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Taking Action on Housing SEAN GADON, DIRECTOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFFICE CITY OF TORONTO MAY 10, 2016
Taking Action on Housing
SEAN GADON, DIRECTOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OFFICE
CITY OF TORONTO
MAY 10, 2016
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Power of Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing Office
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The Economic Power of
Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing Office
Economic impact of housing through:
• Production of goods and services
• Jobs created directly and indirectly
• Income generated
• Taxes on revenue generated
The City of Toronto is committed to creating affordable housing in all neighbourhoods.
Annual Targets• 1,000 affordable rental homes
• 400 affordable ownership homes
Affordable Housing Office
2010-2020 Affordable Housing
Action Plan
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Policy Statement
It is the policy of the City of Toronto that fair access to a full range of housing is fundamental to strengthening Toronto’s economy, its environmental efforts, and the health and social well-being of its residents and communities.
Affordable Housing Office
Toronto’s Housing Charter
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Affordable Housing Office
Political Champions
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Mayor Tory, City’s Housing Advocate, and City’s Poverty Advocate announce creating more affordable
housing at 200 Madison Avenue.
• Toronto’s Open Door Program
• Provincial 2016 Budget and Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy
• Federal 2016 Budget and commitment to a National Housing Strategy
Affordable Housing Office
City, Provincial and Federal Action
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• 474 affordable rental and ownership homes under construction on five City of Toronto surplus sites under the new Open Door Program
• The sites will contain a mix of 1,500 affordable and market homes
• $30 million in construction activity creating some 3,000 direct and indirect jobs
Affordable Housing Office
Five City Sites for
474 Affordable Homes
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• Developments started with the principal of inclusion where affordable rental and ownership housing is mixed within residential housing buildings and communities
• Developments include a range of approaches to making available city surplus lands for affordable housing
• Represent innovation in housing delivery and a mix of investments from the three orders of government
Affordable Housing Office
Five City Sites -
What they have in Common
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Affordable Housing Office
Aquavista at Bayside
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Waterfront TO
• 80 affordable rental homes owned by the City of Toronto and embedded in a mixed use development on Toronto’s waterfront
• Under construction -opening in 2018 – Artscape operating under a 50 year lease
Affordable Housing Office
Weston Community/Cultural Hub
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33 King Street
• Revitalization initiative on a former City parking lot and an existing private apartment complex - 26 artist live-work homes in the podium of the existing apartment building plus six affordable accessible rental homes in the market building
• Opening in 2019 with Artscape operating the 26 live-work homes and the six accessible homes operated by the developer
Affordable Housing Office
Madison View Homes
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200 Madison Avenue
• Former Toronto Hydro site located in the Casa Loma community
• 82 rental homes under a 50 year lease with Madison View Homes
• Opening 2019 – referrals and supports from non-profit agencies
Affordable Housing Office
The Rocket at Tippett Road
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• Planning regeneration area which includes a mix of buildings and tenure
• City has secured 30% of the homes – 250 units –as affordable housing
• Rental homes affordable for 25 years
• 20% down payment assistance for affordable ownership purchasers
Affordable Housing Office
Affordable Housing in City Place
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Block 36 North, Railway Lands
• Site was former Canada Lands
property transferred to the City
• City established an affordable
housing requirement
• Block 36 North to provide some
80 rental homes
• RFP closed with results in July
2016 – construction start 2017
• Will operate under a 50 year
lease – mix of rent levels
Affordable Housing Office
Ingredients for Success
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� Create and activate an inventory of surplus lands for housing
� Commit to making land available on favourable terms
� Embed affordable housing in planning policies and prioritize
affordable housing program funding and incentives for
surplus lands
� Sustained federal/provincial funding
� Commit to innovate - share risk among partners – and a
culture of collaboration
Affordable Housing Office
New Directions and Opportunities
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Some suggestions:
� Drill down on opportunities to develop new homes within existing
social housing
� Jump on partnership opportunities where new development is
happening
� Be “shovel ready” to act on emerging federal/provincial/municipal
policy and program opportunities
Contact Information
Sean Gadon, Director
Affordable Housing Office
City Of Toronto
416-338-1143
www.toronto.ca/affordablehousing
