Work begins on affordable mass timber housing in Toronto

Key Takeaways:

• The 11 Brock Ave. development will create 42 rent-geared-to-income and supportive units for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, using the city’s new Public Developer model to take direct control of development and accelerate housing delivery.
• The six-storey building uses prefabricated mass timber to speed construction and exceed the Toronto Green Standard, with units featuring private kitchens and bathrooms, shared amenities, and access to on-site support services through Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre.
• The project is backed by federal funding through the Rapid Housing Initiative, city contributions including waived fees and property taxes, and ongoing advocacy for provincial support for wrap-around services, aligning with Toronto’s goal of 18,000 new supportive homes by 2030.

The Whole Story:

The City of Toronto has begun craning and assembly at 11 Brock Ave., marking a construction milestone for the municipality’s first affordable housing project delivered through its Public Developer model.

The six-storey development will create 42 rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, set for completion in fall 2026. The project uses prefabricated mass timber construction to accelerate the build and exceed the city’s Toronto Green Standard sustainability requirements.

Toronto City Council approved the Public Developer model in 2024 to speed creation of non-market rental housing on city-owned lands by taking direct control of development, setting housing targets and expediting approvals.

All tenants at 11 Brock Ave. will pay no more than 30 per cent of their income, or the shelter allowance of their social assistance, on rent. Each unit includes a private bathroom and kitchen, with shared laundry, a communal kitchen and common programming space.

Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre will lease the building once completed and provide housing and support services to tenants. PARC has operated in the Parkdale community for more than 40 years, providing support services and operating supportive homes for Toronto residents exiting homelessness and facing mental health challenges.

“This is a first for Toronto, the City’s first-ever affordable housing project built through the Public Developer model and using mass timber construction,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in a news release Tuesday. “At 11 Brock Ave., we are working to build homes faster, greener, and with the supports people need to thrive.”

The property was previously owned by the Province of Ontario and acquired by the city in 2019 for $3.25 million. In 2023, the project received more than $21.6 million in funding from the federal government through the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative. The city will also contribute funding and financial incentives including waived fees and property taxes.

The city continues to request the province commit to providing operating funding for wrap-around support services at 11 Brock Ave., including renewal of a current annual investment of $48 million for another three years to ensure ongoing stability of support services in more than 3,000 existing supportive homes in Toronto.

Toronto has a target of 18,000 new supportive homes approved by 2030. On average, supportive housing costs $2,500 a month, compared with $7,500 for month-long emergency shelter stays and $14,000 for hospital stays, the city said.

“Our Government works closely with municipalities to fight homelessness,” said the Honourable Karim Bardeesy, Member of Parliament for Taiaiako’n—Parkdale—High Park. “This vital project, funded by the Government of Canada, will rapidly create 42 units of urgently needed housing for Toronto’s most vulnerable residents.”