Out of the total number of units, at least 17 will be designated as affordable housing, while over 40% of the building will consist of two- and three-bedroom units, catering specifically to families rather than just singles or couples.
The construction will utilize mass timber as the primary building material, and the project is designed to incorporate geothermal energy systems aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. The design and construction responsibilities are being handled entirely by Canadian firms, with Moriyama Teshima Architects and Montgomery Sisam Architects overseeing the design, and Pomerleau Construction serving as the builder.
This project represents a significant shift in the way the City of Toronto approaches housing development. It is being billed as the first project to be delivered under Toronto's public developer model, which allows the City to take a more proactive role in utilizing its own land. This model enables the City to set specific housing targets and expedites the approvals process, moving away from relying solely on private developers.
As of now, a non-profit housing provider has yet to be appointed to manage the building once it is completed. The funding for this initiative is a collaborative effort between the City of Toronto, which is providing the land along with capital funding and various incentives, and the federal government through its Build Canada Homes program.
Mayor Olivia Chow expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, "Today, we're turning City-owned land into new rental housing, including affordable and family-sized homes. By working with Build Canada Homes, we're building the housing Toronto needs so people who work here can afford to live here." Danielle Martin, the Member of Parliament for University–Rosedale, highlighted that this project marks the first construction initiative under the Build Canada Homes program within her riding, emphasizing its transformative potential.
"What was once a parking lot is now being reimagined and transformed into a place that hundreds of people will soon call home," she remarked. Ana Bailão, President and CEO of Build Canada Homes, noted that this project exemplifies what can be achieved when different levels of government collaborate on underutilized public land. Vic Gupta, CEO of CreateTO, mentioned that the agency currently has over 5,000 homes under construction on City-owned sites, with this project being the first under the new public developer model.
Furthermore, the Dundas Street project contributes to the City’s HousingTO plan, which aims to provide 65,000 new rent-controlled homes by the year 2030. This ambitious plan includes targets for 41,000 affordable rental units, 6,500 rent-geared-to-income units, and an additional 17,500 rent-controlled homes.

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