Last week marked the beginning of a homecoming for dozens of people who once called 42 Hubbard Blvd. home.
More than three years ago, contractors retained by Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) found the circa-1928 low-rise lakeside building was overrun with toxic mould and other airborne chemicals as a result of lingering water issues, among other things.
Within a matter of weeks, all of the 27-unit building's tenants were relocated with the promise they'd be able to eventually return home without exorbitant rent increases.
That day has finally arrived.
Deborah Beaven is moving out of her temporary home at 50 Norway Ave. and back into the building she called home for 22 years tomorrow.
"It's been a long three years, however. It's surprising how quickly three years can go by," said Beaven, noting she's still feeling some of the health effects of living in the once-contaminated building.
Beaven visited the refurbished building last week and checked out her new one-bedroom unit.
"The architects did a lovely job, I think," said Beaven, adding she's pleased some of the original features of the building were retained such as the stained glass windows and the original wooden roof joists, which were re-purposed in the new rooftop amenity space.
Beaven said the building's narrower hallways and doorways, the rectangular versus square-shaped units as well as limited closet/storage space would "take a little getting used to."
Regardless, she said 42 Hubbard Blvd. is where she feels most at home.
"I wanted to move back to where my community support is, to where my friends are," said Beaven, a six-year tenant rep who had received numerous calls and emails from people and tenants concerned the building would be sold off because it was far too expensive to repair.
"I'm really, really, really happy (Toronto Community) Housing kept their promise to us. It wasn't just empty words. I always tried to maintain the faith it wouldn't be sold."
Tenant Patricia Ross lived in a large two-bedroom unit in the building for 15 years.
Her daughter was pregnant when they were forced to move out and thankfully her granddaughter doesn't appear to have suffered any ill effects of being exposed to toxic mould and other chemicals.
Ross, who has signed a lease for a one-bedroom unit in the building, said she's concerned her furniture won't fit in her new apartment. She's also not thrilled with her unit's combined kitchen-living room layout.
"My knees buckled when I saw (my unit)" said Ross, who has lived in a townhouse on Stephenson Avenue, near Danforth Avenue and Main Street, with her daughter and grandchild for the last three years.
"It didn't cross my mind that it would be that tiny. I don't know how it's going to work. Personally, I don't want to go back."
Despite the stunning views of Lake Ontario, Ross said she wishes she had taken a one-bedroom unit in her current complex.
Prior to being renovated, the double-brick, wooden frame structure wasn't close to being up to code.
It had no ventilation system, no insulation, no soundproofing and no fire separations between units and a dirt floor crawl space. A sump pump was also required to drain excess water as the exterior waterproofing was inadequate.
Despite those challenges, TCHC decided 42 Hubbard Blvd. was a property it wanted to maintain in its housing portfolio.
A cost-benefit analysis determined a full interior reconstruction would be worth the investment as the new building will be more efficient to operate and will require less investment in the long-run.
"It was the right thing to do. This made a lot of sense for us," said Lizette Zuniga, TCHC's director of development and real estate, of the "typical little apartment building," which she said reflects the "total character of what the Beach was way back when."
The publicly funded affordable housing provider recently gave The Mirror a tour of the 25,000-square-foot, sunlight-filled building, whose outer walls are the only part of the structure still remaining.
"Essentially, it was a complete gut from the inside. There's a lot behind this beautiful facade," Zuniga explained, pointing to a 20-foot opening in the south wall made so construction equipment and machinery could access the building's interior for the eight-month demolition. Any bricks removed were reused.
A new, fully accessible lobby, featuring a new elevator and some of the old stained glass windows now exists.
Some of the building's two inch by 10 inch wooden joists are now used as a decor feature on the new rooftop amenity space, which includes a green roof to help cool the building, a party/meeting room and a laundry area. Solar panels have also been installed on the building's roof.
"We tried to preserve and reuse as much as possible," she said, adding size-wise the building is pretty much what it once was except with improved functionality.
Contractors working on the project also had to take into consideration water issues due to the structure's proximity to the lake. As a result, the old dirt-floor basement was completely dug out and reinforced against moisture.
In keeping with TCHC's eco-friendly mandate, all of the building's old windows, except for the stained glass one, were replaced with energy efficient fiberglass.
Man-made marble window sills, which do not retain water and in turn rot, have been installed. All toilets are now dual flush to save water and there are energy efficient lighting and fridges and stoves that have special safety elements to prevent grease fires.
Each apartment has been outfitted with its own energy efficient heating/cooling unit.
"Everything is new and up to building code. We're a landlord and we're here for the long term," Zuniga said, noting durable, waterproof materials have been used throughout the refurbished building, which took more than a year to rebuild.
The building now has electronic access for additional security for tenants. New bike racks are also in place at the back of the site as well as new exterior security cameras and motion-sensor activated lights.
The reconstruction was made possible through a $4 million stimulus funding grant from the provincial and federal governments. TCHC is expected to disclose the final cost of the project this spring.
A grand opening event and community celebration for the new 42 Hubbard Blvd. will also take place in the coming months.