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Today, the Ontario government unveiled plans to establish transit-oriented communities (TOCs) at six upcoming transit stations in Toronto, five along the forthcoming Ontario Line 3 and one along the Scarborough Subway Extension to Danforth Line 2, providing approximately 5,900 new residential units. The government's stated objectives are to enhance transit accessibility, generate over 1,900 jobs, and embed affordable housing options close to high-speed transit in eastern Toronto.
The vision for these new TOCs is for them to develop into active, mixed-use communities, providing a blend of residential living, employment space, retail, and public amenities such as parks and libraries. All of these facets are woven around the common thread of public transit, ensuring city-wide connectivity for residents. Infrastructure Ontario (IO) says it intends to collaborate closely with the City of Toronto, ensuring that these visions become tangible realities across these transit lines.
Along the Ontario Line, the Eastern Avenue community, (image above), positioned near the future East Harbour Transit Hub, is expected to introduce new housing and retail spaces into the area. Similarly, the Gerrard-Carlaw South community, (image below), is poised to offer a diverse mix set to also include office space. Both communities consist of one site designated for TOC redevelopment.
Two other communities, located near Pape and Cosburn stations, each have two designated sites, and are set to introduce a range of housing and retail offerings.
Private development proposals have already been submitted to the City of Toronto near both of these stations, so the TOC announcement would see further density near them. Plans here, immediately to the west of Parcel A above, also include the towering 49-storey structure at 656 Danforth Avenue, which would have a direct connection to Pape station, and would accommodate 496 units. The City, however, has rejected this initial proposal, looking for several changes to the plan.
Cosburn station's two blocks are both on the west side of Pape Avenue on either side of Cosburn.
Private proposals on the horizon in near Cosburn station include a 24-storey tower at 5 Cosburn Avenue with 424 units, and a 25-storey building harbouring 292 units at 26 Cosburn Avenue, both to the west the future station.
The Thorncliffe Park TOC is planned across four sites near that Ontario Line 3 station. Beyond housing and retail businesses, developing a new public realm and streetscape with extensive parkland are in the plans for this area.
One TOC development is also planned for the Scarborough Subway Extension; the Government of Ontario envisions the birth of its inaugural TOC right by the Lawrence station at McCowan Road, with one site designated for TOC use at this time.
The area has already seen private redevelopment proposals here such as 799 Brimley Road, which is set to feature a 14-storey condominium and 3-storey townhomes, jointly housing a total of 391 units.
The Ontario government says these plans go beyond isolated endeavours as part of its broader strategy, elucidated in their Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants plan from April, 2023, the goal of which is to tackle the housing supply crisis head-on by directly and indirectly facilitating at least 1.5 million new homes by 2031.
Toronto's approach to the TOC model aligns with global trends. Cities around the globe, including Vancouver, London, Sydney, the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington D.C., and Tokyo, have already implemented similar models, integrating residential and commercial spaces around pivotal transit hubs.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on these developments, and will create threads and Database files for each as specific information comes in. In the meantime, if you'd like, you can leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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