On Tuesday, September 14, Build Toronto’s Board Chair, Councillor David Shiner, along with Mayor John Tory, Councillor Ana Bailão, The Daniels Corporation and Diamond Corp., celebrated the ground breaking of 5131 Sheppard Avenue East. A 3.6-acre underutilized site purchased from Build Toronto will now serve as a condominium community called Daniels FirstHome™ Markham Sheppard. A powerful homeownership program will be offered for first time buyers including up to 100 new affordable housing units, mixed in with market rate contemporary mid-rise condominium suites and townhomes. Following the City’s decision to declare the lands surplus for transfer to Build Toronto in 2013, Build Toronto worked with the City of Toronto’s Affordable Housing Office to prioritize available municipal, provincial and federal investments to assist in the achievement of securing 30 per cent affordable ownership housing on the property.

On stage with Mayor Tory to help announce the ground breaking were Niall Haggart, Executive-Vice President, The Daniels Corporation, Councillor David Shiner, Ward 24 Willowdale and Chair of Build Toronto and Councillor Ana Bailão, Ward 18 Davenport and Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee. Each of the afternoon’s speakers spoke to the success public and private partnerships can bring to the city when they work together, which in this case, is creating an impactful affordable ownership housing development for low to moderate income residents to assist them from shifting from tenants to owners.

“For Build Toronto, this exemplifies our powerful commitment to the City of Toronto and undeniable ability to bring partners together to make things happen,” said Councillor David Shiner. “The almost 100 affordable housing units and $7.3 million in development charges and fees created from underutilized City land is made possible not only through a partner that shares a City-Building vision, but also through the support of City Planning. We are excited to see this development take shape and serve as an example of an effective and integrated affordable housing program for future development.”

We look forward to seeing this affordable housing initiative come to life.

Please see the photos below of the event.