A 3.3-acre site in Leslieville, previously home to two 60-unit rent-geared-to-income (RGI) buildings managed by the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, has been transformed into a new mixed-income, mixed-tenure community called Don Summerville.

The revitalization is part of a five-year plan led by the City of Toronto and TCHC, in partnership with RioCan and Context Development. The project delivers a total of 770 new homes across three buildings: 120 RGI homes, 100 affordable rental homes, 183 market rental homes and 367 condominium units. There is also 16,000 square feet of new retail space.

As part of the development, the community will also include a privately owned public space  (POP)—a dedicated open space that will be accessible for public use.

The developers recently celebrated the opening of the new homes, marking a significant milestone in Toronto’s efforts to boost housing supply. The project contributes to the City’s HousingTO target, which aims to approve 65,000 rent-controlled and affordable homes by 2030.

“The work on the Don Summerville community was very compelling from a builder’s standpoint,” said Howard Cohen, principle, Context Development. “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 that includes affordable rental, market condominiums and rentals, and co-op housing options, all situated within dynamic architecture that honours the Queen Street streetscape while overlooking Ashbridges Bay.”

Within the market rental and condo buildings, there are 82 affordable homes including: 50 affordable homes that will house women and their families through a partnership between the developer and local community agencies; 32 co-operative homes, including 17 RGI and 15 affordable homes, with some units allocated for artists; and 32 co-operative homes, including 17 RGI and 15 affordable homes, with some units allocated for artists.