A Drop in the Bucket: 74 Units Won't Solve Toronto's Systemic Housing Deficit

OPINION: When the City of Toronto holds a groundbreaking ceremony, the optics are designed to signal progress. But for those of us tracking the affordability crisis, the math tells a different story. Breaking ground on a handful of units is a political photo-op that does little to dent a systemic deficit.

As first reported by the City of Toronto, officials recently celebrated the start of construction at 1113–1125 Dundas St. W. The project, located at Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue, will provide 74 rent-controlled homes. While the city highlights that at least 17 of these are affordable homes, the sheer scale of the project is negligible when viewed against the backdrop of the city's broader goals. The City's own HousingTO Plan target aims to deliver 65,000 new rent-controlled homes by 2030—a figure that includes 41,000 affordable rentals, 17,500 rent-controlled homes, and 6,500 rent-geared-to-income units. Delivering 74 units is a microscopic fraction of that ambition.

Despite the low volume, the City of Toronto is framing this as a victory for its "Public Developer" model. By using City-owned land—specifically a former municipal parking lot—the city claims it can take a more direct role in expediting approvals and setting housing targets. The project is being led by CreateTO, which notes that it currently has more than 5,000 homes under construction on City-owned lands.

There is no denying the project's technical merits. The City of Toronto reports that the development will utilize low-carbon mass timber construction and geothermal energy to meet climate goals. The build is being handled by an all-Canadian team consisting of Pomerleau Construction, Montgomery Sisam Architects, and Moriyama Teshima Architects. Furthermore, the city notes that over 40 percent of the units are two- or three-bedrooms, which Councillor for Spadina-Fort York suggests will help welcome more families to the Ossington community.

Funding for the project is a result of an intergovernmental partnership. The City of Toronto is providing capital funding and leveraging City-owned land, while the Government of Canada is providing funding through the Build Canada Homes initiative. Ana Bailão, President and CEO of Build Canada Homes, described the collaboration as a way to turn an underutilized site into a sustainable community. Similarly, Danielle Martin, Member of Parliament for University-Rosedale, called the project a "win" for the community and an example of building affordable homes faster.

Mayor Olivia Chow stated that the partnership with Build Canada Homes is helping the city build housing so that workers can afford to live in Toronto. However, as long as the city celebrates dozens of units while staring down a deficit of tens of thousands, these announcements will feel less like solutions and more like distractions.