The Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and The Daniels Corporation have announced plans for the third phase of the redevelopment of Regent Park. Encompassing over 46 acres when combined with the initial two phases, this latest initiative will continue the process of replacing social housing units while providing market condominiums and new community infrastructure. Covering 15-acres, development will replace the structures on the north and south side of Dundas Street East bounded by Sackville, River, Oak and Shuter Streets. The current proposal, contingent on approval from City Council, will see the addition of three new streets, retails units along Dundas Street East, over 550 replacement social housing units and more than 2000 market condominiums. Together with the preceding phases, an impressive 65% of the Regent Park redevelopment will be either underway or already completed.

Map showing the planned phases of redevelopment, image courtesy of TCHC.

Martin Blake, Vice President of The Daniels Corporation, image by Craig White.

Martin Blake, Vice President of The Daniel Corporation, spoke about the company's commitment to delivering a full neighbourhood in Regent Park, and not just bricks and mortar. Daniels is thrilled that some much has come about to turn around the neighbourhood in such a short time.

A student from the local elementary school examines plans for the third phase of Regent Park, image by Craig White.

In addition to the new housing, the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) Team Up Foundation has proposed to construct a state-of-the-art athletic grounds. The Regent Park Athletic Grounds will include a children's playground, community garden, a new soccer field that can be converted to a cricket pitch, a basketball court and an improved ice rink. The new sports infrastructure will serve to reverse decades worth of stigma associated with Regent Park, attracting not only those within the neighborhood but also the larger downtown eastside, overcoming the de-facto barrier that formerly existed around the district.

Rendering of The Regent Park Athletic Grounds, image courtesy of TCHC.

Tom Anselmi, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment speaks about the involvement of the Team Up Foundation in the neighbourhood's transformation, image by Craig White.

Speaking on behalf of the Team Up Foundation, Tom Anselmi, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment said "We refurbish sports facilities, and fund sports and recreational programs because we believe that all kids should have the opportunity to play sports. Our job is to change the lives of kids through the power and spirit of sports. Sports opens a lot of doors for kids; it teaches leadership, teamwork, and it creates positive social change. A lot of kids don't get to experience sports, and it's usually because of a lack of facilities, lack of funding, lack of leadership, and that's something that we can do something about."

Former Maple Leaf Captain Wendel Clark speaks about the work of the Team Up Foundation, image by Craig White.

Following the completion of the 5-phase Regent Park redevelopment, the neighbourhood will house approximately 12,500 residents and a variety of new community spaces. 2,083 units will be rent-geared-to-income units while 700 will be affordable rental units and over 3,000 will be market condominiums. To learn more about several of the projects which have already been completed or are underway in the neighbourhood, links to our dataBase entries have been provided below.