Toronto seeks master developer for new island

Key Takeaways:

• Waterfront Toronto has issued an RFQ to select a master developer for the first 700-unit mixed-income residential block on the new island of Ookwemin Minising.
• The development is backed by $1.4 billion in finalized tri-government flood protection infrastructure and an additional $975 million for localized roads and utilities.
• The first residential phase mandates a 30% affordable rental housing allocation, positioned alongside the newly established Biidaasige Park.

The Whole Story:

Waterfront Toronto has achieved a major milestone in the city’s Port Lands transformation by officially issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to secure a development partner for the first residential buildings on the newly created island neighbourhood of Ookwemin Minising. The bidding process represents the initial phase of a multi-decade buildout aimed at constructing a complete, mixed-income community on the master-planned island.

The activation of the new island neighbourhood has been unlocked by $1.4 billion in tri-government investments dedicated to extensive flood protection infrastructure, brand-new parks, and bridges. An additional $975 million has been allocated to construct the necessary grid of streets, utilities, and public spaces. Together, this capital funding will lay the groundwork to support up to 14,000 new homes across both Ookwemin Minising and the neighboring Quayside development.

The initial development block brought to market through the RFQ is expected to deliver approximately 700 residential units. As part of the city’s Toronto Builds portfolio—which leverages public land to address ongoing housing scarcity—the block features a mandatory target of 30% affordable rental units. Future residents will be located directly adjacent to Biidaasige Park, a sprawling green space designated as the largest park to open in Toronto in a generation.

With comprehensive zoning guidelines already codified and flood protection works fully finalized, early construction on the island’s enabling infrastructure is scheduled to begin later this year. The community’s long-term viability will be anchored by the future Waterfront East Rapid Transit Line, a transit project advanced under a separate tri-government funding partnership in March 2026 to link the eastern waterfront directly to downtown Toronto. Over its full development lifecycle, the broader waterfront revitalization is projected to create 100,000 skilled trade jobs and inject $13.2 billion into the provincial economy.

“Ookwemin Minising represents a generational opportunity to build a complete waterfront community,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “Thanks to strong collaboration between all levels of government and Waterfront Toronto, we are delivering new homes, including affordable housing, on public land.” Federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson stated that the RFQ marks a crucial operational step toward capitalizing on historic public sector infrastructure investments, while Ontario’s Acting Minister of Infrastructure Todd McCarthy noted that the project is a centerpiece of the province’s capital plan to establish vibrant, mixed-use economic hubs.