The Ontario government has announced it is partnering with the private sector and the City of Toronto to build five transit-oriented communities along the Ontario Line which also includes one at East Harbour.
Ontario News reported that ground was recently broken on the Ontario Line. It will have 15 stops running from Exhibition Place up to the Ontario Science Centre. It was estimated to open in 2030, but is subject to change.
Transit-oriented communities are being planned for the following stations:
- Future East Harbour
- Corktown
- Queen-Spadina
- King-Bathurst
- Exhibition
These transit-oriented communities will integrate housing, commercial space, park land and other amenities near transit lines. This much-needed housing - including affordable housing - will offer the following benefits:
- Reduce gridlock
- Create more economic opportunities
- Create thousands of new jobs
"The Ontario government is seizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build complete communities around transit. We have worked tirelessly with the City of Toronto and our private sector partner to reach this exciting milestone, and we look forward to transforming these communities to include transit facilities, while also ensuring compatibility with surrounding neighbourhoods and creating benefits for families and businesses for generations to come."
Minister of Infrastructure for the Province | King Surma
Urban Toronto reports that according to the Province, the creation of these new communities will generate an estimated 375,000 construction jobs. The list below is a brief description of the five transit-oriented communities:
1. East Harbor Station
Ontario has signed an agreement with Cadillac Fairview for the creation of a transit-oriented community at the future East Harbour station. The 38 acre site will include:
- Creation of a major employment centre expected to bring more than 50,000 jobs
- New residential and commercial space
- Park land
- 215 affordable rental housing units for a 99-year period
- Provision for two child care facilities
- Community recreation centre
- Investments in community services and infrastructure
When fully developed, East Harbour will be a major mixed-use community with up to 50,000 jobs and 7,000 residents.
2. Exhibition Station
Urban Toronto states that the Exhibition Station development is expected to include the following:
- 568 residential units including affordable units
- High-quality communal indoor and outdoor amenity spaces
3. King-Bathurst Station
The proposed TOC at King-Bathurst Station will consist of:
- Two sites with one on either side of King on the east side of Bathurst
- More housing and office space at the station and on top of the station with consideration to heritage components
- Will deliver 422 new residential units
- Housing options will include new and affordable units
4. Queen-Spadina Station
The proposed TOC at Queen-Spadina Station is intended to support a vibrant community served by two streetcars as well as the new Ontario Line and will provide:
- More housing
- More retail space for businesses
- Keep the heritage components of the site
- Consists of two blocks, to the southwest and the northeast of the intersection
5. Corktown Station
The proposed TOC at Corktown Station will connect local bus, streetcar, and subway services to the Ontario Line and will deliver:
- Mix of new housing opportunities
- Commercial and retail
- Community space
- 1,580 residential units including affordable units
- High-quality communal indoor and outdoor amenity spaces
Ontario's Transit Oriented Communities program will place more housing, including affordable housing, and jobs at and around transit stations along the routes of the province's four priority transit projects in the GTA, and across the existing GO rail network. This will help to:
- Increase transit ridership
- Reduce gridlock
- Create an estimated 375,000 construction jobs for the entire Subways-Transit Oriented Communities program
- Improve the quality of Torontonians' lives
The transit-oriented communities model has been implemented successfully in many other jurisdictions around the world, including Vancouver, London, UK, Sydney, Australia, Bay Area, California, Washington, DC and Tokyo, Japan.
