The designs for 160 new affordable units in Oshawa have been completed with construction to begin this year, according to Councillor Brian Nicholson of Ward 5 Oshawa and Durham Council.
No completion date was announced.
Durham’s need for affordable housing appears to be climbing rapidly. The region’s by-name list of affordable housing hopefuls grew by some 200 names between August and October (three months) last year to over 1,000 (se below). This does not include those who are housing insecure and are not on the list.
Those on the by-name list have complained of years-long waiting time to get affordable housing.
Residents have also expressed confusion of what exactly is the definition of ‘affordable housing’.
But any progress on affordable housing is good news.
“This partnership between the City of Oshawa, who donated the land, and the Region of Durham, the building proponent, have chosen Toronto-based architects Montogomery Sisam with hopes that the two buildings – four and six storeys high – will demonstrate how affordable housing can be ‘sustainable, family-oriented, and architecturally thoughtful’ and set a new benchmark for mixed-income development in Oshawa and Durham,” said the councillor.
The project, located near Ritson Road and Highway 401, is transforming an aging housing site by replacing the 12 semi-detached homes.
Nicholson said one of the key additions that he was able to secure was the creation of a switchback trail running from the top of the hill to Chopin Park. “This trail will allows families to access Chopin Park without walking on busy streets like Dean Avenue and Ritson Road South.
He said the project offers one- to four-bedroom units.
Other Projects
Nicholson said in addition to this project, Durham Housing is re-developing a total of five of their social housing locations, with Christine Crescent and a 16-unit building on 409 Centre Street South (home of the ‘Bee’ sculpture) that will be redeveloped with a new 30-unit, three-storey building, expected to get underway this year.
The Ritson School site housing development, plus two other sites in southern Oshawa will see construction begin over the next two years, he said.
600 Townline Road – The Region of Durham purchased the former Grandview Children’s Centre, a four-acre property at the northwest corner of Townline Road and Bloor Street, and is proposing new four-storey building with 36 units is proposed at the corner of Townline/Bloor, and 16 townhouses are proposed along Townline Road:
Construction on this site is expected to commence in 2027, with occupancies in 2028.
416-448 Malaga Road – The site currently contains 65 townhouses that require replacement. The proposal will redevelop the entire site with a mix of affordable and market rental units in three new mid-rise apartment buildings, stacked and back-to-back townhouses containing approximately 600 units:
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028.