Regent Park’s exciting future: community gathers for revitalization update

At a key community gathering at the Regent Park Community Centre on Thursday, February 29, residents and members of the project team gathered to discuss the progress of the Regent Park revitalization, Phases 1-5. The atmosphere was full of anticipation as attendees exchanged insights on the accomplishments to date and next steps for the proposed changes that promise to usher in a new era for the community. 

The evening unfolded with a delicious dinner catered by local tenants, setting the stage for engaging presentations by the project team. The evening began with remarks from local Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre, Ward 13). Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) hosted the event, in partnership with developer partners, The Daniels Corporation (Daniels, Phases 1-3 partner), and Tridel Builders Inc. (Tridel, Phases 4-5 partner), who took the floor to provide community members with comprehensive updates on construction and related community economic development (CED) programs. The evening also included presentations from architects-Alliance (a—A) and TCHC’s Strategic Service Partnerships and Compliance team. 

Together, the project team covered a wide range of topics: from construction progress, including a feature presentation from a—A, to processes around booking the amenity spaces in existing TCHC buildings. Other key topics discussed were the far-reaching impacts of the revitalization on the local economy through CED opportunities, including employment prospects, skills training initiatives, business development support, and ongoing local granting, with a focus on safety and youth programs. 

Additionally, the Project Team unveiled plans for a new Regent Park Scholarship Program, just in time for application for the upcoming 2024-25 school year, and outlined pivotal milestones ahead, including a community vote to select the final benefits package, the start of visible demolition for Phase 4a, and the imminent return of TCHC tenants to the soon-to-be-completed final TCHC rental building in Phases 1-3, located at 175 Oak Street. 

Through presentations and audience Q&As, the project team provided several key takeaways: 

• TCHC is a city builder with a successful track record of revitalizing communities, which requires a blend of strategy, community voice, and problem solving.  

• Approximately 40 per cent of the unit mix in Phases 4-5 of Regent Park’s revitalization will be social housing. This includes 633 RGI replacement units (to complete replacement of all 2,083 social housing units that existed pre-revitalization), 1,976 market units, and the potential for up to 637 new affordable housing units.   

• Units identified as Rent-Gered-to-Income (RGI) and affordable units in the Regent Park revitalization will remain so in perpetuity. 

• Funding for additional RGI and/or affordable homes is continuing to be explored with all three levels of government. 

• TCHC’s Strategic Service Partnerships and Compliance team continues to work with Councillor Moise to galvanize the use of the amenity spaces for the benefit of community residents. 

One of the largest urban revitalizations of its kind, the Regent Park revitalization is transforming the neighbourhood into a mixed-income, mixed-use community and with it, unlocking opportunities for more affordable housing, and community, commercial, and non-residential space including a new civic square anchored by a 2,200 m² Toronto Public Library. 

For more information, please contact TalkRegentPark@TorontoHousing.ca, or visit RP4and5.ca. 

Presentations

• Regent Park community meeting presentation - February 29, 2024 (PDF)