A pre-demolition survey was conducted to identify any potential hazardous materials. If and when these are identified, provincial regulations O. Reg. 278/05 are followed to ensure the safe removal and abatement of these materials before proceeding with demolition activities. This can look different depending on what is identified and where, but could include tarping, wetting, etc.

During the pre-demolition survey at the 60 Bowden site, it was noted that there were two areas containing asbestos:

– Tar paper in the south-west lower roof

– Pipe insulation in the corridor between the daycare and offices

In both of these areas, the asbestos will be safely abated and removed before demolition proceeds, following provincial regulations O. Reg. 278/05. All relevant measures outlined in the regulations (which may include activities like tarping, wetting, or the use of HEPA filters throughout the abatement process) are being applied. We anticipate no risk to the surrounding neighbors.

Start Date: Demolition is scheduled to start as early as Monday, November 18th, 2024, with preparatory activities such as site fencing and safety measures in the initial phase. This work will be done in stages to minimize disruptions and we will keep the community as informed as possible as we progress.

Impact to Neighbors: The demolition phase will involve some noise and additional activity around the site, typical for any construction project. We are committed to mitigating disruptions as much as possible, and construction teams will be on-site only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m on week days. There will be construction work on occasional Saturdays, however, work will not start before 9:00 am in these instances. No overnight work is planned, so there will be no demolition noise at night.

As with any development, demolition and construction can generate noise from machinery and vehicles. All work will be limited to daytime hours (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) on week days, in accordance with local regulations. There will be construction work on occasional Saturdays, however, work will not start before 9:00 am in these instances. Our teams will make every effort to keep noise to a minimum.

Parking: Construction vehicles and trucks will need space around the site for equipment and materials. While vehicles will be parked as efficiently as possible, nearby residents may notice an increase in parked trucks. Our team will work to keep roadways clear and accessible to local traffic.

Traffic Flow: Traffic near the site may be occasionally slowed due to construction vehicles entering and exiting. We will have clear signage and traffic management to prevent congestion and enhance safety. We encourage local drivers to approach the area with caution.

WoodGreen chose a modular build to speed up the process of construction and to reduce the impact of construction to the neighbourhood.

Demolition is scheduled to start as early as Monday November 18, 2024, with preparatory activities such as site fencing and safety measures in the initial phase. This work will be done in stages to minimize disruptions and we will keep the community as informed as possible as we progress. After demolition, construction of the new homes for seniors will begin and is anticipated to take 12 to 18 months to be completed.

The entire project is expected to be completed by late 2025/early 2026.

Once construction is near completion in 2025, information about applying for a unit will become available.

The timeline may shift as work progresses. We will continue to provide updates to the community as new information is available.

We understand and share the community’s concern for the well-being of the migratory birds and bats. Our environmental assessment in June 2024 confirmed that chimney swifts had been using two of the three chimneys on the site. There were no bats sighted. In line with expert guidance, we postponed demolition until after these migratory birds left for the season and explored possibilities for their habitat in the future. We are thrilled to share that an alternative nesting site is available nearby when the Chimney Swifts return. The relocation has been approved by Wildlife Canada.

WoodGreen has a dedicated email address to open a line of communication with neighbours and community members. Anyone with questions, concerns or comments about the project can send an email to [email protected].

Thank you very much to everyone that took the time to write letters of support to the Committee of Adjustment (CoA). The CoA hearing was held on July 12 and the project was approved.

WoodGreen’s community engagement team will be in touch as we near demolition and further updates become available.

Thank you to everyone that submitted questions and/or comments for the information session we held on July 6. The webinar was recorded and is available here.

The new development at 60 Bowden Street will be an eight-storey building that will include:

• 50 units including two clusters of nine units that will provide meal services and 24/7 staff supports to residents who may require assistance with daily activities. The remaining units will be a combination of studio and one bedroom apartments.
• Common spaces will include a commercial kitchen and a large gathering space that can be used for community dining, laundry room, and a lounge
• A landscaped courtyard
• Sanctuary, office, and amenity space
• Bike storage

WoodGreen is bringing its 55+ years of experience in providing affordable housing to 60 Bowden St. The new heritage adapted building proposed for 60 Bowden St will provide housing to single seniors (59+).

