The Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) announced their partners for their latest development project in Lawrence Heights: Context Development and Metropia.

The TCHC finds partners for Lawrence Heights

"Toronto Community Housing conducted a fair and transparent process to select a developer partner in Lawrence Heights. As a result, we are bringing on board a strong, experienced development team in Context/Metropia under an agreement that will enable the revitalization to move forward with very limited financial risk to the corporation," said Bud Purves, Chair, Board of Directors, TCHC.

The history of Lawrence Heights

Originally established in 1957 as a neighbourhood for low-income housing, Lawrence Heights has been in need of some redevelopment for some time. The joint venture between the TCHC, Context and Metropia will see the redevelopment of 25 acres, with a focus on Ranee Ave. East and the west side of Allen Rd. Phase 1 will include the construction of 233 replacement rent income units, 828 market condominiums and townhomes, and the redevelopment of approximately 53,000 square feet of commercial space.

 

Context and Metropia’s goals for Lawrence Heights

"Context/Metropia supports Toronto Community Housing and the Lawrence Heights Community's vision for the revitalization of Lawrence Heights into a vibrant, mixed income neighbourhood focused on good quality housing, community engagement, environmental sustainability, and excellent urban design and architecture. The goal is that the revitalization of Lawrence Heights will redefine, reconnect the community with the city, both physically and socially and become a desired place to live and work for both current and future residents," said Howard Cohen, President of Context Developments, in a statement.

"Metropia is honoured to be selected alongside Context as the development partner for Lawrence Heights. Redevelopment of this scale does not occur often in a great City like Toronto. Toronto Community Housing and the Lawrence Heights Community have done a tremendous amount of work re-envisioning Lawrence Heights and have set the framework for a hugely successful revitalization that once completed, will have new schools, parks, community centres, retail and will be a vibrant community that thousands of residents will be proud to call home," Howard Sokolowski, President of Metropia, continued.

The first phase of the five-phase project comes with a $40.3 million dollar budget, and will begin construction in 2014. We are very excited to see this area grow! Stay tuned, we will be keeping a very close eye on the Lawrence Heights redevelopment.