Minister’s message

Ontario has a housing supply shortage. This is driving housing prices out of reach for many Ontarians. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the City of Toronto, where the average home costs $1 million.

We are taking action to find innovative solutions such as using vacant provincially owned properties, like the abandoned Eastern Avenue site, for housing.

Before work began at the former Dominion Foundry site, a Heritage Impact Assessment was completed that concluded all buildings could be demolished to complete environmental remediation and to accommodate affordable and market housing and community space.

Shortly after the process to redevelop the site began, I paused work in response to public concerns.

I then launched community engagements, which included receiving comments from both the public and the City, and commissioned an independent third party to conduct a second Heritage Impact Assessment. 

Based on the independent report, the entire building envelope of the 1939 Machine Shop will be retained, as will the walls of the Cleaning Room and the southern façade of the 1935 Machine Shop along Palace Street. 

Once complete, the site will provide 264 families with an affordable place to call their own, all in a vibrant, walkable neighbourhood that takes advantage of our $28.5 billion transit investments.

We will continue to pursue a balanced approach to building communities across the province while working with all levels of government to support Ontarians. 

The Honourable Steve Clark
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

About the consultation

The 153-185 Eastern Avenue site has generated community interest as the surrounding neighbourhood has grown and developed.

To seek input on how the site’s history could inform the future development, we conducted a public consultation, including:

  • two virtual meetings with community groups
  • invited email submissions from the public

What we heard

Between February 12 to March 4, 2021, we received submissions from more than 430 respondents that made it clear there is strong interest in:

  • the heritage of the site
  • support for affordable housing
  • a desire for community space

Reports

We shared the comments from the consultation with an independent heritage expert, who was tasked with taking a fresh look at the preservation of heritage elements and preparing the final Heritage Impact Assessment and Cultural Heritage Evaluation reports.

The two reports incorporate feedback received through consultation with the City of Toronto and discussion with neighborhood associations.

In addition to building much-needed affordable housing on the site, the most significant heritage elements, as outlined in the Heritage Impact Assessment, will be preserved:

  • the entire building envelope of the 1939 Machine Shop will be retained
  • the walls and much of the two-storey interior of the Cleaning Room (commonly known as the Foundry)
  • the southern façade of the 1935 Machine Shop along Palace Street

These are the features that the heritage expert found to be most significant.

Read the Heritage Impact Assessment

Read the Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report