The future residents of 60 Bowden St. will include individuals, men and women, who qualify for affordable and permanent independent living. To enhance the quality of life of all residents, WoodGreen is committed to implementing a robust support system based on the needs of the tenants who will call 60 Bowden St their permanent home.

WoodGreen will soon engage City of Toronto staff to develop and finalize an access plan that will determine the selection criteria of the residents that will be housed in the building sometime closer to the end of construction. We will share more information as it becomes available closer to the time of project completion.

The City of Toronto is experiencing a housing crisis. Seniors can face additional challenges because of aging. Demand for social housing remains high among seniors as approximately one-third of applicants on the City’s social housing waitlist are seniors, with a wait time of 10 years or more. With these sobering statistics in mind, affordable housing facilities like 60 Bowden St. will provide essential and affordable housing to seniors.

Making permanent, affordable rental housing available with built-in support services helps relieve pressure on the shelter system, emergency departments, and long-term care.

WoodGreen has contracted R-Hauz as the builder, manufacturer and developer for the 60 Bowden St. project. The development concept for the building includes installation of mass timber over the retained church basement in the northern half of the facility.

Mass timber is wood-based pre-fabricated building material suitable for larger scale infrastructure projects (such as buildings). For more information about mass timber features, R-Hauz has published a blog that you can read here.

In short, benefits of using mass timber include:

• Environmentally-friendly
• Energy-efficient
• Accelerated construction timelines

WoodGreen will bring a holistic, integrated care and service model to the residents at 60 Bowden St.

Senior residents will have access to WoodGreen’s full range of wrap-around health and social supports from personal support workers (PSWs), social workers, recreational programs specialists, transportation services, and volunteers to keep them safe and living with dignity at home, prevent or delay admission to long-term care facilities, and reduce emergency visits and hospital admissions.

For more information about supports available for seniors at WoodGreen, please visit our site.

Demolition is scheduled to start as early as Monday, November 18th, 2024 and will be conducted in stages to minimize disruptions.

After demolition is completed, construction of the new homes for seniors will begin and is anticipated to take 12 months as 60 Bowden St is a rapid build affordable housing project.

The entire project is expected to be completed by late 2025/early 2026. The timeline may shift as work progresses. We will continue to provide updates to the community as new information is available.

We do not anticipate any increased public safety issues in the neighbourhood as a result of tenancy at this building. We will coordinate with Toronto Police Services 55 Division to make sure we are sharing information regularly, planning together, and responding to any needs or concerns that may arise in the community.

WoodGreen is committed to ensuring community concerns are addressed. An open line of communication is critical. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions or wish to receive information about 60 Bowden St. in the future. You can also contact 311 for general concerns.

Capital funding has been approved under the Rapid Housing Initiative, Phase 2. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, in collaboration with the City of Toronto have provided the funds and incentive waivers to make this project possible, along with generous support from The Sprott Foundation with a donation of $4 million, through WoodGreen’s UNMET needs campaign, to support this new development.

On Wednesday, July 6, WoodGreen Community Services held an information session about the new homes for vulnerable seniors coming to 60 Bowden Street. WoodGreen was pleased to have received a high volume of registrants that submitted many questions and comments in advance. The information requests received from the community in advance helped shape the presentations that were made at the information session and were raised to the panelists for answers. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from representatives at WoodGreen Community Services, the City of Toronto, R-Hauz (Developer) and McCallum Sather (Architecture). Special thanks to MP Julie Dabrusin for attending the session and voicing her support. Julie’s advocacy for more affordable housing and continuous support of this new development is greatly appreciated.

We want to express our sincerest thank you to everyone that registered, sent in questions/comments and/or attended the webinar. We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to donors & government partners who have helped make this development possible, including Councillor Paula Fletcher for her continuous support and tireless efforts.

The information session was recorded and can be viewed here.

Thank you for your interest in our Bowden St. Project! As our project is still new and in development, we do not have any information about the waiting list or registration process for these units at this time. As more information becomes available, we will be sure to update members of our community.

We appreciate your interest on this project, and look forward to sharing information with you, as it becomes available. For any additional questions regarding affordable housing, please contact our Housing Access Centre: [email protected]

WoodGreen has a dedicated email address for neighbours and community members to send in their questions: [email protected]. The Community Engagement team will aim to respond to emails within two business days.

There are several programs at WoodGreen where you can volunteer. Learn more about our programs online or send us an email at [email protected].