City says more than 4,200 housing units are being built in South Etobicoke that will provide affordable housing for thousands.
More than 4,200 homes, including affordable housing, are being built or will soon be built in South Etobicoke in the next couple of years, according to City officials.
The homes are being built on City-owned lands, or property being expropriated by the City as part of a CreateTO housing program.
A CreateTO report was issued to City officials that looked into the delivery of 65,000 new affordable housing to address Toronto’s deepening housing and homelessness crisis.
A City notice that more housing units are being built in the community that will take years.
Construction has begun at 5207 Dundas Street West, in the Bloor Street West and Kipling Area, near a new Etobicoke Civic Centre.
Some 2,781 residential homes, of which 904 will be affordable housing, are being built in five blocks of the Bloor and Kipling area, where for former Westwood Theatre stood, according to the report.
The homes, which are expected to be completed by 2027, will be ‘situated within a complete community that will also include the new Etobicoke Civic Centre and new City parks,’ according to Housing Now.
Residents are demanding more affordable housing that is slow on arriving.
Some 725 new residential homes, including 218 affordable housing will be built on the 5207 Dundas Street W. site, according to the City.
City officials are also working on expropriating part of the Hydro Corridor just north of Bloor Street West and Islington Avenue area to build another 1,453 homes, which will include almost 500 affordable rental units.
City staff are expected to reach an agreement with Hydro for the purchase of the land in July.
The lands will be used to build a new public road for the community that is planned for the Bloor and Islington TTC bus terminal area, which is being redeveloped into condos and townhomes.
The City plans to build 65,000 housing units, including affordable housing, in the next few years.
“Safe, secure, affordable housing is an important social determinant of health,” according to the City report. “It improves the social and economic status of individuals, families and communities.”
City officials said good quality, affordable housing is the cornerstone of vibrant, healthy neighbourhoods and supports the environmental and economic health of the city, region and country.
The housing will include communities of townhomes and apartment units.
Housing officials said they have designated three sites in the City for priority housing, four other sites are being secured for housing and seven have been zoned for housing and are being tracked by staff, according to the report.
It said four sites are in the final stages of being obtained for housing and one site has hit the market.
The report said new affordable housing will increase the opportunity for marginalized individuals, including Indigenous Peoples, Black people, people of colour, seniors, women, and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community to access safe, healthy and adequate homes.