Item - 2015.EX10.19

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the Director, Affordable Housing Office to issue a Proposal Call under the new Open Door program on Block 36 North in the Railway Lands with the goal of selecting an experienced non-profit or private sector organization to develop and operate new affordable rental housing.

2.  City Council request the Director, Affordable Housing Office to report by June, 2016 on the results of the Proposal Call including recommending the successful proponent and to provide details on the development proposal for the purposes of leasing Block 36 North for up to 50 years to develop and operate new permanent affordable rental housing.

In May 2015, Executive Committee directed the Director, Affordable Housing Office, in co-ordination with City Planning, and in consultation with Finance and other relevant Divisions and Agencies, to report on the development of an Open Door program to enhance the City's ability to more quickly deliver affordable housing.  Recommended actions for Council's approval of Open Door are contained in a companion report: Open Door Program for New Affordable Housing.

This report recommends council request the Director of the Affordable Housing Office, in collaboration with Toronto Community Housing to issue a Request for Proposals to non-profit and private sector organizations to build affordable rental housing on the land owned by Toronto Community Housing on Block 36 North in the Railway Lands.  The City and Toronto Community Housing are working together to lease the land, which would be developed through a Request for Proposal, for up to 50 years.

The Request for Proposal will make the site available through a lease for up to 50 years and require the successful proponent to build and operate a minimum of 80 affordable rental homes.  The site at Block 36 North has been vacant for over two decades and has been set aside to assist in meeting the affordable housing requirements of the Railway Lands Central Secondary Plan.

By approving this report, Council will provide direction to staff to issue the Request for Proposal and report the results no later than June, 2016.

In May 2015, Executive Committee directed the Director, Affordable Housing Office, in co-ordination with City Planning, and in consultation with Finance and other relevant Divisions and Agencies, to report on the development of an Open Door program to enhance the City's ability to more quickly deliver affordable housing.  Recommended actions for Council's approval of Open Door are contained in a companion report: Open Door Program for New Affordable Housing.

This report recommends council request the Director of the Affordable Housing Office, in collaboration with Toronto Community Housing to issue a Request for Proposals to non-profit and private sector organizations to build affordable rental housing on the land owned by Toronto Community Housing on Block 36 North in the Railway Lands.  The City and Toronto Community Housing are working together to lease the land, which would be developed through a Request for Proposal, for up to 50 years.

The Request for Proposal will make the site available through a lease for up to 50 years and require the successful proponent to build and operate a minimum of 80 affordable rental homes.  The site at Block 36 North has been vacant for over two decades and has been set aside to assist in meeting the affordable housing requirements of the Railway Lands Central Secondary Plan.

By approving this report, Council will provide direction to staff to issue the Request for Proposal and report the results no later than June, 2016.