The Province of Ontario recently announced that it will be supporting Cherry Place, a mixed long term care centre and affordable housing project in a joint development by The Rekai Centres and Options for Homes in Toronto's West Don Lands. Following extensive negotiations with the City of Toronto, Rekai Centres (a non-profit long-term care housing organization), and Options for Homes (a non-profit condominium developer), are set to transform a piece of undeveloped land at Cherry Street north of front Front Street. 

Current condition of the Rekai and Options for Homes development site, looking North on Front Street East, image via Google

Situated on a vacant strip of Cherry Street between Front and Eastern Avenue—and directly across from the Cooper Koo Family YMCA—the project is slated to include 200 long-term beds on the lower floors and 200 affordable housing units on the upper floors.

The development will provide a modern home for Rekai—replacing their existing facility at 345 Sherbourne Street and the 126 beds there—allowing for more flexible care options and increased privacy as the needs and demands of their residents develop. The affordable housing units above would also address housing demands by marketing the units towards families and seniors, who often face limited—if any—choice in the Downtown market. 

Current condition of the Rekai and Options for Homes development site, looking South on Eastern Avenue, image via Google

Situated in the young—and quickly growing—West Don Lands area, the new development will allow the Rekai Centre to continue serving the Downtown population, something that has become increasingly difficult as land prices and population rise. 

Aerial view of the site, image via Google

Architectural details of the project itself have not been released yet, but with an anticipated completion date of 2020, it will likely be released in the coming months. We will keep you updated as this story develops and as more details emerge. In the meantime, feel free to engage in discussions in the comment section below, or join in the conversation in our dedicated Forum thread

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