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Birchmount Green opens with 220 of new mixed affordable housing

A group of people holding a ribbion and large pair of golden scissors. In the group includes Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor Michael Thompson and MP Salma Zahid.
With a new group of 220 units of affordable housing the City is taking one step towards their goal 65,000 units of affordable housing Photo by Owen Thompson.
Owen Thompson - CJRU - Toronto • ON | 13-12-2023
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220 new mixed affordable and supportive rental housing units have opened at Birchmount Green.

At a conference on Dec. 11 hosted at Birchmount Green (located at at 1236 Birchmount Rd.), the 220 units were unveiled by members of City Council and parliament.

The units are split into three different types to accommodate a variety of people, with 122 not exceeding the average market rent (AMR), 98 providing support from non-profits and ten that are the AMR.

Birchmount Green is a part of the HousingTO 2020-2030 action plan. The action plan was updated early November to build 65,000 rent controlled homes by 2030. The 220 units fall within the goals of housing the program is hoping to achieve in the next 10 years.

“It's not just a home. It's a community. It's a neighbourhood. It is so much more. I call it a vertical village where a community of people come together as neighbours, friends and families,” says Mayor Olivia Chow. “It has 98 supportive units that have given people the abilities to live independently. People that are leaving homelessness or families, moms leaving gender based violence, finding a place to live. And a childcare centre that is beautiful just downstairs. That is what a village is all about.”

Birchmount Green received federal funding to the construction of the building. Salma Zahid, MP of Scarborough Centre, says that in April Minister Ahmed Hussen invested $72.4 million.

“This marks a new chapter for our new neighbours who will be moving or will move into these units,” says Zahid. “This 10 year plan, backed by more than $82 billion in investments is strengthening the middle class, fueling our economy and giving more Canadians a place to call home.”

Mahogany Management are the property managers of 1236 Birchmount. They are a company who build affordable housing with them winning an award in 2018 from the Durham region for affordable housing.

Tim Neeb, president of Mahogany Management, says that some of the people who have moved into the property came with nothing.

“I was asked the other day that someone was moving in and I said, ‘we got to book an elevator.’ We tend to book two or three hours for the elevator. Well, this person arrived with absolutely nothing, and certainly didn't need did not need an elevator. But today, they have housing,” says Neeb.

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