The number of people actively experiencing homelessness in Toronto continues to grow. Learn more about why supportive housing is so important from the people who live and work there by watching this video.
To respond to this urgent need, a three-storey modular housing building is planned for 175 Cummer Ave. to be located next to Willowdale Manor. Each of the approximately 59 studio apartments would be self-contained with a twin bed, a private eat-in kitchen and a bathroom. The building would also include a laundry facility, a kitchen and dining room, program space and administrative offices. The building is designed to support individuals who are exiting homelessness. A local non-profit housing provider will manage the building and provide support services to the tenants under an agreement with the City.
In August 2022, City Council’s adoption of the zoning by-law for 175 Cummer Avenue was appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). This hearing was held in November 2023, and in January 2024 the OLT released its decision to dismiss the appeal and rule in the City’s favour. The OLT decision stands, and zoning is in place to permit the proposed development to proceed.
Community Update: October 2024
Three community virtual engagement sessions have been completed to provide additional information about the proposed project and answer your questions.
Supportive housing is a combination of deeply affordable housing and on-site supports that enable people to live as independently as possible. Supportive housing can help people stabilize their lives, help them stay housed and positively contribute to communities. Learn more about supportive housing here.
Two sites that are part of the City’s modular housing initiative were formally announced on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 and stakeholder and community outreach started the same day. As part of the ongoing community engagement process meeting notices were distributed via Canada Post to more than 1,300 residents in the area starting on February 23, 2021. This is part of phase 2 of the modular housing initiative initially approved by City Council in April 2020, through which Council approved creation of 250 modular supportive homes on City-owned sites in 2020 and 2021, using Council approved criteria to select the sites. City staff were directed by Council to identify and expedite the development of modular supportive housing to alleviate pressures on the shelter system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 9, 2022 City Council directed staff to initiate a municipal zoning by-law amendment process to permit the proposed development. Planning and Housing Committee will consider the final Zoning By-Law Amendment report on April 27, 2022, followed by City Council on May 11.
An initial Planning report was considered by Planning and Housing Committee on March 2, 2021 and City Council on March 10, 2021. The second report, which included feedback from the March community engagement meeting, is was considered by Planning and Housing Committee on May 20, 2021 and City Council at the June 8, 2021 meeting. At that meeting, City Council requested that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing make a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) to permit the proposed development. As of March 2022, the MZO has not been made.
The parcel of land where the new modular site will be located currently shares the same address as TCHC’s Willowdale Manor (175 Cummer) until it is assigned a new address closer to the completion of the project. The Willowdale Manor building will remain for the foreseeable future.
The proposal will require some private trees located in the private green space to be removed, some existing trees to be preserved and protected, and some new replacement trees in accordance with the City’s Urban Forestry standards. A Landscape Plan has been provided demonstrating the location and species of new tree plantings, including large growing tree species, as compensation for tree removal. The Landscape Plan will be implemented upon completion of the construction.
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