The Government of Ontario has announced plans for six new transit-oriented communities, which will create approximately 5,900 new homes across Toronto and Scarborough.
Five of the communities will be located along the future Ontario Line, including the Cosburn, Gerrard-Carlaw South, and Pape Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC).
The communities will create roughly 620, 1,310, and 440 new housing units, respectively. Up to 2,660 new units will be located in the Thorncliffe Park TOC, and 140 will be built in the Eastern Avenue TOC.
The latter will be built near the future East Harbour Transit Hub, while the other communities will be located near their namesake Ontario Line subway stations. In addition to housing, some of which will be affordable, they will include new retail, office, and commercial spaces.
The sixth proposed TOC will be located near the future Lawrence Station on the Scarborough Subway Extension. Dubbed the Lawrence East TOC, it will deliver approximately 770 new residential units, including affordable units, as well as retail and office spaces and an underground parking facility.
"We know the Greater Toronto Area needs more housing, and as part of the government’s plan to deliver an expanded transit network, we are seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build vibrant, mixed-use communities that will bring more housing options, jobs, retail and commercial spaces, as well as community amenities, like parks and libraries, close to transit,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, in a release.
"These new communities will lower the cost of building infrastructure for taxpayers, while making it faster and easier for everyone to access public transit and everyday conveniences, right in their own neighbourhoods."
Ontario submitted development proposals for the new TOCs to the City of Toronto on October 19. Once a review has been completed, the province will seek feedback from the public, stakeholders, and Indigenous partners on the plans.
Transit-oriented communities are planned for eight other future stations along the Ontario Line and the Yonge North Subway Extension, including the Gerrard-Carlaw North TOC, for which the province completed community engagement sessions earlier this year. Together, the communities will create approximately 48,000 new residential units.
