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A step toward addressing affordable housing needs was celebrated by the City of Toronto yesterday with the opening of Birchmount Green, a recently completed development that brings 220 mixed affordable and supportive rental homes to central Scarborough. Mayor Olivia Chow, MP Salma Zahid, and other partners were in attendance for the opening on December 12th. Located at 1236 Birchmount Road in the Wexford-Maryvale neighbourhood, the building is a small but significant step in the City's efforts to provide housing solutions for low-and moderate-income households.
The construction of Birchmount Green was supported by the City of Toronto's Open Door program along with federal funding. The programs are instrumental in providing capital funding and incentives to non-profit and private sector housing developers to facilitate the creation of affordable housing. For Birchmount Green, The City of Toronto is working with six not-for-profit referral partners: Bellwoods Community Living Centres, Community Living Toronto, Fred Victor Centre, LOFT Community Service, The Redwood, and WoodGreen Community Housing.
Prospective tenants at Birchmount Green are chosen through a randomized selection process, managed by those six partners. This process ensures equitable access to affordable homes, aligning with the city's broader housing strategy. This process is an interim measure, with the City developing a Centralized Access for Affordable Rental Housing.
Mayor Chow spoke on the Birchmount Green development, saying "This is the kind of supportive community we want to build here in Scarborough and beyond. Birchmount Green is an example of what is possible when government, non-profit housing and service providers work together to build affordable homes. I am grateful to the incredible partners we have had the privilege of working with throughout this process who share our commitment to making housing affordable and I look forward to seeing more such integrated communities grow across the City."
Alongside other community leaders and partners, Mayor Chow highlighted the development's role in enhancing the city's housing landscape. She was joined by Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre, Councillor Michael Thompson of Scarborough Centre, and Tim Neeb, President of Birchmount Green, Inc. MP Zahid's statement includes " The Birchmount Green project represents the accomplishments of so many people and organizations, from our federal government to our partners. This collaboration between key community stakeholders and different levels of government demonstrates how working together can improve an entire community. I wish the new residents great success in their new homes.”
This 15-storey affordable housing rental building, designed by Chamberlain Architect Services Limited for Mahogany Management, features a mix of 220 units, of which 98 of the tenants have been randomly selected from a wait-list for people who qualify within particular income ranges: 88 units are rent-geared-to-income where housing costs do not exceed 30 percent of that household's income, while 10 units are set to the average market rent (AMR), defined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. As for the remaining 122 units, they are not to exceed AMR.
Adding to the inclusivity of the project, Birchmount Green includes 45 accessible homes, aligning with the City's vision of creating accommodating spaces for all residents. The building boasts a range of amenities designed to foster community engagement and well-being. These include a large amenity room with outdoor greenery, an accessible rooftop garden, children's play areas, and bicycle storage. The development also houses offices for support service organizations, further embedding social services within the residential community.
The building also hosts "The Social Brew, Café, and Marketplace," an on-site coffee shop that doubles as a social enterprise. Managed by Community Living Toronto and Corbrook Awakening Abilities, the café provides employment and barista training opportunities for adults living with a disability, exemplifying the project's commitment to social inclusion and community development.
The Birchmount Green project aligns with the city's ambitious HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. Developed after extensive public and stakeholder consultation, the plan sets a 10-year agenda focusing on the entire housing spectrum. The building contributes to the plan's goal of creating 65,000 new rent-controlled homes, including rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes, particularly targeting individuals transitioning from homelessness.
You can learn more about Birchmount Green from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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