Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) provided a preview of its latest affordable housing development at 175 Oak Street, marking a key milestone in the ongoing revitalization of Regent Park. TCHC leaders and local officials came together to discuss the building’s significance and the broader impact of the Regent Park transformation.

Dawar Naeem – Local Journalism Initiative

Among those in attendance were Mayor Olivia Chow, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, and City Councillor Chris Moise, who were joined by TCHC President and CEO Sean Baird, Chief Development Officer Jessica Hawes, and project leaders. They highlighted the role of 175 Oak Street as a central piece in the city’s affordable housing strategy, aimed at fostering a mixed-income, inclusive community in the heart of Toronto.

The 15-storey building is designed with families in mind, offering 213 affordable units, including 189 Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) units and 24 affordable rental units. The building also features shared amenities, such as gardens, a family room, a playground terrace, and multi-purpose rooms, all aimed at fostering community connections. Nearly 20% of the units exceed accessibility requirements, ensuring the building is inclusive to a wide range of residents.

Notably, 175 Oak Street will be TCHC’s first smoke-free building, designed to promote healthy living. The building also adheres to Toronto Green Standards and includes energy-efficient features like green roofs, bird-friendly glazing, LED lighting, and rainwater reuse systems. These sustainability efforts support TCHC’s goal of reducing emissions by 25% by 2028.

As part of one of Canada’s largest urban renewal projects, 175 Oak Street represents a major step in the revitalization of Regent Park, which began in 2006. The project has already delivered over 1,400 RGI units and 400 affordable housing units, with more to come in Phases 4 and 5 in partnership with Tridel Inc.