New affordable housing project in Weston still too pricey for seniors, advocate says
Thestar.com
April 9, 2019
Veronica Appia
When Weston resident Marcia Stone moved to Toronto three years ago to help take care of her grandson, she didn’t expect to be struggling to find an affordable place of her own.
At her former home in Dartmouth, N.S., Stone says she lived comfortably in a two-bedroom apartment, where she paid about $620 in rent each month -- a rate she considers affordable.
Marcia Stone stands outside her daughter's apartment on Weston Rd. with her 2-year-old grandson, Kingston. She is on the hunt for an affordable one-bedroom apartment in the area, but so far has had no luck.
But moving to Toronto meant a different market, and a completely different housing story.
Now, Stone, who lives with her daughter and grandson, is on the hunt for an affordable one-bedroom apartment in the Weston Rd. area, and so far, she’s had no luck.
“This is the area I need to stay in. This is where my daughter and my grandson are. I look after him, but still, I would like to have my own place,” the 62-year-old said.
Stone attended a community consultation meeting in March, hosted by Councillor Frances Nunziata (Ward 5, York South-Weston), to discuss the proposal of a new affordable rental building for seniors. She says while the project will address the demand for these types of buildings in the area, the rent prices are not suited to those living on a fixed income like herself.
The proposed development, at 2346 Weston Rd., formerly submitted as a rental highrise in early 2018, was resubmitted in March as a 15-storey, 127-unit accessible building for residents 59 years of age and older.
The rental costs for the development are based on the city’s current definition of affordable housing, which states that rent and utilities together must be equal to or less than the average market rent in Toronto.
For the new development, that means a one-bedroom apartment, which will be approximately 550 square feet, will cost a tenant $1,185 per month, plus utilities, according to the building’s developers, Project and Construction Management Inc. (PCM).
“I just find it a little frustrating because I know people who came here from Nova Scotia and they had to go back home because they couldn’t afford to live here,” Stone said, adding that she is currently on a fixed income, receiving funds from the Canadian Pension Plan and federal government pension.
“It seems you are restricted in the accommodations you have access to if you are on a fixed income,” she said.
Weston resident and social worker Chiara Padovani, who works in food banks in York South-Weston, says for the seniors she serves on a regular basis these rental costs are far too steep.
“Seniors are one of the largest growing populations using food banks. The number of seniors using food banks has increased 33 per cent last year,” she said.
“The reality is, when you are living on a fixed income, be it a pension or old age security, your financial power to be able to afford what is average market rent in Toronto just doesn’t cut it.”
Padovani, who also attended the March meeting, urged the city to get more ambitious with affordable housing, by asking for more affordability from the developers who are profiting from the project.
PCM has signed a 25-year contract with the City of Toronto that provides them with $6.3 million in incentives and waives their property taxes for the 25-year term.
Ana Bailao, chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, told Padovani that the $6.3 million in incentives was necessary in securing the affordability of the units for future residents.
Without the incentives, a one-bedroom unit in the building would cost approximately $600 more per month.
“It’s one hell of a deal,” PCM owner Carlos Jardino said of the rent prices. “And as an investor, I need to make a return.”
Bailao says the city is looking into the problems with the current definition of affordable housing. She added that there will be further subsidy available to residents next year with the introduction of a National Housing Benefit, expected to come as part of the National Housing Strategy by April 2020.
“I’m going to tell everyone I know to apply for it,” Stone said of the housing benefit. “It’s ridiculous when you look at the price range on Weston Rd. alone.”
PCM is presently in the process of applying for rezoning through the city that would allow the current proposed development to be built.
From the proposal:
- 2346 Weston Rd. will be available for seniors, based on the city’s definition of senior (59 years of age and older).
- There will be bachelor, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom options available.
- The building design will be energy-conserving and barrier-free.
- Monthly rent will range from $1,004 (plus utilities) for a studio to $1,525 (plus utilities) for a three-bedroom.
