Affordable rental building announced for Bathurst.
Mark Adler, Member of Parliament for York Centre, speaks at a press conference Thursday morning announcing $28.4 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments for an 237-unit affordable housing project at 485 Patricia Ave. in North York.
Staff photo/NICK PERRY
Construction of a new affordable rental building for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities was celebrated by all three levels of government Thursday, July 14.
Construction of the 10-storey, 237-unit apartment building at the south-east corner of Bathurst Street and Patricia Avenue is underway and is expected to open in 2012.
The development, next to Eitz Chaim Day School, was originally slated for a condominium, but noting the sluggish economy, developer Cityzen Urban Lifestyle decided to switch gears and turn the site into affordable housing, run by B'nai Brith Canada.
The $55.6-million project at 485 Patricia Ave. received more than $28.4 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments. York Centre alone has received more than $9.3 million over the last two years for the repair of 1,809 existing social housing units.
Of the units, 201 will be for low-income seniors, while 36 will be reserved for persons with disabilities. The building will also include a Shabbat elevator, which operates automatically, and Jewish cultural programing will be offered.
"We watched for many years as the site sat vacant," Ward 10 Councillor James Pasternak said. "We are ensuring the most vulnerable residents are safe and secure."