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Today is National Housing Day, and to mark the occasion, the City of Toronto and Riverdale Co-operative Houses announced the opening of 26 new affordable and accessible rental homes at 685 Queen Street East. The project has transformed and added to a heritage building in the city's Riverside neighbourhood, expanding its capacity more than twofold.
Built in 1904, the formerly stately house became part of Riverdale Co-op's portfolio in the 1970s, originally offering nine apartments. The accommodations became dated, and the need for more housing increased, so with funding secured, construction of its redevelopment began in 2022. The site has been reimagined into a five-storey, fully accessible complex, with five units reserved exclusively for professional artists.
Designed by KIRKOR Architects and Planners, GBCA Architects on heritage preservation, and The Planning Partnership as landscape architects, the redevelopment preserves the historic facade with a modern rear addition. Streetcar Developments oversaw the transformation.
To tackle ongoing housing challenges, the City of Toronto has introduced programs like the Rental Housing Supply Program, which offers funding and incentives for affordable housing on City and community housing lands. Similarly, the Community Housing Pre-Development Fund provides $15 million in interest-free loans to support development for housing providers.
"Co-ops create more than just an affordable home, they create community," said Mayor Olivia Chow. "In the midst of a housing crisis, it is heartwarming to see members of Riverdale Co-op who were previous residents of this building return to a fully revamped home and welcome new members to settle in this beautiful space."
"I'm so very happy the new Riverdale Co-op housing is complete, bringing more affordable and accessible co-operative housing to Toronto-Danforth," said Councillor Paula Fletcher. "A big welcome home to the residents who are moving back into their beautiful new building."
The building now includes six universally accessible units and ten barrier-free units accommodating residents with physical disabilities. This is Riverdale Co-op’s first home designed with full accessibility and the first in its portfolio to feature an elevator. Communal amenities include a community room complete with a kitchenette, a rooftop patio, bicycle storage, and a common laundry room.
This transformation was made possible through collaborative funding, with over $8 million contributed by the City of Toronto, including waived development fees, charges, and property taxes. Councillor Paula Fletcher directed $5 million from the Community Benefits Agreement tied to Streetcar Developments' adjacent Riverside Square development. As part of its funding agreement with the City, Riverdale Co-op has committed to maintaining the site as an affordable housing project in perpetuity. Additional support is expected from provincial and federal governments.
Housing charges are set at 80 percent of the Average Market Rent, while federal rent supplements will further assist with affordability for some residents. Priority for the new units has been given to returning residents and existing members of the Riverdale Co-op who require accessible housing.
This project contributes to the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, targeting 65,000 new rent-controlled homes, including 41,000 affordable rental units. The City has already approved over 23,000 affordable and supportive homes since 2020 but recognizes the need to accelerate construction to meet pressing demands. Initiatives such as the Rental Housing Supply Program and the Community Housing Pre-Development Fund have been launched to support the creation and maintenance of affordable housing, particularly within the non-profit and cooperative sectors.
Work on the redevelopment began in 2022, following years of planning and collaboration among volunteers, the Riverdale Co-op Board of Directors, and various consultants. The project represents a notable milestone for Riverdale Co-operative Houses, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
"As we mark National Housing Day, let's remember that we need to work together to ensure housing for all," shared Mayor Chow.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it 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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| Related Companies: | KIRKOR Architects and Planners, LEA Consulting, Live Patrol Inc. |
