Robert Reimers Architect Ltd.
and
Ghana Amansie Multicultural Association of Toronto

Award Winning Architectural Submission to the City of Toronto

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Development teams have been selected and contract negotiations have been completed on a site released under the city's Let's Build program (see Housing in the City, December 1999). Development of affordable housing is a priority in the City of Toronto.

Let's Build makes capital assistance (from City, provincial, federal sources) available to help sponsors of affordable housing construct their projects. The emphasis is on permanent, family oriented and singles rental housing.  In some instances, Toronto is contributing surplus land identified for housing under its Housing First policy, waiving development fees and charges (subject to Toronto Council approval) and contributing some up-front capital assistance from its Capital Revolving Fund (CRF).



Groups and individuals with development ideas that could result in the creation of more affordable housing have also been encouraged to come forward.

In October 1999, a Request for Expressions of Interest (REI) was released for four development sites as well as for more general development ideas. In February, nine firms were selected to submit proposals from 22 responses for the development sites. Toronto Council approved the declaration of surplus of three sites for development at its May meeting and directed the Let’s Build team to start contract discussions with the selected proponents. The Group has continued their work through all stages of Municipal approvals and fundraising in order to achieve a construction start in late 2005.